June 23rd 2011

Rachael and I spent the morning at the Covent Garden market. There were cute little market shops everywhere! Also, a lovely string quartet played in the middle of the market. It was beautiful. We made it back to the hotel in time to hear some poetry readings by the ENGL 210 class, and then we boarded the bus for an afternoon to Charleston. We first stopped at the Berwick Church, where Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, two of our members of the Bloomsbury Group, painted beautiful murals on the walls of the church.  A cool fact about the murals is that Angelica Bell, Vanessa and Duncan’s daughter, was the model for Mary in the murals. Also, the two shepherds found in the nativity scene mural had both lost an arm. It was not specified how, but one can assume it was because of the war or some type of laborious job. Other smaller paintings surrounded the walls of the church, such as farm life, flowers, and landscapes. We stopped for a snack at the local pub and headed to Charleston house.  This is where Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, Clive Bell, other members of the group lived for a number of years. The house has been preserved quite well, and to this day houses original paintings created by the artists.  My favorite part of the house was that the walls in each room were uniquely painted. Most of the bedrooms were painted as the artist inhabiting the room would have liked it. I really appreciated how these people had decorated their own home with their own work. We were given a free glass of wine after the tour, which was a nice end to a lovely day. Plus, the garden at Charleston house, just like many other gardens I have seen in England, was beautiful. I just wish it wouldn’t have been raining so I could have enjoyed it more! We boarded back on the bus and headed back to London, where we filled our bellies with yummy pub food and hit the sack. Only one day left of our glorious adventure!

Beautiful mural at Berwick Church

           beautiful vines growing on Charleston house

   Our wonderful bus driver, and honorary group member, Paul.