SOUTHSIDE HOUSE

My plan for ages was to go down to London to visit Southside house so i can use it as a setting for 'my family' the mill owners to live in. I was blown away by how beautiful it was, the family who still own it dont like to think of it as a museum at all. Youre allowed to touch everything and sit on the chairs, which made it a more real life experience, i could respond more to how they wouldve lived and walked around the house because i felt like I was at home as well. Southside had such a nice feel about it, really warm and welcoming, usually with old houses they can feel quite hostile and spooky but this one was the complete opposite. We had a wonderful guide who spoke about the house as if she was a storyteller repeating the vast history of the place, in particular paying reference to the family itself which i was particularly interested in. Regarding the furniture and surroundings I loved the expanse of the fabrics and materials used. Its audacious and cared for. The family havent held back. Money has been spent on luxury and plush interiors. Its great to look at and im so interested in interiors it was great.  They had recently opened up an old louis Vuitton trunk from the basement, following this theyve set up a small costume room where they have displayed the beautiful couture handmade garments that were found in the trunk. Hilda and her daughter Anne wouldve worn these in previous times.

It was great to come across the many rooms and vast stages of the house, 'the breakfast room', 'the dining room', 'the powder closet' 'the library', it was interesting to see how the other half lived.



Postcards bought from the house, 'looking into the garden', 'the hall' and 'the library'



The house was originally bought by Hilda, the daughter of 'John Pennington Mellor' a cotton dealer (which links in nicely with my idea of using this house as if im telling a story) she used it mainly as a base to bring up her children. she wasnt fully trusting of her husband Axel who was 20 years her senior and very charismatic, so the tour leader thinks she bought it as a little bit of security for her family. and it has just been passed down through the generations. The decor is audacious and not subtle, Hilda's children Malcom and John have crassly tried to re do some of the paint work to keep their mother happy, Its nice how its a personal house, it makes it so much easier to relate to.

I have discussed previously but i really want to use silk velvet and devore to sample with. I just think this will really relate to the research i have collected, and its a good medium of expressing my ideas. On the overhang of the bed in 'the Queens bedroom' it was thick embroidered velvet. beautifully presented. i want to experiment with this material but expressing my own concepts, drawings and ideas within the fabric. For example having the names of workers seeping through the fabric, or faces revealing themselves in the delicacy. Its almost like a contradiction, using the plush millowners fabrics from theitr lifestyle and having the workers and Hotspur gradually seeping through.........