Wightwick Manor

Wightwick Manor is a delight because it is a living house in the words of Anthea Mander Lahr, descendent of the original owners, Theodore Mander, a well-known Wolverhampton paint and varnish manufacturer, and his Canadian wife, Flora St. Clair Paint (note the name). Unlike Standen, another house devoted to the Arts and Crafts Movement, it was furnished by its inhabitants to their taste; it is not merely a showcase of William Morris textiles, Pre-Raphaelite paintings, Kempe glass and de Morgan tiles.

Kassie graciously indulged us by submitting to the tour, more or less quietly, and the guides struggled to keep apace with my questions, for things have a way of disappearing and appearing at Wightwick. Paintings change places and those consulted are at a loss as to which artist to attribute to a piece; works by Rossetti adorn the walls of the dining room yet the model for the pastel is not known, inviting speculation; and two paintings in a dark, dimly lit corridor are nearly missed except for their vague resemblance to a certain painting style - if I hadn't persisted in finding out the artist's name I might have missed my only glimpse (until a visit to Red House) of works by Elizabeth Siddal Rossetti, wife of the Pre-Raphaelite painter and artist in her own right.

Prior to the tour, we explored the stunning gardens and Kassie had fun completing the children's trail. At the end of the tour she helped Anthea decorate Easter eggs while we learned a bit more about the history of Wightwick Manor. The guidebook published by the National Trust is an interesting read but don't expect to find the paintings where they're described. Half the fun is finding the treasures on your own.

Date of Our Last Visit: April 2004