I’m only just beginning to learn about British goodness and all things Anglophile-centric. My mother has always been on the bandwagon, but it wasn’t until I learned more about my ancestry that the curiosity blossomed for me. Visiting London in 2018 was such a joy and only made me want to return as soon as possible. So British Gifts for Americans and a tour of an interesting 18th century home is destined to appeal if you love you some UK.
British Gifts for Americans & Magic from Christmas Past
What Would an Anglophile Love to Receive?
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these…
When can I return!?!
One of my favorite things was re-discovering ‘Sunday Roast’ which is something my own family of origin did my entire life. It’s a wonderful tradition.
And wouldn’t it be a dream to ice skate in London? Did you know you can skate at Kensington Palace now?
Tour Dennis Severs’ House in London
Oh, it’s on my someday list! These stunning photos from Louis Gaillard (his photos of Sophie Lambert’s Paris home charmed me first) are from a magical property known as Dennis Severs’ House.
The interiors and home are essentially a preserved still-life (Folgate Street, London) wrapped in wonder at Christmastime! Love Old World character and living history?
In the 1960s, the American Mr. Severs moved to London before purchasing a 1724 derelict house in Spitalfields in 1979. The home had been saved by the Spitalfields Trust.
It’s hard to believe it isn’t a movie set! And yet this home is real and open for tours.
Even from the photos, you can see how Mr. Severs poured his heart into his home. He reimagined it to reflect the story of a Huguenot family of silk weavers living there for hundreds of years.
Not content to soak up the magic exclusively, he began sharing it for tours.
As you can see from each room, there appear to be layers upon layers of character, secrets, and whimsy.
What drama, yes?
I would imagine it was like collecting props or miniatures for a dollhouse.
And what wonder to tour Dennis Severs’ House in order to time travel visually.
Spitalfields Home of Dennis Severs
I marvel at the prospect of pouring that much love into a single property you hope will stand for future generations.
Especially now that we’re all so busy in this age of transiency and disposable everything. The idea of slowly collecting and creating at a non-frantic pace is so remarkable now.
Within a single corner, there’s an aliveness. See the petite shoe peeking out beneath the skirt above? The stains to the fabric toward the bottom of the skirt?
Maybe I love the idea of a tour because I’m hopeless when it comes to reading fiction, even brilliant fiction.
It’s one thing to read historical fiction and quite another to tread the creaky floorboards of such a historic home.
You can sense the whimsy of this American free spirit who derived such joy from English history, English light, and a single English home.
For someone like me who has always been a nomad, there’s a mystique about such deep-rootedness.
To a lifetime of nurturing a home, layer by layer, piece by piece, and room by room.
You can tour this enchanting home which is a 3-minute walk from Old Spitalfields Market and find more info HERE.
Ever visited it?
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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