Shambellie Autumn Fair - update

A date for your diary...

You are invited to an Autumn Fair at Shambellie Walled Garden and Nursery (New Abbey) on Saturday 22nd September.

Image courtesy of: http://www.shambelliewalledgarden.co.uk/

Shambellie Walled Garden, until 2005, a derelict and weed-choked space, (being abandoned in the 1960's) has been brought to vibrant life by dedicated enthusiasts and  is now a paradise regained and will, I am sure, prove a lovely setting for the Fair which runs from:

10.30 - 4.00pm

Apart from the lovely gardens there will be:

Floral Display Demonstrations

Hand Crafted Gifts

Vintage Finds

Home-made Notebooks

Home Produce

Bric-a-brac

Collectables

Artwork

Girt ideas... and more!

Coffee and shortbread served all day!

For more information contact: Sheila Cameron 01387 850463

ADMISSION FREE

Corsets, cakes & kaleidoscope colours... the evocative prints of Horrockses at Shambellie House

We are incredibly lucky to have the Shambellie National Museum of Costume on our doorstep. Although we live in a wonderful rural location I am always amazed by the diversity of historic, cultural and artistic events on offer and Shambellie never fails to deliver. 

I love an afternoon there spent either in the house or the atmospheric grounds and have visited many times. You are always assured a warm welcome by the attentive helpful team there. The house and grounds alone are well worth a visit with rhodedendrons and a variety of trees and shrubs  

Shambellie House and grounds - from the driveway

This particular trip was prompted by their current exhibition 'Off the Peg: Fashion form the 40s and 50s'  focusing on the fashion label Horrockses.

Horrockses Fashions was known for their off-the-peg labels of the 1940s and 1950s. They gained a reputation for practicality and glamour combined with easy-care fabrics. I loved the bold prints and crisp cottons with founcy skirts the exhibition made me think of summer. Horrockses maintained an air of exclusivity producing about a 1000 of each style, using good quality fabrics, mostly cotton, custom-designed patterns, and great styling.

There is an extensive range of  Horrockses designs on display

 

The exhibition is very evocative: pass me my gloves, headscarf and Audrey Hepburn sunglasses! It features an extensive range of  Horrockses designs on display: the rooms were a veritable kaleidoscope of colour, a visual feast for fashionistas, designers or artists and beautifully lit. Not simply an excuse for fond nostalgia, the exhibition captivates even the youngsters among us: the myriad of styles, colours and patterns fascinated a 10 year old in our party who was wide-eyed to learn that 'Grannie' wore these frocks as a girl. (No, not us.... Grannie!)

Shambellie House form the West including the fabulous wicker sculpture

We had a great day out including lunch in the charming painted wood panelled Tea Room. Homemade soup, cakes and a proper coffee were our choice, they were very tasty and the prices were very reasonable. The museum has a permanent exhibition of Victorian and 20th Century fashion, there is even an opportunity to play at dressing up. We had a laugh trying on the corsets, I managed to reduce my waistline by 1", a major feat, but I nearly passed out in the process. Should not of had that extra slice of cake in the cafe!

Whirling Dervish living sculpture by Trevor Leat - in the grounds of Shambellie House 

The exhibition and Museum is open  1 April - 31 October 2012
Cost: Free with price of admission
Shambellie House New Abbey, Dumfries DG2 8HQ Tel: 0300 123 6789

http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/museum_of_costume.aspx

A well kept secret on the Colvend Coast

Having heard rave reviews from guests who had stumbled across the Walled Garden at Shambellie, today I decided  to take the scenic, coastal road to New Abbey and see for myself. I had been told of the many hours of work that Sheila Cameron, and her brother Euan, had put in to bring this abandoned overgrown garden back to life and was amazed at the sanctuary they have created hidden away in the woods. Formarly the walled garden for Shambellie House (The home of the National Museum of Costume: Click here for more information) the Victorian garden was abandoned back in the 1960s and it has taken six years of hard work and dedication to re-landscape and plant.

There is a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and, talking to Sheila about her private garden which she opens to the public for free, (please make a donation if you visit to keep this wonderful place going) you can see she takes pleasure in sharing this beautiful space and describes it as somewhere for people to learn, sit and enjoy the plants and most of all find inspiration.

The planting style is informal and full; mixed with a selection of hardy trees shrubs and perennials chosen to suit the cool, wet conditions of South West Scotland.

Sheila is a plant expert and now sells a wide variety of flowers and plants from the once derelict greenhouse and garden offering advice and assistance to her visitors. She was brilliant and gave us some very useful advice on planting for a coastal garden. As a result we went away with armfuls of plants and lots of enthusiasm. 

Its the sort of garden that I want to visit regularly  to see how it develops and changes throughout the season.

Sheila and her Spaniel in the greenhouse

Thank you Sheila for sharing your little piece of paradise. I look forward to visiting again  soon.

Shambellie Walled Garden and Plant Sales is open

Sat Sun Mon

10am to 4pm

April to October

Entry free with donations welcomed.

Beeswing Road New Abbey DG2 8DT


(Please do not take your dogs into the garden)

http://shambelliewalledgarden.co.uk/