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Used for Cottage and Campsite Gallery Overview

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Learn more about Point in View, the chapel made by the Parminters at A la Ronde as part of their estate.

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Point in View Chapel

Find out more about the history and conservation of the Travelling Trunks at A la Ronde, thought to have been used by the Parminters on their Grand Tour.

The Travelling Trunks

The only male owner of A la Ronde in its history, Oswald Reichel made the house a suitable home for a gentleman.

Oswald Reichel (1840-1923) and A la Ronde

Learn more about the Octagon at A la Ronde, its use and decoration.

The Octagon

Bordered with an immaculately constructed feather frieze, the Drawing Room at A la Ronde tells us many stories about its history.

The Drawing Room

Find out how the Collections Assistants at A la Ronde look after the house and its collections. From the many clocks to the smallest of its inhabitants: pests.

Clocks and Pests: A day in the life of a Collections Assistant

Find out more about the Perimeter Path at A la Ronde and the project's aims to reinstate this garden feature.

Meadow Perimeter Path

As part of the development of the Perimeter Path at A la Ronde, a series of ornamental benches were commissioned. Learn more about this part of the project, inspired by the Parminters' original plans.

The Ornamental Benches

Learn more about the Vesuvius Table, its creation and collection, at A la Ronde, Devon.

The Vesuvius Table

Amongst the jumble of curios from travels abroad is something that was made a little closer to home – a specially commissioned Fremington jug. Find out more about its history.

Fremington pottery at A la Ronde

After 18 months of careful planning and preparation, A la Ronde’s new immersive space – the ‘Room of Discovery’ - is now open.

The Room of Discovery: 'An inspiring work of art'

Learn more about life living and working at A la Ronde and just what it means to be a custodian on-site.

Living and Working at A la Ronde

Learn more about how the Basilica of San Vitale influenced the Parminters and their home at A la Ronde.

The Basilica of San Vitale: A la Ronde's Inspiration

Open the door on an extraordinary creation and its conservation.

Explore the Shell Gallery Virtual Experience

The metal-tipped teapot spout set into the Shell Gallery wall, A la Ronde, Devon.

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During conservation work in the Shell Gallery, a historic mystery was solved at A la Ronde. This piece of porcelain had mystified staff and family alike for decades, but has now been identified as a teapot spout. Likely part of a teapot much older than the house, this is one example of creative recycling at A la Ronde.

A la Ronde has stood for over 200 years, and in that time has weathered south westerly storms, seen major building adaptations, been a family home, housed war-time evacuees, been divided into bedsits for tenants, and opened to visitors. Over the last few years, water leaking from the roof was damaging the Shell Gallery and Grotto Staircase.

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Our Conservation Story: Conserving the past, creating the future

Learn more about conserving the Shell Gallery here.

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A teapot in the wall

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The circular exterior of A la Ronde with diamond shaped windows and a green door

Detail of the memorial plaque on the Vesuvius Table at A la Ronde, Devon.

A photograph of two young men in a black and gilt mount.

The only male owner of A la Ronde in its history. Oswald Reichel made his mark on the property. Removing the thatch and adding the upper floor alongside other modernisations, he made the property an ideal home for a Victorian gentleman.

Oswald Reichel (1840-1923) was the only male owner of A la Ronde in its extraordinary history. Breaking the tradition of female ownership defined by Mary Parminter, Reichel left his mark on the house, making A la Ronde into a comfortable home for himself. However, he was embroiled in scandal, his romantic antics becoming a national news story.

The Rev. Oswald Reichel

Side-view of the painted Vesuvius Table at A la Ronde, Devon.

A very personal souvenir of the Parminter 'Grand Tour', it is thought that this work table was decorated by Jane or Mary Parminter. Inlaid with shells, minerals, mosaic-work and an enamelled miniature, the table depicts two pictures of volcanoes, including Vesuvius. 

Jane and Mary were intrepid travellers and the group had already climbed Mont Buet in the Swiss Alps. The collections at A la Ronde include items from Naples and other nearby villages, therefore it is likely they would have climbed the famous Pompeian volcano.

Anyone who embarked on a ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries would expect to return with souvenirs and mementoes.  They might use these to show friends and visitors, for display or to add to collections.  Sometimes, as at A la Ronde, the souvenirs might be incorporated into furnishings, giving them a new life and providing a permanent reminder of travels.

Learn more about the Vesuvius Table here.

The 'Vesuvius Table'

Detail of the parrot panel decoration in the Shell Gallery, A la Ronde, Devon.

View of the Drawing Room at A la Ronde towards the fireplace.

Positive and negative reliefs of Mary Walrond beside the feather frieze around the door in the Drawing Room at A la Ronde, Devon.

Pirenesi prints on the walls of the Dining Room, A la Ronde, Devon.

The collections at A la Ronde contain various 'Piranesi Prints', famously created by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in the 18th century. 

It is thought that Jane and Mary probably bought these prints while they were on the Grand Tour

The Grand Tour, a traditional educational trip through Europe in the 18th century, was usually undertaken by wealthy young men. Their sisters conventionally stayed at home; although it was not that unusual, later in the century, for unaccompanied wealthy women to travel in Europe as tourists. Jane, her sister Elizabeth, her young cousin, Mary, and a female friend set off together in 1784 to see the sights for themselves.

The Parminter Ladies' Grand Tour

Learn more about the Parminter Grand Tour here.

Piranesi Prints at A la Ronde

In 2022 we embarked on a major project to transform A la Ronde’s offer for our visitors, volunteers, and local community.

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Our Project - A la Ronde: Conserving the Past, Creating the Future

The Compendium is a collection of stories to delight and surprise. You can explore all things A la Ronde here in one central place.

The Compendium | A la Ronde, National Trust

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The Compendium is a collection of stories to delight and surprise. You can explore all things A la Ronde here in one central place for the first time. We will be adding new stories for years to come.

The Compendium

A 19th century earthenware jug with an inscription (not legible) and light yellow flower design

Harvest Jug A la Ronde 009

Detail of the Shell Gallery at A la Ronde, Devon

The Shell Gallery at A la Ronde, Devon, 1763355

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Three 18th century wood and leather travelling trunks, pictured after receiving conservation.

Travelling Trunks after conservation, A la Ronde, Devon

A view of the Octagon at A la Ronde, Devon, from the Shell Gallery.

The Octagon viewed from above, A la Ronde, Devon, 146012

A copper plate with a photographic image of the Rev Oswald Reichel.

Copper printing plate with photographic image of Rev O. Reichel, A la Ronde, Devon, 1797162

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Inside of the drawing room at A la Ronde with a large fireplace and green curtains

The drawing room, A la Ronde, Devon 1289952

A conservator works on the Shell Gallery at A la Ronde, Devon

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An ornamental bench in the foreground of the meadow at A la Ronde, Devon.

Perimeter Path bench and meadow, A la Ronde, Devon

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Beautiful spring garden scene in the garden at A la Ronde, with tulips and bluebells

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The Compendium

Our Project - A la Ronde: Conserving the Past, Creating the Future