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Full listing of exhibitions at the Russell-Cotes

Museum celebrates 100 years by launching 360-degree virtual tours

The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, today launches online 360-degree tours of the rooms in East Cliff Hall, its historic house. This is to mark the museum’s 100-year anniversary of being formally opened by the Lord Mayor of London, on 5 June 1909. The 360-degree tours can be enjoyed at:

http://www.russell-cotes.bournemouth.gov.uk/house/tours/

 

The stunning 360-degree imagery, which has been funded by Renaissance, makes it possible, for the first time ever, for a world-wide audience to explore this extraordinary house online. East Cliff Hall is one of the most fascinating historic houses in England. Built between 1897 and 1901, it is a rare surviving example of an aspirational middle-class home from that period.

 

It is one of the few 19th century villas left in Bournemouth, and the only one in, more or less, original condition (others having been demolished or converted into hotels or flats, obliterating their original features). In the late 1990s extensive work, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, ensured the restoration of the property, securing its Grade II* listed status.

 

Architecturally, the villa is a combination of Italianate and Scottish Baronial styles. Ostentatious and eccentric are words often used to describe the villa’s captivating interior and eclectic collections. The interiors are a riot of colours, patterns and styles. The classical meets the oriental with Islamic and Mediterranean influences in evidence too. It is  a fitting back-drop to the Russell-Cotes’ significant Victorian art collection and eclectic mix of and high-class souvenirs and objects d’art they brought back from their extensive world-travels.

 

The design and contents allow a riveting ‘through the keyhole’ insight into the personalities and aspirations of its owners – Sir Merton & Lady Russell-Cotes. Incredibly, Annie Russell-Cotes gave the house, and its contents, and Merton gave his impressive art collection, to the town of Bournemouth.

 

The first 100 visitors-in-person to the Museum on Friday 5 June will receive a Russell-Cotes chocolate lollipop to mark the museum’s 100-year anniversary.

 

ENDS

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

 

  1. The virtual tours are at http://russell-cotes.bournemouth.gov.uk/house/tours/

 

  1. Background information about East Cliff Hall and the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum can be found in the attached PDF.

 

  1. Images are available. Please contact 01202 451823 / 858

 

  1. The virtual tours project has been funded by Renaissance, the MLA’s ground-breaking programme to transform England’s regional museums. Central government funding since 2002 is enabling regional museums across the country to raise their standards and deliver real results in support of education, learning, community development and economic regeneration.  

 

  1. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is a Registered Charity (no. 306288) administered by Bournemouth Borough Council.

 

  1. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays (closed Good Friday & Christmas Day), from 10.00am – 5.00pm and is at East Cliff Promenade, Bournemouth, BH1 3AA, UK,  T. +44 (0)1202 451 858, www.russell-cotes.bournemouth.gov.uk

 

 

For enquiries & images for the media only

 

Kerry Curtis, Marketing & Audience Development Manager,

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum:

 

T. +44 (0)1202 451858

DD. +44 (0)1202 451823

Email

 

Public enquiries

 

T. +44 (0)1202 451858

Email