Arts, Crafts & Antiques in 1066 Country
06 Sep 2011
The charming town of Bexhill-on-Sea on England's south east coast in historic 1066 Country is home to Erich Mendelson's modernist masterpiece, the De La Warr Pavilion, which still draws admiring gasps from around the world. The Pavilion is widely regarded as one of the UK's most important arts venues, with its unique seafront design making it a natural home for the imaginative, outrageous and bold.
The Pavilion will be hosting a major Warhol exhibition from 24 September 2011 until 26 February 2012. Almost 150 works will be included in Warhol is Here, which features one of the artist's most important paintings, the Marilyn Diptych, made in 1962, shortly after the actress' death.
In nearby Hastings, the brand new Jerwood Gallery will be opening in Hastings Old Town early in 2012, to showcase the Jerwood Collection of British paintings - a prestigious private colleciton of 20th and 21st century art that will be on view to the general public for the first time. Hastings Old Town and St Leonards are home to a thriving community of artists, whose work can be found in the many delightful galleries that nestle alongside the antique and 'brocante' shops.
The medieval town of Rye just along the coast is a magnet for artists and literary figures alike. Not to be missed is the Rye Art Gallery, which houses a magnificent collection of over 400 acclaimed works. Rye is also renowned for its many Antique Shops and a dedicated Antiques Trail for visitors can be downloaded from www.visitrye.co.uk.
Lamb House in Rye was the home of American author, Henry James, from 1898 until 1916, during which time he wrote 'Wings of the Dove'. Following James' death, author E F Benson took the house over and wrote the 'Mapp & Lucia' novels, taking inspiration from his surroundings.
Discover Travel & Tours 3 day Hastings and 1066 Country Tour, including visits to Hastings Castle, Battle Abbey, Bodiam Castle and Rye Church would make an ideal add on to a London City Break or a perfect pre-post cruise extension, considering the proximity to the south coast ports of Southampton, Portsmouth and Dover.