American Museum and Gardens, Independent museum in Claverton, England
The American Museum and Gardens occupies Claverton Manor, a Grade I listed house designed by Jeffry Wyatville in 1820 near Bath, Somerset, and contains collections of American furniture, textiles, and folk art. The 30-acre site features reconstructed American gardens with paths that offer views across the River Avon valley.
Ralph Allen acquired the manor in 1758 and transformed its grounds, but John Vivian purchased it in 1816 and commissioned a complete rebuilding of the house. The structure was reconstructed as a Georgian-style residence and later converted into a museum dedicated to American decorative arts.
The museum displays American furniture, textiles, quilts, and folk art, representing the only collection of its kind outside the United States dedicated to everyday American craftsmanship. Visitors can see how people created and used these objects in their daily lives.
The grounds are accessible via walking paths that wind through the valley and reconstructed gardens, which change with the seasons. Wear comfortable shoes as some paths are hilly, and visits are most enjoyable in fair weather.
Winston Churchill delivered his first political speech at a garden event here in 1897 when the Skrine family owned the estate, a moment that came early in what would become a long public career. Few visitors realize this location holds this piece of political history.
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