Congratulations to the team at Dimbola Museum and Galleries. Gail from Dimbola explains more about the tearooms. Ed
‘The Mad Hatter at Julia’s Tearooms’ and Gift Shop Makeover
In 2012, our Museum held a Volunteer-led initiative. The Board of Trustees voted for a Tearoom and Gift Shop Makeover with a view to increasing revenue. A design was settled upon, one which we felt would resonate with all ages, and linked in with the Museum’s heritage and provenance.
The overall budget was set at £1,500.
Volunteer initiative
A Volunteer initiative followed, as our veritable ‘Army’ have wide-ranging skills…
A cosy and appetite whetting colour scheme of raspberry and pistachio was chosen and a team set out to paint the scene.
The Character of the ‘Hatter’ was charmingly painted ‘Trompe l’oeuil’ over the fireplace.
An old discarded table was transformed into a giant chessboard with chess pieces to amuse children whilst their parents chatted over tea.
Two volunteers who are cameras experts curated a Tearoom Exhibition of antique cameras that had been donated over the years and added their provenance for customers to peruse.
Maxi-length Aprons were designed, and made up from linen that came from the dressmaking family to Queen Victoria’s Osborne House. These were embroidered with a Top Hat, to keep the theme.
Victorian High Tea’s crept onto the menu, and Volunteer’s aided the young kitchen staff in the art of baking the perfect scone!
Mis-matched fine china was donated, and cake stands a-plenty crept in.
The Gift Shop
Over to the shop, and it was relocated into a larger space, and furnished with volunteer donated display items and antiques.
Volunteer’s made a Steam-punk’ jewellery-line and Lewis Carroll themed greetings cards depicting the characters of the ‘Freshwater Circle’ who were contemporaries of mid-Victorian pioneering Photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron- the Museum’s raison d’etre.
A new shop branding and logo was designed in keeping with the ‘New Look’.
Once the work was finished, a second initiative came into place. At low-season, when historically the Museum was closed, and entirely staffed by volunteers we opened our doors as a test to see how the project was effective.
We were happy to report that takings were not only up, but akin to those for high-season in July and August!
Great reviews
Since the works have been completed, we have received some lovely reviews, both in-house in our comments book, online on Island eaterie reviews, and local press. The Camera collection exhibition made the front page of the Island’s County Press.
Jump-started by the clearer identity of offering, local suppliers have produced ‘themed’ product in tune with Julia Margaret Cameron’s fascinating back-ground. Local Chocolatier’s have created a JMC ‘Chocolat Chaud’ and delicious Mango dipped in chilli chocolate. Similarly a spice company have produced a range of Indian/French and English blended herbs and spices for Dimbola.
Exhibitions
The story is told further by a pair of exhibitions that are on show for the summer. ‘What use is a book, without pictures or conversation?’ is part one.
Depicting the illustrators of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ over 150 years, and a rare collection of first edition books, we introduce the relevance of Lewis Carroll to the House.
In part two – opening on 30th June – we explain the characterisations in ‘Through the Looking Glass’, and their own counterparts in Julia Margaret Cameron and the Freshwater Circle.
Our project has successfully enthused a talented and skilful team, whose dedication and greatly valued work over the years is truly amazing.
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Julian Winslow
