h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A toddler’s Guide to… Sir John Soane’s Museum.

http://www.soane.org/

So my Mama decided to take me along to this museum sometime in the summer and let me tell you she was pretty smug when we arrived. This was because she had elected to take me out in a sling and leave my Amazing Big Brother behind. Sir John Soane’s museum is not pushchair friendly, not pushchair friendly at all, and neither is it small child friendly.

It’s not pushchair or child friendly because it is basically the house of Sir John stuffed full of interesting stuff he picked up here and there. A bit like the British Museum, but on a less national scale. Or Papa’s loft, scaled up and with fewer amplifiers, turntables and many many cables and more bits of cornicing, gargoyles, stone urns and busts of random strangers. Anyway, despite the fact that the man was forced to buy and renovate the two houses either side to even hope of corralling the collection, it is very much the sort of place where people whose first instinct is to run around and whose second is to touch anything interesting in reach are not welcome. Or at least not welcome if the museum authorities do not want a trail of destruction in my wake. Which they don’t.

I know this because not only did they direct a look of approval at my immovable status as I was carried in, but they made my Mama leave her big bag at the door and carry a clear plastic bag round in front of her with her purse and keys in. Also, Mama’s usual habit of feeding me rice cakes to keep my quiet was vetoed – no food and drink of any kind inside the house. Or stilettos. I don’t know what they are, but they sound like fun. Mama says not though.

Soane’s special interest was architecture, which my Mama knows nothing about so she really should have bought the guide book. Anyway, while he was reasonably successful as an architect, most of Sir John’s money apparently came from a massive unexpected inheritance by his wife. He left so much money in his will that it was only relatively recently that the museum has really had to search out more funding, in fact. He quarreled badly with his two sons, you see, and so they did not get much of a look in. Mama remains rather worried about the sons. She is a sucker for put upon children stories. She is also prone to saying things like, shame the wife didn’t get to choose what to spend her money on. But she thoroughly enjoyed poking around all the rooms because it is such a glorious monument to rampant eccentricity. She says. And they have lots of pictures by Hogarth, who Mama seems to think she ought to know more about.

However, we didn’t spend too long there because there is a limit to how long I will sit still, especially in the face of such temptation as cool tactile stuff everywhere. Obviously in such a small space they don’t have room for frivolities like a coffee shop (although they do have a souvenir shop), although if you have a spare five thousand pounds you can hire out the house for dining with 30 of your closest friends. Mama seems quite keen on this idea. It’s probably the candles. We repaired instead to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which in reality is a large London square, next door for a run round and something to eat. We’d bought a picnic, although there were signs that someone is going to open a café in the near future, which would be nice. Mama says. She does like her coffee. I got to hang out with two dance students casually trading moves, which was fun. There’s always something happening in a park in London.

This place has been on my to do list for ages! I missed the meet when it was the afternoon event.

What I used to do when my girls were small was to get in touch with a museum or gallery and ask for their school pack to be posted to me. That way my girls could do the activities or look at a guide that was written for their age. I never had any problem with them knowing how to behave, in fact I was often complimented. And if I hadn't managed to get hold of anything, they each had a little bag with a small plain paged notepad and small colouring pencils, so they sketched. They often saw students doing it, so it never seemed anything other than ordinary behaviour to them.

I remember one day in the National Gallery when Moonlight patiently explained to some Americans how to see the skull in The Ambassadors, and what it meant. She was about 4.

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You should congratulate your Mama on getting you to write her journal because you did a really good job and it was really interesting to read.



I love this take on the journal!

Deb

Out of the mouth of babes as they say. What a great start, well done.

[Amy P]

Oooh, what an excellent idea, coely, about the teaching packs. I must do that. The Star has just started to take an interest in the exhibits, so that would be excellent.

I must say, as I was going round, I was thinking 'what a perfect place for hootooers'.

Except for the size though. It really is rather a squeeze.

Oh and the Comet says thanks and blushes charmingly.

Very interesting start Sol. We have an Entry on this museum, A421372. Maybe your journal would make an interesting post to a new conversation?

Plus if you have time ( in the future) to take a quick read through and ensure the Entry is still up to date, I'd be terribly grateful.

Now I am looking forward to the rest of the month as Comet tells her side of London sights.

Oh cool, I was looking for an entry on it but probably misspelled the name. Soane, soane, soane, not soame. I must indeed post the Comet's thoughts there too.