The National Trust has announced that, for the first time, the Long Room at Mottistone Manor has been opened to visitors.
Once known as the Great Hall of the Elizabethan manor house, the Long Room has remained closed to the public – apart from occasional one-off tours – until now.
It houses a beautifully curated exhibition of baroque-style wall hangings created in the 1950s by celebrated church artist Brian Thomas. These richly detailed works were commissioned by Lord John Seely (1899–1963), son of the 1st Lord Mottistone, General Jack Seely (‘Galloper Jack’), and his partner Paul Paget.
Seely and Paget were not only life partners but also the creative minds behind one of Britain’s most celebrated architectural practices of the 20th century. Their restoration of Mottistone Manor in the 1920s, undertaken as their first domestic commission for Seely’s father, set the tone for a distinguished career combining historical sensitivity with artistic flair. Together, they transformed Mottistone into a much-loved private home, infusing it with personal touches that reflected their shared love of art and architecture.
The wall hangings in the Long Room, which illustrate John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), are playful, symbolic and deeply personal. Among the ornate patterns, visitors will discover depictions of Seely and Paget’s pets, as well as intricately rendered images of the flowers that once grew in the Manor’s gardens.
While believed to be made of sailcloth, the exact materials used to create the hangings remain unconfirmed. A researcher from Tate Modern is due to visit the site later this summer to carry out further investigations into their composition, craftsmanship and hidden stories.
In a delightful connection between art and place, many of the plants depicted in the wall hangings – including stocks (Matthiola incana ‘Alba’), tobacco plant (Nicotiana sylvestris), pinks (Dianthus), pineapple (Ananas comosus), and cultivars popular in the 1950s – have recently been replanted by the Head Gardener near The Shack. Looking ahead, Mottistone will continue to enrich this living tapestry with the addition of a citrus collection, with propagation already underway in partnership with the National Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre.
The Shack itself – a creative hub for Seely and Paget – is thought to be an early example of a modern outdoor office, or perhaps even a ‘tiny home’. Research suggests it was originally sited near the Golf Club House at Freshwater Bay Golf Club, later relocated for personal reasons to its current position within Mottistone’s grounds. Whatever its location, it served as an innovative space for creativity and collaboration, blending work and nature long before such ideas became fashionable.
Scott King, Site Manager at Mottistone Gardens and Estate.
“This is such a special opportunity to step inside one of the Manor’s most historic rooms and discover something truly unexpected,
“The wall hangings are beautifully made and full of charm – they capture the spirit of the manor and its remarkable former residents in a really personal way. We’re so pleased to be able to share the wall hangings and this enchanting space with our visitors.”
The Long Room at Mottistone Manor is expected to be open most days from 11:00 – 14:00 throughout the 2025 season, depending on volunteer capacity.
