Now as challenges go it was always going to be an interesting one which matched a medieval building, one of our most famous landscape artists and my friend Jean.
The building is situated at Flatford Mill in Suffolk just an hour from London and is part of a complex including a 17th century cottage and water mill dating from 1733 which feature in the paintings of John Constable.
The connection between the two is simply that the mill was for a while owned by John Constable’s father and the area features in many of Constable’s paintings.
Given that water mills have pretty much passed out of use and many have long since been allowed to fall into disrepair or just vanished from the scene this one keeps a little of the link with its past.
For here is the Field Studies Council which “offers visitors of all ages a much sought-after sense of tranquillity to complement a unique learning environment [and] has a wide-ranging programme of environment and art-based courses. Over 300 residential and day activities are offered each year for people of all ages.”*
All of which is how my friend Jean came to the place for a week long course in painting and by degree how the challenge was issued.
Looking at pictures of the place I have to say there is no escaping the sense that here you touch history.
I guess it starts with the wooden staircase made from cut tree trucks, and continues with the period building and finishes with staring out as the sun sets on the mill in the December twilight.
I am not given to sentimentality but here there really is that feeling that you walk with the past.
And given time I think I shall dig deep into the mill’s history tracing first the life and activity of Ann and Golding Constable, and then the succession of people who have lived here during the 19th century which I suppose means that the challenge is just beginning.
The return visit will allow me to also feature the work Jean produced while at the mill.
So lots to look forward to then.
Pictures; from the collection of Jean Gammons
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| Valley Farm |
The connection between the two is simply that the mill was for a while owned by John Constable’s father and the area features in many of Constable’s paintings.
Given that water mills have pretty much passed out of use and many have long since been allowed to fall into disrepair or just vanished from the scene this one keeps a little of the link with its past.
For here is the Field Studies Council which “offers visitors of all ages a much sought-after sense of tranquillity to complement a unique learning environment [and] has a wide-ranging programme of environment and art-based courses. Over 300 residential and day activities are offered each year for people of all ages.”*
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| That staircase |
Looking at pictures of the place I have to say there is no escaping the sense that here you touch history.
I guess it starts with the wooden staircase made from cut tree trucks, and continues with the period building and finishes with staring out as the sun sets on the mill in the December twilight.
I am not given to sentimentality but here there really is that feeling that you walk with the past.
 |
| Flatford Mill |
The return visit will allow me to also feature the work Jean produced while at the mill.
So lots to look forward to then.
Pictures; from the collection of Jean Gammons
*Flatford Mill, http://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/flatfordmill.aspx
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