FEATURE
by the general public.
They include a bronze bust of Prince
Albert made shortly after his death,
and one of Queen Victoria that she
commissioned at the same time to
sit alongside the one of her deceased
husband. Chairs and tables are stacked as
if they are about to be sold at auction –
but obviously never are!
Osborne re-opened its doors just at
weekends in March, and now the House,
as well as Swiss Cottage, the museum,
and the gardens are back in full swing
with some 30 rooms available to view
over four floors in the House itself.
Around 20,000 magnificent catalogued
items, and some 500 paintings all originals as one would expect complement the opulent rooms and
hallways of Osborne House, with
around 50 paid staff on hand to enhance
customer service.
Curator Michael Hunter said: “There is
so much happening when you are getting
the House ready for re-opening. It is a
busy period, but also one of expectation
and anticipation. It is a bit like a theatre
and getting everything ready for the show
to begin. It is good to see people coming
back through the doors, and the House
coming to life again.
“We try to present the House as much
as it was when Queen Victoria was
here and it was a family home. Many
people comment on the fact it isn’t like
a museum because it still has a very
lived-in feel with the personal touch.
There is an air of excitement looking at
an object that you know Queen Victoria
once looked at. You get that immediate
link back in time because everything
is the real thing – we don’t have any
reproduction items.”
Outside in the spectacular gardens there
are many more imposing bronze statues
that were also carefully covered over to
protect them from the winter elements.
They are now baring all once more, and
as we left, the lawns were having their
first cut of the season, and hundreds
of daffodils were swaying gently in the
breeze. A real sight to behold, and one
no visitor, or even Islander, should really
miss!
62
www.visitislandlife.com
Green, green grass...
The green, green grass of Osborne House gardens will become home for
Welsh singing legend Tom Jones on Sunday 29. He will be returning to the
Island after stealing the show in the Big Top at the IW Festival last year.
The breathtaking grounds of Osborne House will play host to a two-night
concert that also sees British pop sensation Steps performing on stage.
Concerts have been hugely popular at the venue in recent years with the
likes of Simply Red, Rick Astley, Bananarama and Escala wowing the
audience.
John Giddings, organiser of Osborne House Summer Concerts and the
IW Festival, is thrilled to have teamed up again with Green Eye Events,
Riverside Productions and English Heritage to put on this unique weekend.
He said: “I can’t think of a more perfect summer evening than Tom in the
grounds of Osborne House, Queen Victoria would be proud of us.”
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will again be appearing for their ‘Last
Night of The Proms’ concert at Osborne on July 21.