Discover 18th Century artefacts at the University of Roehampton

• Friday, November 3, 2017

The University of Roehampton is holding a free event on Saturday 25^th November, as part of the national Being Human Festival – which aims to engage the public with the latest innovative research taking place across the humanities. 

The Festival, which runs across the country from 17-25 November this year, is led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London in partnership with the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.

Visitors are invited to Grove House—a listed building tucked away behind the University’s Froebel campus, during the afternoon from 1pm until 5pm.

People can experience how life was as an eighteenth-century collector of classical antiques including pottery and sculpture, and take in the neo-classical features which highlight the interiors of Grove House.

Expert guides from the university’s Classical Civilisations team will be at hand to help people explore the grounds at Grove House and learn about its fascinating history. The activity trail lasts an hour and will take in highlights of the ground. There is also a chance to explore the neo-classical features which are part of the interiors of Grove House. 

Dr Helen Slaney, Research Facilitator at the School of Humanities said:

 ‘This is a great opportunity to imagine yourself back in the 18^th century – when people were decorating their houses in neo-classical style, using it to imagine that they could go back to the ancient Greek world.

 ‘The afternoon will appeal to history enthusiasts and adventurers alike, as it’s all about collecting ancient history and stepping into modern times with it. You can explore the grounds and examine the artefacts closely and find out the stories behind them from one of our expert guides’.

Grove House has an impressive history dating back to 1779 when it was built, after the demolition of Roehampton Great House, the previous residence. Other features, such as the beautiful gardens, lily pond, Venetian wellhead and limestone terrace were added in the nineteenth century.

The event is fully accessible and suitable for all ages. There is no booking required, people can just turn up on the day.

For more information contact helen.slaney@roehampton.ac.uk or visit here  

For more information on the Being Human Festival, visit here.