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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

Learn more about the collection of minerals and rocks in the Cabinet of Curiosity at A la Ronde, Devon.

Minerals and Rocks in the Cabinet of Curiosities

On 11th July 2024, A la Ronde hosted its first academic conference, ‘The Symposium: Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. Learn more about the day here.

The Symposium

As part of the A la Ronde project, we have re-connected with local groups and organisations. Learn more about our work with Devon Carers here.

Working in Partnership: Devon Carers and the Quilt

The 2024 Summer Festival, ran from 16th to 20th July, and hosted 1500 visitors, volunteers, partners and colleagues. Learn more about the week here.

The Summer Festival

Each of the five videos shares a different part of A la Ronde’s story, from an introduction to the house and grounds, to the inspiring stories of the people who called A la Ronde their home. We also share the recent conservation discoveries and place the house in its changing landscape.

Accessible Videos - Sharing A la Ronde's Stories

Through touch we explore our surroundings. In fact, touch is our very first sense to develop. Touch is important for our wellbeing and is associated with emotions and memories. The Room of Discovery at A la Ronde is designed to be touched, so what benefit could a space like this have on the people who visit?

Please do touch!

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper '“A Place to cultivate her Mind in by Musing:” Anne Reckless Emlen’s 1757 Shellwork Grotto' was presented by Laura Keim, Kalia Temple and Lara Kaplan. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - '“A Place to cultivate her Mind in by Musing:” Anne Reckless Emlen’s 1757 Shellwork Grotto'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper '“Call us not weeds!”: Examining the Aesthetics of Upcycling and Anonymity in Victorian Depictions of Seaweed' was presented by Dr Beth Howell. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - '“Call us not weeds!”: Examining the Aesthetics of Upcycling and Anonymity in Victorian Depictions of Seaweed'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper 'The Eventfulness of Nature: women and the seashore in the long nineteenth century' was presented by Dr Kyriaki Hadjiafxendi. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'The Eventfulness of Nature: women and the seashore in the long nineteenth century'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper 'From Chinese Chambre to Feather Room: Elizabeth Montagu’s (1718-1800) Interiors in the 1760s and 1780s London' was presented by Wenyu Dong. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'From Chinese Chambre to Feather Room: Elizabeth Montagu’s (1718-1800) Interiors in the 1760s and 1780s London'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper The material biography of Molly Lepell: Material culture and collection as a form of life writing in the 18th century was presented by Emily Deal. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'The material biography of Molly Lepell: Material culture and collection as a form of life writing in the 18th century'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper 'Mother and Daughter Needlework Fire Screens at Osterley Park and House' was presented by Ffion George. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'Mother and Daughter Needlework Fire Screens at Osterley Park and House'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper ‘'Our new paper hangings’: Women and wallpaper in eighteenth-century Britain' was presented by Professor Clare Taylor. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - '‘Our new paper hangings’: Women and wallpaper in eighteenth-century Britain'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper ''The Feather'd Fair': women, femininity and feathers in the 1790's’ was presented by Dr Lucy Powell. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - ''The Feather'd Fair': women, femininity and feathers in the 1790's'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper The octagonal chairs from A la Ronde: finding connections through technical investigation and conservation was presented by Nicola Shreeve. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'The octagonal chairs from A la Ronde: finding connections through technical investigation and conservation'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper 'Conserving the Past, Creating the Future: a summary of the conservation project at A la Ronde' was presented by Daniel Cull. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'Conserving the Past, Creating the Future: a summary of the conservation project at A la Ronde'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper 'Taj Mahal Palace Complex in Princely Bhopal: Nawab Shahjahan Begum's 19th Century Royal Residence in Colonial India' was presented by Saniya Siddiqui. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'Taj Mahal Palace Complex in Princely Bhopal: Nawab Shahjahan Begum's 19th Century Royal Residence in Colonial India'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper 'Transcultural-ism in Nineteenth-Century Mofussil India: Begam Samru and Her Architecturally Hybrid Sardhana Palace' was presented by Professor Jyoti Pandey Sharma. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'Transcultural-ism in Nineteenth-Century Mofussil India: Begam Samru and Her Architecturally Hybrid Sardhana Palace'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper 'Making Cottages: Rural Retreat and the Appropriation of the Vernacular in the C18th' was presented as the keynote address by Professor Daniel Maudlin. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'Making Cottages: Rural Retreat and the Appropriation of the Vernacular in the C18th'

On 11th July 2024 we held A la Ronde's Symposium, entitled ‘Female Craft and Design in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries’. This paper 'The Architectural Patronage of Mrs Montagu, Queen of the Bluestockings' was presented by Dr Rosemary Baird Andreae. Learn more about the paper here.

A la Ronde Symposium - 'The Architectural Patronage of Mrs Montagu, Queen of the Bluestockings'

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

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

A la Ronde featured in the BBC series ‘Hidden Treasures of the National Trust’ (series 2, episode 1). 

A la Ronde takes a starring role in the first episode, focused on houses belonging to people who created unusual homes, and who refused to live according to the conventions of their time. Learn more about A la Ronde's appearance in the BBC Two series, 'Hidden Treasures of the National Trust' here.

A la Ronde: A Hidden Treasure

Both Jane and Mary Parminter left wills which was rare for women of their time, learn more about their last wishes here.

The Last Wishes of Jane and Mary Parminter

The 2022-2024 conservation work in the Shell Gallery uncovered an exciting discovery, see what it was here.

Secret Writing Revealed

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

The last will and testament of Mary Parminter written on vellum at A la Ronde, Devon during the BTS filming for Hidden Treasures Series 2.

In the early 1800s, it was uncommon for women to own property - and leaving a will, to direct what should happen to a woman’s property after her death, was equally rare. In fact, married women could not own property, or make a will, until 1870 – unless the property in question had been built before marriage. 

Jane and Mary remained single and unmarried throughout their lives, and so ownership of A la Ronde was theirs. As was the right to make a will. The wills of both women ensured that their estate and possessions were safeguarded, and passed to members of their family.

Learn more about Mary Parminters last wishes here.

The last will and testament of Mary Parminter

Jane and Mary owned a Wedgwood creamware dinner service which dates to 1784 that still remains at A la Ronde today. Learn more about it here.

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Wedgwood Dinner Service at A la Ronde

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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Clare Taylor presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Clare Taylor, A la Ronde Symposium

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Saniya Siddiqui presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Saniya Siddiqui, A la Ronde Symposium

Rosemary Baird Andrae presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Rosemary Baird Andrae, A la Ronde Symposium

Visitors exploring the new sensory exhibition space, The Room of Discovery at A la Ronde, Devon

Dan Maudlin presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Dan Maudlin, A la Ronde Symposium

The last will and testament of Mary Parminter opened

Emily Deal presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Emily Deal, A la Ronde Symposium

The dining room at A la Ronde, set out for dinner.

The Dining Room, A la Ronde

Nicola Shreeve presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Nicola Shreeve, A la Ronde Symposium

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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

Wenyu Dong presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Wenyu Dong, A la Ronde Symposium

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

Laura Keim and Team presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Laura Keim and Team, A la Ronde Symposium

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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Dan Cull presenting a paper at the A la Ronde Symposium

Dan Cull, A la Ronde Symposium

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

Perimeter Path bench and meadow, A la Ronde, Devon

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

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Wedgwood Dinner Service at A la Ronde

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