November Newness
The new Charleston at Lewes, vintage finds, the V&A David Bowie Archive, European Modernism, recipes & more.
Hello, I hope you’ve had a good week! This mid-month edition of Love Vintage Etc. travels to the historic town of Lewes, and the new Charleston exhibition space. I report back on the newly opened David Bowie Centre at V&A East, fresh vintage finds, a roundup of interiors shops, homewares to inspire and a warming winter recipe.
Charleston & Lewes
Last weekend I visited the pretty historic town of Lewes, nestled in the South Downs countryside, in East Sussex. Steeped in medieval history there’s plenty to see including the 11th century castle, the Anne of Cleves House, a high street full of inspiring independent shops and the irresistible Lewes Fleamarket.
I booked tickets to see the new Charleston exhibition space and current show Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun: Artists, Lovers, Outsiders. The ‘Two Roberts’ were Scottish artists who first met at Glasgow School of Art in 1933. Their work played a vital role in mid-20th century British art and influenced contemporaries including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and John Minton. The paintings, drawings and documents on show celebrate the personal and artistic bond which shaped their lives and careers and which left a lasting impact on European modernism.
Incredibly, this is the first exhibition of their work in England since 1962. I wasn’t familiar with the artists until a Charleston newsletter arrived in my inbox last month. It’s easy to see how their work inspired many other artists at the time and vice versa - Robert MacBryde was nicknamed “MacBraque” and Robert Colquhoun “McPicasso”.
These nicknames were a nod to their work’s influence from Cubism, particularly the styles of Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. Colquhoun’s work in particular was noted for its post-Picasso angularity, while MacBryde’s work (often still lifes) also showed the influence of Cubism.
The exhibition reflects their creative journey: from 1930s Glasgow, through wartime Europe, and London during the Blitz, ending in tragedy in 1962.
Getting to Lewes: There are regular trains from London Victoria or Brighton. On-street parking is available, if travelling by car. Address: Charleston in Lewes, Southover Road, Lewes, BN7 1AB. Tickets: £12.50 bookable online. The exhibition runs until April 2026. The Anne of Cleves House Museum re-opens in Spring 2026.
In Lewes
Amongst the tempting cafés, bistros and bookshops other independents include the newly opened Margot - a haven of hand-crafted homewares curated by the founders, Amanda and Kristian. Artisan pottery, baskets, kitchen ware, table linens and lighting are beautifully displayed in the interior designed by Kristian, below. Find Margot at 207 High Street, Lewes.
If you venture off the High Street, by the war memorial, and down Market Street you’ll see Lewes Flea Market, a two storey converted Victorian chapel, filled with decorative antiques, vintage clothing, records, vintage furniture and homewares. There’s a huge choice of eras and styles from Victoriana, vintage French and 70s retro. I stocked up on vintage vinyl and found some interesting Georgian glassware, perfect for Christmas cocktails.
For vintage inspired homewares, Christmas decorations, gifts and candles, head to Closet & Botts at 37 High Street. They also offer UK shipping on products purchased via their webshop here.
In Firle
Charleston House at Firle, the modernist home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and their Bloomsbury Group contemporaries, is just a short drive from Lewes. I thoroughly recommend a visit if you haven’t been - every inch of the house is filled with colour, inspiration and beautiful artworks and in the spring and summer the garden comes alive with the many plants that inspired their paintings.
Friends and lovers Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant moved into the East Sussex farmhouse in 1916 and immediately began to paint every surface of the interior. They filled each room with artworks and decorative antiques and transformed the house into a living work of art. Charleston became a rendezvous for their friends and family, and included many radical bohemian writers and artists.
The house is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm. Tickets and booking information is available here and entry includes a brief introduction to the house.
After a morning at Charleston we had lunch at the Ram Inn (pre-booked online) surrounded by cosy interiors with a log fire, and chose from the delicious seasonal menu. And before the drive back to London we had a walk round Firle village with its pretty flint cottages wrapped in autumn colour and a glimpse of the South Downs.
David Bowie at the V&A East Storehouse
The newly opened David Bowie Centre at the V&A Storehouse, in Hackney Wick, London, is a glorious, intimate space arranged over two rooms. The archive is a moving tribute to the life and work of the iconic singer and performer, and home to over 80,000 items from Bowie’s personal collection. The collection on show documents his life and creative process, including original song sheets and lyrics, sketched ideas, photographs, and stage outfits, including the iconic zig-zag bomber jacket and the pale blue suit he wore for the 1972 video for “Life on Mars?”
The space features rotating mini-exhibitions of up to 200 objects and has a study room for researchers. You can request to see any item from the archive via the Storehouse Order an Object system. If you ever fancied one-to-one time with the catsuit Bowie wore performing Ziggy Stardust onstage in 1973, now’s your chance.
Tickets to the David Bowie Centre are free, but booking is essential to manage the flow of visitors. You can access the Order an Object service by booking in advance.
Inspiration from House
Interior inspiration this week comes from a new homewares launch by Merchant & Mills. Known for their beautiful, responsibly sourced fabrics and linens M&M have opened a second shop, close to their original flagship store, in Rye, East Sussex. Their new venture House, features items such as linen napkins, cushions and quilts all individually made by hand. An online launch is due to follow. House, 9 Lion Street, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7LB.
Other home inspiration on the moodboard this week comes from Claybrook with a gorgeously deep reddish brown paint, aptly named Caffeine Boost, shown below, £33 for 1 litre. Teamed here with a Merchant & Mills linen fabric called Baked Goods, £32.50 / metre, and green linen lampshade, bottom left. Top right, the Louise jug by Sharland is handmade in Italy and finished with a traditional terracotta glaze. Fill it with flowers, water or wine for any occasion. Completing the autumnal tone, this amber-coloured salad bowl from Soho Home is beautifully sculpted from white resin with an iridescent finish, priced from £102.
Winter recipe, roast squash with goats cheese
Inspired by lunch last week, in Firle, I cooked this easy mid-week supper, and added my own little twist with pesto. Serves two.
Ingredients
A medium sized squash
Half a jar of pesto
100g soft goats cheese
Chopped walnuts or pecan nuts
Olive oil
Black pepper
Chilli flakes (optional)
Method
Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees / gas mark 6
Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Slice to the thickness of approx. 1cm.
Layer the squash slices in a baking tray and generously coat with olive oil, including the bottom of baking tray to prevent sticking. Add a generous grind of black pepper and chilli flakes, if using. Roast in the centre of the oven for around 30 minutes or until the squash is golden and tender. (Depending on your oven).
Arrange the squash slices on a large serving plate and add dollops of pesto, crumble over the goats cheese and sprinkle with chopped walnuts or pecan nuts. Add a drizzle more olive oil if needed, serve with crusty bread or sourdough and a rocket salad.
The Winter Market
New stock is heading to the one day Winter Market at Museum of the Home, on Saturday 29 November, 11am - 4pm (early access available from 10am). If you’re in London that day please do come along, I’d love to see you. They’ll be 40 independent businesses, makers and artists. Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA. Tickets and details, here.
This oil on wood painting, above, shows Bankside Power Station long before it became the Tate Modern gallery. It was painted between 1943 and 1947, around the time plans to redevelop the Bankside area in central London were put in place. You can see two cranes on the right of the painting, and a clear view of London Bridge, on the left, with a red double-decker bus. A lovely composition and painted record of London’s history and architecture.
With a palette of warm greys, soft blues and mauves and a pop of pale orange for the setting sun. Measures 60.5cm x 51cm. Available at the Winter Market, 29 November.
Thank you for reading Love Vintage Etc. I appreciate all of you being here and hope you enjoy what you discover. I put a lot of time into these editions, and include my own photographs. If you already subscribe for free, maybe think about upgrading for just £4.50 a month. You’ll get access to extra posts, the full archive, and a welcome gift. Your support really matters to me. Until next time, much love, Michelle xx
Read about the Bloomsbury Group’s involvement in the Omega Workshops here