点评:It is very easy to get to Richmond: from Earl’s Court I took District Line and then bus 371 - in 25 minutes or so I arrived to Ham Street and walked for ten minutes to the gates of Ham House and Gardens.
Ham House opened its doors at 12pm, so I had about 35 minutes to stroll in its serene gardens. The flowers are fading but dahlias are in full bloom and even some white roses are alive. The lawns are still green, but the gardeners are already getting the flowers beds ready for the winter. I desperately needed this lovely walk get some respite from the bustling energy of London crowds.
The house itself is a gem because everything inside is preserved in its original form and the rooms look exactly like they were at the end of the 17th century - the kitchen, the bathroom of Elizabeth, the Duchess of Lauderdale, the Red Closet (her private room), the Green Closet of the Duke, and the library… everything is untouched by time.
The house interior is rather dark, but that’s again is done to preserve its original appearance. The Long Gallery with portraits of the courtiers of King Charles I on the walls is particularly remarkable. Beautiful inlaid cabinets in every room, the ivory cabinet of the Duchess, the two globes, the kitchen fireplace … every object is authentic.
The volunteers are very eager to help and tell the stories about every room.
Ham House was a real delight.
翻译:前往里士满非常方便:我从伯爵府 (Earl’s Court) 搭乘地铁区域线 (District Line),然后转乘 371 路公交车——大约 25 分钟后,我到达了哈姆街 (Ham Street),步行十分钟就到了哈姆庄园 (Ham House) 和花园的大门。
哈姆庄园中午 12 点开门,所以我有大约 35 分钟的时间在它宁静的花园里漫步。花朵正在凋谢,但大丽花正值盛放,甚至还有一些白玫瑰依然鲜艳。草坪依然翠绿,但园丁们已经开始为花坛的冬季做准备了。我非常需要这次美好的散步,让我从伦敦熙熙攘攘的人群中得到片刻喘息。
庄园本身就是一颗璀璨的宝石,因为里面的一切都保留了原貌,房间看起来就像 17 世纪末一样——厨房、劳德代尔公爵夫人伊丽莎白的浴室、红色衣橱(她的私人房间)、公爵的绿色衣橱以及图书馆……一切都仿佛未曾被时间侵蚀。
屋内光线较暗,但这是为了保留其原貌。长廊尤其引人注目,墙上挂满了查理一世国王朝臣的肖像。每个房间里都有精美的镶嵌橱柜,公爵夫人的象牙橱柜、两个地球仪、厨房壁炉……所有物品都是真品。
志愿者们非常热情,乐于助人,并会讲述每个房间背后的故事。
哈姆庄园真是一次令人愉悦的体验。