Sunday, December 19, 2021

Mosaic Monday #160: Getting "Plastered"

Have you enjoyed the posts about our trip to the UK in October/November?  Good, 'cause there's more!

Along with my in-laws, we drove south to Keighley, with an initial destination of East Riddlesden Hall.  Nestled against a duck pond, it is a picturesque 17th-century mansion built on the foundations of an earlier medieval hall house.  The main part of the medieval house was rebuilt around 1630, with further remodeling in 1648 and again in 1692 when a new wing, now ruined, was added to the earlier structure. 

We have toured scores of historic homes while living in and visiting the UK, and yet we still learn fascinating facts (and maybe a few fictions, too).  East Riddlesden was staffed by knowledgeable docents, and in one of the rooms, the volunteer pointed out the plasterwork on the ceiling.  She went on to tell us that "back in the day", plasterers used stale beer (the main form of beverage as water was unsanitary) to "stick" plaster artwork to ceilings.  A workman who imbibed his own product might have been tipsy, hence the use of the word "plastered" to describe a person who is inebriated.  I LOVE that!



Interesting features of the house include well-restored living accommodations on two floors, two Yorkshire Rose windows, a walled garden, and the ruined Starkie wing.  (Edmund Starkie built a large extension to the Hall in 1692.  The architecture is more Classical than the older part of the Hall.  Unfortunately, most of the wing had become dangerous and was demolished in the early 20th century, leaving only the north facade.)



In one of the bedrooms, I spotted this bedspread and was immediately intrigued.  I discovered Spanish Blackwork!  The story goes that Catherine of Aragon and her maids brought the art of Blackwork to England when she married Henry VIII.  In the same room, they had scaled-up examples of Blackwork.  As you can see in the mosaics below, the patterns are worked just like cross-stitch, with a variety of stitches and back-stitches. 




I was delighted to discover that the gift shop had a book on the subject.  Upon reading it, I have learned that Blackwork typically involves people creating their own designs - different stitches and thread thickness can result in some elaborate creations - that will be a new adventure for me!






East Riddlesden was used as a filming location for the 1992 film Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.  It's not hard to see why.





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36 comments:

  1. ..."plastered" has two distinct meanings that I can think of. Have a merry and sober Christmas.

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  2. Hello,
    I admit, I thought the same as Tom above. The plastered ceiling is pretty. Nice images from your tours. I like the view of the duck pond too. Take care, have a great day and week ahead! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  3. Beautiful duck pond! I'm looking forward to some new blackwork created by you. Merry Christmas!

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  4. Such a lovely post.
    I did enjoy seeing all of your photographs.
    Marry Christmas Wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  5. Cool! It looks like a fun trip. I love old buildings like that!

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  6. I love etymology and it was fun to read about "plastered"! Words are fascinating. It's always enjoyable to read about your visits to various places. Merry Christmas, Angie!

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  7. We're sure enjoyed your UK tour! Hey, you gonna trade the cabin for a castle?

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  8. Such a beautiful property to visit with some interesting revelations. I'm considering having a martini right about now but also not wanting to get plastered. Happy Merry Christmas week to you!

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  9. I love visiting the historic homes in UK, specially the gardens there. Wonderful photos, Angie! Happy Holiday!

    -Soma

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  10. I'm a fan of blackwork and redwork because of the use of one thread color. :) I've gotten very lazy with my choice of cross-stitch designs as I've gotten older (the simpler, the better). It's good you traveled when you did since the UK just stopped flights in and out and much of Europe is going into lockdown again. Seems I'll only be doing armchair travel for awhile longer. :( Take care.

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  11. p.s. I love learning the history behind some of our common sayings -- and touring historical places. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Thank you for another interesting blog entry, Angie. While we are sitting at home, confined more or less, it is delightful to follow your footsteps virtually!

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  13. Dear Angie - The white plastered ceiling is beautiful. Now I understand why “plastered” means “very drunk”. I was glued to the Blackwork. So many different stich designs! I can imagine you walked in style through British landscape. I’m a great fan of British-style architectures. In the previous post, I’m interested in dry stone walls. The construction technique is different in my country used for not stile but for castle walls in the medieval age. Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

    Yoko

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  14. Spanish blackwork...I've never heard of it either but it is beautiful I wonder how hard it would be to work with the black, it sure looks stunning though. I have enjoyed seeing pics of your trip! Happy holidays!

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  15. Dear Angie,
    you have to know that I've always been so much in love with late medieval English architechture, and I so love all the styles which rediscover elements from it during the Victorian Age.
    You write that the main part of the medieval house you've visited was rebuilt around 1630, with further remodeling later, but the original structure has been preserved, I seem!
    I'm truly feeling in awe, thank you for sharing such gorgeous images also of the ceiling!
    With utmost gratitude for hosting today too,
    I'm wishing you a most Blessed and Joy-fillled Christmas ever
    Much love
    XO Daniela at ~ My little old world ~ (Dany)

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  16. Amazing brickworking. Thanks for sharing. Happy Monday Angie

    Much💜love

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  17. I've never heard of Spanish Blackwork either. How interesting!

    Love seeing photos of your trip!

    Happy Monday!

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  19. Oh yes, dear Angie,
    I can also imagine this place as a backdrop for period films of all kinds - beautiful and romantic. And the old walls look like a lot of stories. Very funny, the thing with the word "plastered": -DD
    Oh, and you discovered a new hobby ;-)? I didn't know blackwork until then, but it looks great.
    I wish you wonderful Christmas holidays and a happy New Year! ❣️🕯️✨ !
    All the best
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2021/12/advent-2021-bei-den-rostrosen.html

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  20. Oh, that's indeed a wonderful story of your Trip to the UK. I love the history too, Angie, and enjoyed reading. Something I could maybe say to the word "putzen". Look in the Etymologie of words we find butzen with a "b". It could be from latin...

    ...and I never forget to wish you and your family a Merry, merry Christmas.

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  21. Isn't that interesting! Plastered, indeed!

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  22. Thanks so much for the tour and the information on black work. Very interesting! Thanks for hosting. Have a great Christmas holiday.

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  23. Haha Angie I love that about getting plastered! The mosaic patterns of blackwork seem perfect for here and also to master during the winter months ahead! Can't wait to see your work. Happy holidays.

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  24. I forgot to link one of my mosaics, Angie! Thank you for being such a wonderful host for Mosaic Monday this year. Best wishes for the Festive Season!

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  25. I love these old buildings, castles, residences. The blackwork looks fascinating. I will have to look it up. I look forward to seeing your samples! Have a very happy and safe Christmas and thank you again for the link up.

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  26. That ceiling is beautiful -- those particular craftsmen couldn't have been too plastered while they plastered. What a funny story -- I always wondered about beer and wine subbing for unsanitary water, isn't there water in the product? Perhaps the alcohol kills the germs -- I'll go with that. The black work is beautiful and I admire the fact that you'll teach yourself to do it by reading -- but after this lovely post "Wuthering Heights" is the book I want to re-read!

    Merry Christmas and thank you for the gifts you give us every week of the year! with your posts and hosting!

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  27. What a beautiful place to visit, I love the description of the "plastering". The black work is stunning, great to find the book.
    Very happy Christmas to you Angie.

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  28. I'd never thought of Keighley as a tourist destination however you certainly gleaned valuable historical facts from your visit. I'm not so sure about the plastered story- it sounds so highly unlikely that it's probably true. But then who really knows what goes on in Yorkshire?

    Happy Christmas Angie. And a Prosperous New Year.

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  29. Great visit to our country, love them. All best of season's greetings Angie.

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  30. YES!!! and i am glad there is more!! tipsy - plastered, boy does that make sense...thats so funny, i will never look at plastered walls the same way again. the blackwork stitch work is really unique and beautiful!! love the book, i know you will enjoy it!!

    merry christmas angie, to you and the family. i hope you have a wonderful holiday!!

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    1. and to answer the questions about the trains...yes, it is taken down right after new years! that takes 2 men 60 hours. and yes, most of the homes and stores are replicas of those found in the town of spring lake. i'm so happy you enjoyed it so much!!

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  31. Those historical mansions are incredible!

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  32. It's amazing how old many of the old English buildings are and how varied their history is. I love the grounds.

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  33. Beautiful photos, Angie. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  34. The Blackwork is so beautiful Angie, how lovely. I'm just popping by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!!! ☺♥🎄

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