@nationaltrust

Curiouser and curiouser… a garden where dodos preside over dinosaurs, a pet cat that doesn’t need feeding and a solid gold winkle that could lose you money. The collections we care for are full of unusual items that have intrigued and enchanted visitors for years. Our new book, 100 Curiosities & Inventions, brings together the unexpected for a journey into an eclectic mix of histories. Head online or to our local shops to pick up your copy today. Photo one: a jaw-dropping entrance @ntcotehele. How the jawbones of a whale came to frame this doorway was a mystery until 2016. Researchers connected DNA test results with historical reports of washed-up sea creature on the shores of Mevagissey Bay in 1875. Photo two: the Dodo Terrace @ntmountstewart was laid out after the First World War by Edith, Lady Londonderry. Her and her husband Charles, 7th Marquess of Londonderry, opened their London home as a retreat for friends involved in the war effort. Edith gave each member a pseudonym – animal or mythical – and later immortalised them in garden statuary. Photo three: Charles Paget Wade of @snowshillmanornt wasn’t deemed responsible enough for a real pet, at least by his friend Professor Albert Richardson. Nonetheless, he felt Charles needed company and gifted him this life-sized wooden cat. Photo four: In 1955, Sir Winston Churchill was invited to become a member of The Winkle Club of Hastings with this special solid gold winkle @chartwellnt (traditionally members carried hollow winkles). To this day, every member is obliged to carry a winkle shell with them or risk a fine should they fail to ‘winkle up’ when requested. #NationalTrust