Description of impact
This impact is speculative at the moment, as it relates to the re-curation of a National Trust house, Dyrham Park, in Wiltshire, that will not be complete until winter 2019/20. When this finishes, however, visitors to the house will have a transformed experience of visiting – allowing them to understand the crucial role of the 1690s (when it was being built) in the foundations of the modern British state and the British empire through a range of innovative display strategies. This has the capacity to promote the reputation of Dyrham as a tourist destination; to transform the meaning of the property for those who think they already know it; and to educate those visiting about a crucial period of English history, and so to gain a more accurate understanding of the nature of the British state.The National Trust has decided to invest in 12 ‘Transformation’ properties across the UK, so that they can tell the national story more effectively. Dyrham was chosen as one of these properties, because its builder, William Blathwayt, was a key figure in the key period of the later seventeenth century (secretary at war and colonial auditor) and the house could therefore explain the developments in English and British history in this period. The Trust is investing £??? to transform the visitor experience – including the creation of an suite of rooms introducing Blathwayt and the property to the visitor, the wholesale re-curation of the existing rooms, and the opening up of other spaces to reveal the social life of the house and the conservation workshops. I was recruited as chief historical advisor to the project, because of my expertise in the transformation of the English state in the 1690s: I have shaped the project fundamentally – recommending greater emphasis on state building, the American (as opposed to African) experience of colonialism, wholesale use of the gardens to tell important parts of the story, shaping the initial visitor experience to bring out the most important themes and so on.
Impact Summary for the General Public
The 1690s were a key decade in British history – but structures of school curriculum, and media interest – mean their significance is generally overlooked. Without a site dedicated to explaining the importance of this period (as Dyrham intends to be – the National Trust is dedicating ‘Transformation’ funding to the project) those interested in British history are denied full understanding of how and why the British state and empire emerged as it did. Dyrham Park is also recognised as an underperforming property by the Trust – visitors fail to return after an initial visit because the existing display is confused, and the house not memorable. Re-curation should cure this problem – boosting visitor numbers through re-visits, recommendations, and opening publicity.Description of the underpinning research
My contribution is based on a body of work, which has built an expertise in the developments of the 1690s.I have written extensively on topics closely related to Blathwayt and the transformations of the 1690s – including on William III’s personal impact on these, and the influence of Europe and geopolitics on the development of the English state. This has ensured I am one of the world’s acknowledged experts on the period, and led to the National Trust approaching me as an advisor.
Beneficiaries and reach of impact
Too early to judge the scale of the impact – but it would be a high proportion of a small group (ie all of those who visit Dyrham Park)The impact will be specifically at Dyrham Park, and on the economy of Wiltshire – but the geographical origins of visitors to the property is wide, and potentially wider: the house is situated just off the M4, and just north of Bath, so incorporates easily into travel itineraries. In particular there is potential for impact among Americans: the house is important for understanding the early development of English colonialism in the Atlantic colonies.
| Impact status | Potential |
|---|---|
| Impact date | 2019 → 2022 |
| Category of impact | Cultural, Economic |
| Impact level | Benefit |