Between the Covers with Vita: An Exhibition
Discover the life and works of Vita Sackville-West in this new exhibition at Sissinghurst Castle Garden.
10 February - 7 September 2025 | 11am - 3:30pm
'Between the Covers with Vita: The Life and Literature of V. Sackville-West' maps Vita Sackville-West's literary journey, from her debut poem The Dancing Elf to her final novel Signposts in the Sea, showcasing how her personal life inspired her works.
Featuring never displayed before objects accompanied by vivid commissioned artwork and animation by artist Sarah Tanat-Jones.
The exhibition is free with standard admission.
Note: the exhibition is located upstairs in the Oast Exhibition Space with no step-free access.
It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by.
The Collection
'Between the Covers with Vita' brings together works by Vita Sackville-West - a best selling author in her day, but one whose work has fallen into obscurity in recent years.
While her contemporaries like Virginia Woolf are better known today as literary writers, Vita's gardening writings and legacy have overshadowed her prowess for fiction.
Featuring a range of her novels and poetry, this exhibition re-examines Vita as a bestselling author, diving into personal events and relationships that inspired her works.
Books from our collection are brought together alongside historic images and objects for the first time, showcased with colourful art and animations.
The Minerva Printing Press
Frequent visitors may recognise the printing press on display in the Oast Exhibition Space (pictured below). It is a ‘Minerva’ platen hand-set printing press, known as the ‘Hogarth Press’, and made of cast iron with steel and wood, built c. 1915.
This is the press on which Virginia and Leonard Woolf printed some of the earliest books published by the Hogarth Press, the publishing company they founded in 1917.
This machine was thought to have been given by Virginia and Leonard as a house-warming gift when Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson bought Sissinghurst Castle in 1930.
Previously housed in the 2nd floor room of the Tower, the press was relocated in the summer of 2022 to the Oast Exhibition space. This allowed the removal of floorboards to enable vital conservation work on Vita’s Writing Room ceiling.
About the artist
This exhibition features new commissioned work by Sarah Tanat-Jones (b. 1985), to illustrate the life and literature of Vita Sackville-West.
Sarah Tanat-Jones, based in Bristol, is known for her fascination with printed textures, brushstrokes, and harmonious colours.
Specialising in portraits, vernacular architecture, and storytelling, she has collaborated with well-known publications and brands such as The New Yorker, Observer, Penguin, and Waitrose.
Outside of work, she is a mother of two and enjoys playing the drums and singing in a Georgian polyphonic choir.
Acknowledgements
For the exhibition research, the National Trust has worked with the University of Barcelona.
With thanks to the National Portrait Gallery and The Little Greene Paint Company.
Exploring the buildings at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Climb the Tower at Sissinghurst for views of the whole garden and peruse thousands of books in the Library.
Radical Relationships (Until 30 March 2025)
This display puts Sissinghurst Castle at the heart of the 20th century literary network, celebrating its LGBTQ+ network. Find out more here.