West Dean House ....

.... is only open once a year but is really worth taking the opportunity. Edward James lived there, philanthropist and sponsor to many artists including Salvador Dali. There are a couple of famous Dali pieces - the sofa based on Mae West's lips and the lobster telephone. both collaborations between Dali and Edward James. The house is almost as surreal as the art works.

Edward James created a foundation in 1964 to run craft courses and the house and gardens are in use constantly. The various departments are internationally known for the high quality of their work and repair historic tapestries and furniture for our important historic houses. The foundation is not self funding, now and then they have to sell off a work of art to fund the costs of keeping the house going, £1 million a year. Must be nice to have the option to sell off a painting.

The outside is local flint as you can see, rigorously laid in absolutely uniformly straight lines with tiny flints set into the mortar. The entire roof is castellated. The gardens are full of shrubs and hedges shaped liked these on the south end of the building. The day was warm but overcast.

Edward James, 1908-1984