Visiting Wightwick Manor

A little over six months ago I decided that I wanted to start visiting local attractions within my area (see post here). Last Sunday I finally took the time to visit Wightwick Manor just outside Wolverhampton, a National Trust owned property that still has links with the original family. I admit that my main reason for visiting was to use my membership card (which is reasonably priced if you bother to use it, which at that time I hadn't) but I'm now amazed that I hadn't been to Wightwick before! It is a beautiful property that still houses some magnificant art works, including many by William Morris, where his designs continue to be used as intended.

The Manor was built in 1887 by Theodore Mander, a paint and varnish manufacturer based in Wolverhampton who was very influenced by the ideas of writer and critic John Ruskin. The house was designed from this inspiration, showcasing incredible handcrafted woodwork whilst incorporating modern amenities including central heating and electric lighting. Here you can see some of the outer detail on the woodwork:

Unfortunately photography was not allowed inside the property in order to protect the art works, however here are some of the pictures from the guide book:

Drawing Room

Dining Room


The house has many impressive rooms, including the Drawing Room and Dining Room, however my favourite by far was the Great Parlour. This room is huge. When you look at the outside of the property, yes it looks big, but at no point did I imagine that it could house a room this size. It felt more like entering a small church than a sitting room, with it's high ceilings and large, intricate fireplace. I'm sure I am not the only person to have walked over the threshold into that room and wished that it was my house!

I studied the Pre-Raphaelites at University and it was easy to see thier influence in every corner of the manor. I particularly liked Edward Burne-Jones and so I was particularly happy to see his piece 'Love among the Ruins' in the Great Parlour - the detail in this work is beautiful, particularly the fabrics.

Love amongst the Ruins - Edward Burne-Jones (courtesy of Illusions Gallery)

However, the star of the manor is of course William Morris, famous for his designs in fabric, wallpaper and furniture. It is perhaps a disappointment that the family had no known connection with Morris himself or his company Morris & Co., as so many rooms feature his work.

Morris' love of pattern has always appealed to me and was in fact a direct influence on a selection of my GCSE art work in school. Thanks to my visit to Wightwick I am determined to use his work as an influence again, and incorporate it into some of my future compositions.

Overall Wightwick was a fabulous property to visit; as well as the house itself it also has some beautfiully kept gardens attached to it, including a pond, rose garden and orchard.

I had a great day visiting Wightwick Manor - it's very inspirational and a complete gem situated just outside the built up areas of Wolverhampton - most definitely worth a second visit!

If you'd like to find out more about Wightwick Manor, including how to get there, please visit the National Trust website.


Caroline

Returning home and the prospect of employment.

So, I am back from my holiday in Tenerife – it was long overdue and much needed! I have always enjoyed going on holiday, but I have never really understood just how important they are until now. Ever since coming home I have realised just how wound up by day to day life I was, ever consumed by general tasks and to do lists that are never ending. Holidays are important. Just being able to let your mind relax and take a break from everything is a complete luxury – I certainly won’t be leaving it 3 years until the next one!

Here are just a few of my holiday snaps:

Unfortunately I have since had to return to normality, and am faced with new challenges to clog up my brain once more. Whilst my art work is still very much a priority, it is still on the backburner for the moment as job hunting must take precedence. My current employment contract ends in just a few weeks and so I am surrounded by the usual list of job applications and covering letters.

Getting a job should not be this hard. I realise that everyone is struggling right now, such is the state of affairs, but it is, as reported recently, the youth of the country who are suffering the most, and I would even go as far as to say it is graduates who are paying the price.

I am one of many in a generation where going to University was the ‘done’ thing – only a handful of people in my school year chose not to attend university, and it was the same for many across the country. We were told that if you go to University, you will be able to make the most of your future and make yourself stand out amongst other applicants. They were almost right. Whilst a degree does make you stand out amongst applicants to higher level jobs, every other applicant in the top half of the pile has a degree – potentially putting you in the top half of a list of 300 people. So whilst the degree does give you more of an advantage, it isn’t much of one.

‘You lack the relevant experience.’ Something I hear constantly. Just yesterday I ventured around a few recruitment agencies:

‘Whilst your work experience is broad and sounds really good, it just isn’t what our clients are looking for. You would need 3 to 4 years of experience within an office environment in order to be considered.’
Right then…and exactly how do I go about getting that then? Being as I can’t get a job because I don’t have the experience but no one will give me a job so that I can get the experience?

Catch 22 doesn’t even begin to cover it. Whilst I don’t want a job to be the most important aspect of my life, a career is something that helps to shape and define you as a person. This Catch 22 is shaping the lives of the youth today and unfortunately I can’t see it ending anytime soon.
With the number of redundancies being made across the UK, any previous jobs being assigned to graduates are now being taken by those with more experience; they too need the work and so will accept a lower wage, but can offer the employer so much more in return.

Unfortunately for graduates, choices are slim. I myself have built up work experience in positions that I could have gained, had I left school at 16, in order to try to bridge this gap in work experience, and whilst it has paid off in some respects, I am now in a vicious circle of rejection.

From being told that I do not have enough experience to even be considered for an interview, I am faced with the prospect of being over qualified for others. Companies see my degree on my CV and realise I actually have the desire to progress within a career and challenge myself and therefore do not see me as a viable candidate. Graduates are most definitely stuck, as the saying goes, between a rock and a hard place.

If it weren’t such a depressing situation it might actually be amusing. Many times I have seen the look of confusion on a person’s face as I have explained to them that yes, I do have a degree and yes, my job does involve serving in a cafe. As one customer said, ‘So that’s the degree you need to serve a cup of tea! I always wondered!’ As I said, almost amusing.

For me, it is back to the drawing board, more applications, more covering letters. The trick is to stay positive and keep going, a challenge within itself – it’s just a shame that you can’t use it as an example within an interview, because these days, it really does show strength of character…



Caroline