Author: Mark Benson
Directions: Follow the staircase down to the Entrance Hall. Your tour has come to an end.
Transcript
Now, facing the staircase, the walls around it are painted in a rich ruby red. The stairs have a green patterned carpet, and the bannisters are of a dark wood. You can view the staircase and surrounding area as Ellen and Charles’ Instagram feed – as we travel up the stairs, we will observe their life (or at least what they want to show us) in full display on the walls. Ellen and Charles were the influencers of the Edwardian age and this can be seen here on the staircase. They had opportunities, great wealth, had status in the community and the ability to travel.
Before we depart up the stairs, let us discover the paintings and stories at its foot. If we turn to our right, we will come across a selection of dog pictures like today’s Instagrammers would post. The picture to the top left is of Kylin who was Ellen’s favourite dog. He also appeared in many of Ellen’s photographs.
Kylin was a Pekingese. This breed was very trendy during the Edwardian period. Queen Victoria herself owned one of the first five Pekingese dogs in Britain. The bottom right picture is of Peter, who was Charles’ favourite dog. He is buried along with Kylin in the Pet Cemetery, which is in the manor’s walled garden.
Before we embark up the stairs, be warned that they are allegedly haunted – by, ‘the lady in grey’. It is claimed that during the 1950s the caretaker saw the lady descend the staircase and walk through the closed off doorway where the cabinet containing the fishing figurines is. Be prepared to be accompanied by an additional companion whilst venturing up the stairs.
As we transition from the ground floor to the landing, we see the rest of the family’s feed — displayed are multiple landscapes of Preston Manor and pictures of Madeira, where the family owned another property. Reaching the landing, the staircase can be followed further into the attic. Here the walls become plainer as they lead to secondary and servant’s rooms. At this point the family’s visual story ends for the visitor to see.