A La Ronde public seating commission.

The A La Ronde public seating commission came about after having been selected, along with Dingle Forge, to supply a set of three seats for the new path around their ancient wildflower meadow. It is the second public seating commission I have been asked to make for the National Trust - the first being at Newark Park. We agreed on three separate designs - a Wishbone, a Bugle Hole, and a Sharpham. They were built in my workshop from December ‘23 to June ‘24, and were installed for an open day at A La Ronde on 9th of July.

A la Ronde is an 18th-century, 16-sided cottage orné near Lympstone, Exmouth, Devon, England in the ownership of the National Trust. The house was built for two spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter. It is a Grade I listed building, as are the adjacent Point-In-View chapel, school and almshouses, together with a manse, which were also built by the cousins. The gardens are Grade II listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Of all the National Trust properties I’ve visited, it is by far the most quirky and interesting.

The Parminters were an eccentric pair! The top floor is entirely covered in shells, like the shell grotto at Gyllyngdune in Cornwall. The 12 sided building is filled with their artwork, furniture designs and interior decoration. The National Trust, who commissioned the seating, wanted something to echo the slightly eccentric, eclectic style of the sisters, hence the 3 different designs, which provide resting points to admire the house from different angles, and the wonderful wildflower meadow.

Somebody actually told me about these benches, not realising i had made them! It’s always great to hear your work has been appreciated by so many people. Do let me know if you visit - I’d love to know what you make of it all! This is the second seating commission for the National Trust. We are grateful that such an organisation is actively supporting local makers who work in sustainable ways.

Each of these benches can be commissioned for private gardens, and they can also provide the basis of a community project if you have a group of intrepid volunteers eager to get involved in some exciting green wood project. Click here if you would like to commission a garden bench, or here if you’d like to organise a community bench building project.