Last Friday (30 June ) we visited our friends who moved to Bournemouth.
I confess that I tend to avoid Bournemouth, though it has a lot going for it, especially its beach. It’s the go-to destination on any given nice sunny days, with a large tailback of traffic on the road in and out of it.

However, on a rather overcast weekday and with a specific reason to get there, we decided to take the opportunity to visit Russel Cotes Art Gallery & Museum which I had overlooked on all my previous visits. 

East Cliff Hall

East Cliff Hall, the unique cliff-top mansion overlooking Bournemouth beach is the home of Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum.

While most women would get a card, a bouquet or an item of jewellery for their birthday, Annie Russell-Cotes had East Cliff Hall commissioned by her husband Merton for her 66th birthday in 1901! 

Merton and Annie Russell-Cotes 

The story of the Russell-Cotes is as enthralling as the art work they collected. 

They were the ultimate tourists of their days. They travelled widely around the world and collected souvenirs on their travels. Being comfortably off rather than immensely wealthy, they nevertheless acquired artwork rather than tacky tourist wares. 

There are no other words to describe East Cliff Hall except unique and exotic, inside and out.

This striking conservatory just off the spacious restaurant caught the eyes immediately

The interiors of East Cliff Hall

The wow factor flowed undiminished as the rest of the place unfolded in front of my eyes. How could the splendour of the interiors not leave visitors speechless in awe and reach for the camera!!?

What is remarkable is that the museum was actually the home of a couple of private collectors and their personal collection.

Upstair Galleries

This bedroom looking out on Bournemouth Pier was brilliant. Fancy waking up to that view!

The art collection

The art collection was initially displayed in Royal Bath Hotel which Merton owned. When the collection became too big for the hotel, it was moved to East Cliff Hall.

The mansion with its entire collection was gifted to the people of Bournemouth in 1917. It’s hinted that the donation was done in an attempt to be “accepted” –  at a time when the aristocracy was still powerful and influential, they were regarded as outsiders and upstarts. 

It’s impossible to take in all the objets d’art and paintings in one visit. What particularly caught my attention were these paintings, not because I know much about them, but that I found them charming.

For instance, who could resist admiring this painting of the iconic image of Venice?!

The Art Gallery

By the time I looked around the mesmerising displays upstairs I was too dazed to take in the art gallery on the ground floor. It’ll have to wait for another visit!

The peaceful garden 

The garden is not large, but it’s a restful place with a fantastic view. I was selfishly pleased that it was not one of those really sunny days where the cliff walk would have been teeming with people!

 

Finally this truly puts me on the spot!