House, Gardens & Cafe Open Tuesday - Sunday 10.30 - 17.00

Tree Wildlife: Art Exhibition

Exhibition free with admission

6th October- 6th December 2020.

During Lockdown this Spring, East Hampshire District Council held an art competition inviting children to send in their artwork of a ‘tree with wildlife’.

The entries were judged by local artist Rachel Hudson.

2020 marks the tercentenary of Gilbert White and it seemed a perfect opportunity to have these local young artist’s work displayed here in Gilbert White’s house.

    Gilbert Whites House

    Gilbert White was aged 7 or 8 when the White family moved from the Vicarage on Selborne’s Plestor, to this house, called ‘The Wakes’ (named after the Wake family who had lived here previously). At that time the property would have been no more than a ‘two up, two down’  but over the subsequent years lots of extensions and additions have been made, creating the long sizeable house you see today.

    The rooms have been restored following descriptions in White’s own correspondence and include a chair he used at Oriel College, Oxford (loaned from the College), items of contemporary furniture, family portraits and bed hangings embroidered for him by his aunts.

    On display is the original manuscript of his book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, which was purchased with generous help from English Heritage and others.

    Learn more