Saw this today and was flat out astounded.. so here's a note, @Anarko style.
Discover the magical Goodwood Shell House in West Sussex, England – a hidden gem of 18th-century whimsy.
Built in the 1740s by Charles Lennox, the 2nd Duke of Richmond, as a gift for his wife, Sarah Lennox, and their daughters, Lady Caroline and Lady Emily. This octagonal folly in the Goodwood Estate gardens was a fashionable retreat where the ladies personally decorated every surface with exotic seashells collected from around the world by seafarers.
Shell grottos were all the rage among British aristocracy, inspired by Renaissance trends and colonial treasures. The Goodwood one, likely designed by architect Roger Morris, blends classical architecture with rococo flair – a true symbol of Georgian elegance and feminine creativity.
Amazing Facts:
The duchess and daughters did much of the intricate work themselves, turning it into a family project that's one of England's earliest and best-preserved shell houses.
Recently restored by experts like Tess Morley, who uses ancient putty recipes to keep the magic alive.
Stats:
Adorned with around 500,000 shells, some as tiny as a fingernail, forming elaborate patterns like floral loops, swags, bows, vases, and urns.
Grade II listed historic site, part of the sprawling 4,900-hectare Goodwood Estate.
If you're into history or quirky architecture, add this to your bucket list.
#nostr #nostriches #plebs #plebchain #grownostr #architecture #history
Built in the 1740s by Charles Lennox, the 2nd Duke of Richmond, as a gift for his wife, Sarah Lennox, and their daughters, Lady Caroline and Lady Emily. This octagonal folly in the Goodwood Estate gardens was a fashionable retreat where the ladies personally decorated every surface with exotic seashells collected from around the world by seafarers.
Shell grottos were all the rage among British aristocracy, inspired by Renaissance trends and colonial treasures. The Goodwood one, likely designed by architect Roger Morris, blends classical architecture with rococo flair – a true symbol of Georgian elegance and feminine creativity.
Amazing Facts:
The duchess and daughters did much of the intricate work themselves, turning it into a family project that's one of England's earliest and best-preserved shell houses.
Recently restored by experts like Tess Morley, who uses ancient putty recipes to keep the magic alive.
Stats:
Adorned with around 500,000 shells, some as tiny as a fingernail, forming elaborate patterns like floral loops, swags, bows, vases, and urns.
Grade II listed historic site, part of the sprawling 4,900-hectare Goodwood Estate.
If you're into history or quirky architecture, add this to your bucket list.
#nostr #nostriches #plebs #plebchain #grownostr #architecture #history