• A copy of illustrated pages found in the Kelmscott Press edition of Chaucer

    Quality books for the masses: William Morris and the Kelmscott Press

    You may know William Morris as the 19th century designer and political commentator, and even spotted some of his wallpapers around Winterbourne House. But are you aware of his printing press? We have been researching what inspired Morris to establish the Kelmscott Press, and how it significantly impacted the printing industry. Portrait of William Morris

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  • Chicken Broth

    Eat like it’s 1440: ‘Checkins in Brothe’

    May’s recipe of the month is ‘Chickens in Broth’ – a 15th century recipe brought back to life courtesy of our Visitor Engagement Manager-cum-medieval cook, Tessa. Packed with timeless flavours, it’s sure to delight even the most discerning of today’s palates.  Published by Richard Pynson in 1500, the Boke of Cokery is thought to be

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  • Traditional print workshop
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    Winterbourne Press

    We love seeing visitors discover the magic of the Winterbourne Press and watching our wonderful volunteers keep 19th century printing techniques alive. But why is there a printing press at Winterbourne – and where did it come from? Read on to discover its provenance. The Winterbourne Press came into existence in 2012, when Winterbourne salvaged

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  • Rubber alphabet set
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    Object of the month: Rubber alphabet set

    Sometimes objects from the past can remind us of processes that we take for granted. Before the days of word processing, or even photocopiers, printing was a very ‘hands-on’ business. Small letterpress printshops provided a service if you needed multiple copies of something, but what if you needed a one-off item on the spot? This

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  • Grey Squirrel
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    Gardener vs squirrel

    We’re all familiar with the typical garden pests – aphids, slugs, and snails – but our Head Gardener Dan is currently having some trouble with pests of the furrier variety: grey squirrels. In the battle between gardener and squirrel, who will win? As spring continues to paint Winterbourne with its vibrant hues, we find ourselves

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