Salisbury House
By Kassie Nelson
To see an entire post of Christmas Photos go Here
(also by Kassie Nelson)
Nestled
in the South of Grand neighborhood of Des Moines, Iowa is a piece of England-
the Salisbury House.
“A piece of England” is a literal statement as 16th
century wooden beams that held up the roof of an inn where Shakespeare is said
to have performed adorn the ceiling in one part of the house. Other salvaged
English pieces include decorative wood panels to wood floor planks featured in
the Commons Room. These incredible pieces of history were lovingly brought to
Des Moines by cosmetic company king, Carl Weeks and his wife, Edith during the
1920s. The inspiration for their home was the Kings House in Salisbury,
England.
Salisbury
House is a blend of Tudor and Gothic styles. It has the charm and a sense of
culture from a bygone era. When you walk through its massive front door you
feel as though you have stepped back in time. The Weeks amassed a massive
collection on their travels of art and antiques. Many of these items are
proudly on display throughout. The crown jewel is the library. The library
features the Weeks collection of over 3,500 books. Many of these are rare and
some date back to the eighteenth century. Their collection of old documents
signed by the likes of King Ferdinand of Aragon and President Abraham Lincoln
can also be found here.
The
home did not stay in the Weeks’ possession for very long, its upkeep proved too
much for them, and has been owned by different organizations over the years. The
Salisbury House Foundation has owned the property since 1998 and has worked
diligently to restore the entire home. The garage and cottage have been
restored. The tile roof was replaced in 2005 and just last year the wooden
floors on the second level were refinished. The plaster walls have also been
repaired and repainted. While the majority of the home has been restored, there
are enough rooms left to insure that there will be something new for some time.
The charm of this home extends to the outside to its English style garden. Some
of the oldest and largest oak trees in Des Moines dot the property.
Readers
may be delighted to know that this home is open to public guided and
self-guided tours for a relatively low priced admission. The property can also be
booked for special events such as weddings. Special events occur year-round,
from the popular to Holy & Ivy Tour in December to “Shakespeare on the
Lawn” in the summertime. You can view the calendar of events and learn more
about Salisbury House by visiting: www.salisburyhouse.org.
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