Our very special collection includes some of Gustav Holst’s personal belongings and handwritten musical scores, as well as items from the daily life of a middle-class Victorian household. The items below give you a sense of the range of items you can see in the House. Each one was chosen by one of our Volunteers as their ‘Object of the Week’ during the Covid 19 lockdown.
Carte-de-visite of Mary Lediard
Carte-de-visite of Gustav Holst’s grandmother Mary Lediard
Monkey jelly mould, 19th century
A copper jelly mould in the shape of a monkey. Now, where’s that ice-cream?
Self-Portrait with Brother, Gustavus
A portrait of Holst’s grandfather and great uncle
Punch and Judy die-cast scrap
Punch and Judy on a die cast scrap of paper, 19th century
Watercolour of Constantia von Holst
Painted in 1827 by her brother Theodor
Small Victorian mangles
What were these small mangles used for in Victorian times?
The kitchen range
The Victorian range in the Museum’s kitchen – still in regular use
Crown Derby shell vase
Longing for the seaside? Feast your eyes on this Crown Derby shell vase from 1810-20.
Curling tongs and glove stretchers
Victorian hairdressing – or implements of torture!