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from Absolutely West Essex March 2023

RideLondon -Essex

A new collection of wallpapers revives historical designs from the National Trust archive

Words EVE HERBERT and green spaces. Ruth Mottershead of Little Greene says: “Our collaboration with the National Trust allows us to uncover incredible designs and colours that can be shared with the nation through new wallpaper and paint collections. The contributions made from the sale of every roll of National Trust wallpaper and each tin of paint goes towards supporting the National Trust’s conservation work, to ensure the nation’s historic houses, gardens and landscapes can be enjoyed for years to come.”

Equally, for the National Trust, Becky Stanford adds: “Little Greene undertakes research into our original wallcoverings, designs and colourways, allowing us to learn more about the collections in our care.”

Bird and Bluebell c.1830-1870 is an elegant mural, featuring birds, bees and bluebells has been created from remaining fragments of wallpaper found at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk. Originally on a striped background, the remaining source material has been adapted, transformed and recoloured to suit the contemporary interior. Volières c.1950, is a more contemporary find, featuring 1950s style doves, ribbons and flowers and is a reimagination of an 18th-century design. Found at Oxburgh Hall, an archived photograph revealed the location of this wallpaper in one of the bedrooms in the private family quarters. The wallpaper is thought to have been a visible reminder of Oxburgh’s last days under family ownership, having been put up for sale just months after the wallpaper was produced. Poppy Trail, c.1890-1900, is a flamboyant floral design featuring large, stylised poppies and is a classic example of those in production during the late 19th century. Briar Rose, c.1845-1915, is characterised as being in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style, evident in the densely stylised natural motifs – this wallpaper was originally designed by children’s book illustrator, Walter Crane. Many of Crane’s drawings became nursery wallpapers and ‘Briar Rose’ began its life as the background to a wallpaper called ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, which featured characters from Sleeping Beauty among the roses. Found at Oxburgh Hall, little is known about where in the house the wallpaper was used, as much of the original exists today only as loose samples. Upper Brook St., c.1920, features brightly coloured kniphofia flowers, commonly known as torch lilies or red hot pokers (African in origin, but named after German horticulturalist Johan Hieronymous Kniphof). They were recorded as having been hand-painted and stuck over a pre-hung wall covering in a late 18th century Upper Brook Street house as a bespoke decoration. Lovers’ Toile, c.1950, a contemporary take on a classic pattern is a post-WWII reinterpretation of an 18th-century French Toile de Jouy design. Featuring vignettes of people in activity including fishing, dancing and gardening, this single colour design has been printed in five modern colourways. Dahlia Scroll, c.1890-1900, is a scrolling floral design reminiscent of the early work of Voysey. Coloured in seven different ways, including elegant neutrals, bold blue and vibrant yellow, this pattern would have originally been block printed, possibly by Jeffrey & Co.

Price range £102 - £118 per roll, £244 per panel littlegreene.com