Image credit:  Pietra dura radiator cover C.1850 at Kingston Lacy House - James Dobson NT (Wiki Commons 4.0)

KINGSTON LACY and RUSSELL-COTES ART GALLERY and MUSEUM

Wednesday 17th June 2026

Members of the Arts Society Corinium ventured into Dorset to visit two very different historic houses.

Our first visit was to the undeniably impressive National Trust property, Kingston Lacy near Wimborne Minster . Set in 8000 acres of gardens and parklands, its construction and history are intimately bound up with the fortunes of the Bankes  family. Following the ‘slighting’ ( rendered indefensible) of the family seat, Corfe Castle, during the English Civil War, the Royalist Bankes experienced a reversal of fortune at the Restoration and set about the construction of this house which was subsequently remodelled in the Georgian period as the family fortunes prospered.

Perhaps the most fascinating character in the Kingston Lacy story was the explorer and collector William John Bankes. He was a friend of Byron and travelled extensively collecting ancient Egyptian artefacts including the magnificent obelisk which is situated in the extensive gardens. He was responsible for the current appearance of the house when he employed the fashionable architect Charles Barry ( of  Palace of Westminster fame) to transform Kingston Hall into an Italianate palazzo after he inherited the house in 1834.

Notable features of William John’s palace were the wonderful marble Entrance Hall, Staircase and Loggia, the Dining Hall with its opulent carved doors, and the extravagant leather-lined Spanish Room. William John was forced into exile when he was caught in an intimate situation with a soldier in 1841 - an act for which he could have faced the death penalty. Nevertheless, he continued his programme of sumptuous improvement by ‘remote control’ from Italy providing his siblings with details of his scheme. We would all like to believe that it was even possible that he made a final secret visit to the house before he died.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this visit was to view the extraordinary art collection with artistic treasures by Raphael, Van Dyck, Rubens, Velasquez, Titian, Brueghel and Lely.  This was once one of the finest private artistic collections in the country and together with the house and estate became the largest ever bequest to the National Trust in 1981. One of the very capable and knowledgeable guides explained that the whole house and estate were something of a mystery to the people of the locality, and that, by the 1980s,  the house was in state of considerable decay and dereliction. The transformation of the house and gardens by the National Trust is seriously impressive. The gardens and parkland are also beautiful.

We then travelled to Bournemouth to the Russell-Cotes Museum and Gallery. Again, the house and collection was the work of remarkable individuals - Merton and Annie Russell-Cotes. Merton rose from quite humble origins to great wealth through his entrepreneurial endeavours in the hospitality trade based largely on the acquisition of the adjacent hotel. The house which was never really a family home was finished in 1901 as a birthday gift to his wife, Annie (she was 66 years old by then). This extravagant and opulent seaside villa occupies a site with stunning views over the bay.

In many ways the art works and the decorative scheme are a representation of high Victorian taste and the villa was an exuberant expression of the wealth and interests of this successful couple. It can only be described as idiosyncratic and eclectic ranging in style from Scottish Baronial  to Moorish and Renaissance. Sir Merton and Annie were great travellers and acquired many objects from all over the world and these are displayed in the museum including such diverse objects as the costumes of Samurai warriors and a Buddhist shrine. They also supported the theatrical arts and, in particular, were benefactors to Sir Henry Irving during his periods of penury.

Apart from being avid collectors the couple were also philanthropists and we were told they provided the funds for the founding of a local orphanage and, finally,  after creating additional gallery space in their home they donated it to the people of Bournemouth in 1907. It opened to the public in 1922.

It was an interesting and enjoyable day and many thanks to Rachel and her team for organising it.   We should also acknowledge the efforts of the many volunteer guides who make our experience so special.