Lindisfarne Castle
Interpretative tools captures the imagination
To be honest, I was already intrigued with Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island before I arrived! Described as a Castle (that's not a Castle) and on an Island (that's not an Island). It stands on a rocky crag 100 feet above the North Sea.
Crossing the tidal causeway to Holy Island on a blustery overcast day and walking up the rampart to reach the entrance added to the experience and anticipation. I admit, I didn’t really know what to expect or know if I would be truly interested in learning about Edward Hudson (He was the founder of Country Life magazine in 1897 and used Lindisfarne as his holiday home) but I was intrigued enough.
Along with my family, we received a warm greeting from the staff and were invited into the entrance where we could begin our self-guided experience. We had the opportunity to ask any questions, if we wished, from the room steward and I liked the relaxed nature of that approach.
Immediately it became clear that this was quite a quirky place, mainly because Hudson commissioned Edwin ‘Ned’ Luytens, a well-known architect to alter the building to accommodate structural changes. These changes included creating a semi-octagonal tower, a series of winding passageways, steps and low doorways. Edwin Luyten also dressed the rooms with oversized furniture. In its own right, the play with architecture and lighting was an interesting part of the experience. Navigating through the kitchen, dining room, drawing room and bedrooms was a delight.
Not surprisingly, the location, cut off from the mainland at high tide and buffeted by high winds and rain, became a key theme highlighted in the displays. Evocative examples included Hudson’s guests being unable to leave, arriving soaked to the skin and having to be carried into Lindisfarne by the caretaker Jack to save their feet getting wet.
Jack and Hannah Lilburn, the caretaker and housekeeper, of Lindisfarne Castle were well-presented in the narrative and rightly so. As key people who were employed by three different owners, their affiliation with Lindisfarne is as strong, if not stronger. The Lilburn’s were crucial in enabling this holiday home to thrive for guests, ensuring safe passage to Holy Island, as well as providing champagne and creating lavish feasts. One of the most heartwarming elements however, was to learn that a mutual friendship evolved between them and Hudson.
Making a grade I listed building, with some narrow corridors and small spaces into an iconic and hugely popular visitor attraction, must have been a real interpretative challenge. Like, how to:
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Display graphics when you can’t secure them to the walls.
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Ensure visitors don’t linger in small places leading to a bottleneck.
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Create different atmospheres.
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Relay the core themes without relying on room stewards or mobile technology (there are reception difficulties).
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Make a nod to the military history and the environment as subthemes.
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Encourage visitors to explore further.
For me, some of these challenges were met through:
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Free standing displays providing context but not overly relied upon in every space.
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The use of archival quotes and photographs to add historical depth.
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The triangulation of the core story, encompassing the owners, guests and caretakers, provided a holistic experience in the house.
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The reliance on daylight with subtle lighting (like period candles) in some rooms to create contrast.
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The use of quotes printed on dishes, crate boxes, suitcase, luggage labels, gave you enough detail without hogging the area.
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A reference to what is missing from the experience, mainly sound such as the howling wind, the rain; crackling fires and laughter.
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The self-guiding element allowed us, as a family, to set our own pace and wander. To talk about things that interested us as we went along.
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Furnished period rooms gave a nod to the period and people.
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Sub themes had a dedicated space and did not detract from the core story.
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The lack of reliance on technology in this environment (such as QR code usage/audio guides) was unifying as we weren’t focused on different things or disrupted by other people.
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Direction to explore further highlights, such as the panoramic view from the Upper Battery, Gertrude Jekyll’s gardens created in this period, spotting wildlife and seeing the Castle Point line kilns.
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Focusing on Hudson’s life at Lindisfarne, not his entire life story.
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Accessing collections online at home.
In an ideal world, I’d love to see more interpretation or resources on the military theme in the designated room and a deeper level of information about the artefacts presented on line would have been a nice touch too. I didn’t get chance to see the gardens this time but would like to go back.
This special place, run by the National Trust, is centred on unique personal stories, pastimes and places which is relayed in the context of the building and that’s why it works. It was really fun and enjoyable, for all of us. I would have loved to get my teeth into a project like this - what a gift! Historic buildings are one of my favourite things, making them interesting is another.
