Monday 14 April 2014

Unwelcome Visitors

Well I'm back from my holiday in Dorset and its been a busy week. I feel much more rested mentally although physically I'm done in - we cram a lot in when we are away! Luckily I still have another week off at home and this will give me a chance to catch up on some much needed sleep and proper rest. I'm also hoping to get a few painting projects started, but first things first, I have a load of pictures to sort out and post. I'll have them ready in a day or two and will post the best ones of some of the better museums I have been lucky enough to visit in the past week. 

The big downside of the holiday is that I missed Salute this year. I was travelling back from Dorset on the Saturday and we traditionally try to fit in 'one last attraction' into the trip home. This time we opted to visit Chartwell, the home of Sir Winston Churchill, and I was rather looking forward to the trip as I haven't been here before. Unfortunately I overlooked the fact that this is a National Trust property and would therefore almost certainly be a little disappointed by the whole experience.

True enough, the day started with us having to pay for parking as well as entrance to the house and gardens. OK it was only three quid but added to the £32 entry fee (two adults, one child) this was a very expensive day out compared to other 'attractions' we have visited during the holiday. Then the fun really started.

One of the things I never like about National Trust properties is the 'type' of person they seem to employ. Most of the staff are friendly enough but every one seems to be from the same social demographic; Retired, white, upper middle class, tweed wearing and just slightly supercilious. As a Dagenham lad I always feel like I shouldn't be there, making their properties look untidy and generally 'lowering the tone' with my working class background! OK, I know I'm generalising and being a little prejudiced, but there are few groups of people amongst whom I feel so uncomfortable just by being in the same room. And I was paying top money for this privilege! 


Aside from my admittedly class biased discomfort amongst NT staff the main thing I dislike are the overbearing and frankly snobbish rules that go with visiting places like this. Firstly, no photography, a personal hate of mine (I've written about it at length here) and one that I cannot see any good reason to impose on visitors when they have been asked to part with so much money to gain entry. Of course they also make you leave all your belongings at the entrance with no liability accepted for the safety of your camera bag and its contents. 

I also hate the fact that every room has one of the aforementioned stuffy staff members in it (presumably to stop you taking pictures with the camera you can't take with you). I'm not sure if their primary role is as informal room guides or as rules police but they hardly ever seem to know what they are talking about. One guide was muttering a load of rubbish about how popular and publicly adored Churchill was throughout his life and never once mentioned the fact that he was sacked from Government several times in his long career, faced votes of no-confidence as PM and then lost the General election in 1945. Churchill was undoubtedly the right man with the right background at the right time to lead Britain in wartime, and although he's a hero of mine even I'm not so starry eyed as to overlook the mans obvious and many character flaws. Indeed it was those very flaws that made him perfect for the job as a war leader. 

A perfect example was a copy of a memo on display from Churchill to General Alexander in August 1942 pressing him to destroy Rommel's forces in North Africa immediately. At this time 8th Army was still reeling and retreating towards their last line of defence at Alemien and was in desperate need of resupply and reorganisation and its leaders were in no real position to carry out these orders. But the Prime Minister was motivated by political rather than martial concerns as he was facing the prospect of a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons at the time! Alexander, and Montgomery refused to act until they (and their troops) were completely ready at the end of October and it was their patience and refusal to be bullied by the PM that lead to Alemein and the victory Churchill sought. For me the museum and the staff were just a little too deferential to the former PM and did history a major disservice as a result.

Aside from the poorly informed staff there are few other sources of information as you go around the house. In an English Heritage property you would expect to see information boards in every room, and probably some form of audio guide to listen too as you go around, but in many National Trust properties there is a definite lack of information... unless of course you buy the overpriced guidebook on top of the entrance fee! 

Now we get to the real bugbear of our particular visit, the public rebuke my poor wife received when her phone started to ring. Most of the time her phone isn't even turned on but on this occasion she had forgotten it was still on, and then she received a call. We hardly heared the ring tone over the noise of all the talking visitors but when she realised it was her phone she quickly tried to retrieve it and turn it off...at which point a 200 year old tweed wearing staff member swooped across the room and in a loud voice told her to turn the phone off and step outside if she wanted to make a phone call! My wife was mortified with embarrassment and I was frankly a little ****ed-off at the very public, self important and over enthusiastic rules enforcement that had been laid down on her. And that pretty much finished the day off for us.

I'm not going to say the house wasn't interesting to visit, there were several items on display that I enjoyed - such as the visitor book signed by Montgomery - but without any proper information I reckon most visitors would have walked past this without realising the significance of the object. There were many other small items throughout the house that caught my eye but only because I'm interested in the period and know a bit about the man himself but on the whole the lack of signage really lets the general visitor down. I think the problem is that NT are treating the house more like a shrine than a museum and its almost as if they don't want visitors at all.

OK, rant over. It was just a pity that we ended the week on such a disappointing note, after having had such a great week in Dorset. I've almost finished working through my pictures from the holiday and in a day or two I'll start posting some from the various museums we visited... every one of which were happy to allow and didn't feel threatened by their visitors taking pictures! 

26 comments:

  1. Oddly enough, I found this a great read!
    And I can totally relate with just about anything - from the snobby employees that sit in every room, watching my every move like I'm some sort of a criminal, to the rule about no photos. What gets to me even more is the extra price you have to pay if you want to take photos, as if the expensive entrance ticket wouldn't be enough.

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    1. Glad you agree mate. I can sort of understand no photos in somewhere like an art gallery, but in a museum or house like this I suspect the real motivation for it is to make you buy the guide book!

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  2. There might have been more of a ruckus if I had been there!

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    1. I wasn't amused for sure, but my wife was embarressed enough without me making a scene as well.

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    2. There would have been more of a ruckas if I'd been there!!! A few choice words, in my angry working class voice, then the mrs would have dragged me out by the ears!!

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  3. If it had been me I would write a rather stiff letter! Still probably better to forget it and move on with your life. Too many silly idiots are about and most of them need a sensible adult with them at all times. Just to keep them in check.

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    1. Lol, agreed! Honestly, it felt like they just wanted to rush us though towards the overpriced shop and tea rooms. There wasn't even a toilet inside the house or grounds... they were outside next to the shop!

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  4. Glad you had a great break.

    NT actually employ very few of their `guides` and have a large army of retired people of the type you mention.

    Also the new(ish) Gov.t incentive that makes all people out of work (even if actually off work sick) over a set period take voluntary posts such employed roles are actually being reduced and more charities etc are doig away with paid employee's.

    Ian

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    1. I suspected as much, but volunteers or not there ought to be some training to keep the idiot ones in check.

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  5. I nearly launched into a polemic on social class, but what the hell? The majority of the culprits in your post are probably (almost certainly) nowhere near the social level they imitate so we don't need to unfurl the red banners (yet) because they're just clowns. However, they are pig ignorant and that's unforgivable in my book.

    A few years ago I was chatting to the warden at Alderley Edge (a local NT site, but a free one where we used to go caving) and he was bemoaning the fact that 90%+ of the NT people are volunteers and they're a law unto themselves. Course, if you're staffed by volunteers you have to take what you can get and that can be a pain. The way round this from our point of view is to send in a written complaint and the more complaints, the greater the chance of change. There's no need to have a ruck with them, but you could also ask questions about the items in the room; as I understand it, they're supposed to know about them. So, it's quite easy to give them a fit of the screamers. Nevertheless, in defence of the staff numbers, you probably do need a person in each room as a major site like Chartwell will get its share of scrotes who only respond to cattle prods.

    Conversely, you can encourage the good people of the UK to do what we've done in the Northwest: we've eaten the rich and driven the middle classes south into a ghetto in Cheshire. Works for me . . . .

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    1. I do try not to get all left wing over this sort of thing but I do begrudge being made to feel uncomfortable in such places...its my heritage as much as theirs after all.

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    2. I don't know how much a lifetime membership is these days but I got one for NT and NH out of my redundancy back in 2001 - if it were not for that I would definitely not visit as many sites as I do (note both give entry to two adults)

      No one should ever feel intimidated by the volunteers. Sometimes easier said than done I know but these places by definition are for the enjoyment of all. I am middle class and don't think it is a class thing at all - a busybody is a busybody whatever.

      Don't get me started on the photography rules. Or the lack of access for dogs

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    3. I can't see you're getting 'left wing' at all. It's your heritage too and you're as entitled to enjoy/experience it just as much as anyone else. Your money's certainly as good as anyone else's and that's what counts to the NT. If they find they're getting a reputation for being staffed by snots they'll do something about it if only to protect attendance levels. They're a charity and rely on memberships and other income generation for their existence as well as bumming money from the Lottery and the Heritage Lottery Fund, so they belong to US.

      The NT was established to to 'promote the permanent preservation for the benefit of the Nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic interest'. That's for the benefit on the nation as a whole, not just a few select individuals. Blimey, the founder members were social reformers! Like their friends English Heritage, they do do a lot of good, but they also make an arse of themselves at times and a good kick in the pants certainly focuses the mind. They've got a complaints procedure - give'em a kick.

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  6. I hate uninformed "guides" especially those who sound like they are speaking some "party line."

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    1. When one of the guides refered to 'Sir Winston' like he was a close personal friend I had to hold back a laugh.

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    2. HA! That would have had me laughing out loud!

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  7. Typical self important renta-cops in essence.

    Shame really as the house is certainly on my list of places to visit before I die.

    Darrell.

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  8. Sorry for the anonymous tag but I am a Luddite and every time I have in desperation signed up to blogs and so forth I forget whatever my membership name is etc..
    Still, had to chime in to say I couldn't agree with you more! The supercilious air as if they own the damned place gets my goat from the start. At the risk of invoking stereotypes, and there are of course exceptions, I would contrast this with the attitude you will frequently encounter in Scotland. For a start there is not greater leveler than a weegie or other "Is that so? " -
    A few years ago I was going around Glamis with some friends from Belgium...and trying to translate for them sotto voce as we did... it became apparent that we had other French speakers in the party because as the tour progressed "my" part of the group or cluster got bigger and bigger. The official guide noticed this, gave me a big grin, and started leaving enough time after his phrases for me to translate before moving on to the next subject or room.. no hushing or raised eyebrows. We got to the end of the tour and shook hands to a round of applause from English and French speakers alike. Everyone enjoyed themselves all the more. I somehow do not see that happening in the Trust properties you so well describe south of the border.

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  9. That said.. I was also lucky enough once to visit the Artillery Museum in St Petersburg... there the watch dogs must have been re-cycled Gulag guards! I thought one of them was going to shoot me for taking photos and that was WITH a permit...( But the lady running the bookshop was adorable.. any one would have wanted her for a grandmother)

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  10. I find this no photography rule is largely British and I agree I suspect it's more about flogging books and post cards. There are reasons that you shouldn't use flash on old and delicate paintings and tapestries, for example, but I can't see that flash free photography should be a problem, although there are always the people who don't know how to turn their flashes off. I guess volunteers get draconian because many people do behave inappropriately so they start waiting for what they think might be potential "bad" behaviour and get ready to pounce on anyone even before anything has happened.

    Interestingly, the last time I was in an American art gallery in November they allowed photography everywhere except in a special exhibition containing pictures on loan from...Britain. "We don't own the copyright for these!" I was told.

    I remember my mother-in-law getting into an argument with one of the old fossils in Polesden Lacey about the size of her handbag and my mother-in-law makes the Queen sound like Barbara Windsor. I would definitely write to them and gently encourage them, to improve their training. They won't do anything though, because they are an evil empire. I have had several clashes with them over cycling policy in the past. You might as well pick an argument with Stalin's government...

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  11. Churchill. An interesting character from history. A bit of a bully but probably what was needed in war time. The man when asked by Australia to send our soldiers home from Africa when Australia was attacked by the Japanese refused to send them home initially.

    Sounds like an interesting place to visit but without the psychophants it would have been much better.
    cheers and a good post.

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  12. Hi Lee,

    most of all that report was a good read. Thanks a lot for sharing yiur experience although it was rather unpleasant this time.

    Here in Germany I've experienced a change of meseum behaviour during the last years, Although there are still some of those outdated whingers left most of the museums turned a lot more appealing during the last decade. Fortunately the "no photography rule" disappeared more or less - with the exception of sensitive exhibits of course which I absolutely understand - and most exibitions have kind of family and children oriented aspect. Sometimes that means special documents for children, sometimes it means just helpful and very child-friendly staff.
    Anyway over there in the UK we made both experiences. And to be honest I sensed especially the NT site rather time-honoured and slightly dark and dusty... It's a pity because very soon they'll loose the connection to modern and young people who actually share their heritage and legacy with those landmarks. Hopefully those organisations recognise that and accomodate to the future...

    Cheers
    Stefan

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  13. Thanks to everyone for the supportive comments, makes me feel a lot better about my little rant if I know I'm not being unreasonable! We visited a lot of places while we were on holiday but this was definitely the worst experience of the lot.

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  14. There are a few places I avoid as the "custodians" of the place are rude and un/ill informed! Kudos for keeping your anger in check for your wife! I probably wouldn't have been so restrained! ;)
    My favorite spot is the AirZoo at Kalamazoo,Mi. It is an aviation museum and has my favorite craft, the blackbird. Besides the models, displays, and the chance of seeing a Starfighter, Phantom, or some other privately owned craft at the adjoining runway; the AirZoo has veterans of WW2 and Vietnam as tour guides. You can actually talk to a B-17 crew member, a F4U Marine pilot, or a Intruder jockey. The displays are still grand, but the opportunity to converse with the vets is priceless!

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  15. Great post, Lee. I'd have been really annoyed as well, and getting that sort of treatment would have really spoilt my day as well. I love visiting English Heritage and National Trust locations, and my wife and kids to too. We've had some great experiences with the National Trust, but we have also had some stinkers as well. There is no reason to it - but to have a bad experience at Chartwell is perhaps somehow worse.

    Churchill was many things to many people, but stuffy isn't something you think of when he comes to mind! No doubt he would have told them where to get lost! And, like everyone, the "no photographs" rule drives me crazy!

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    1. I could understand it in the Gallery where artwork by Chruchill was on display, but in the rest of the museum/house it just didn't make sense. A Museum's primary role to to inform and educate and I simply do not see how banning photography contributes to that aim at all. It always infuriates me, but especially in sites run by institutions like NT that are suposed to be preserving history on our behalf.

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