Innehållsförteckning för September/October 2025 från Victoria

Every season offers new experiences, but none so much as autumn. Looking across the lawns of Highclere Castle, the light is different, and the air bears the indefinable scent of the turning season. Hints of yellow and orange in the trees and the crunch of golden leaves underfoot hasten the impetus to collect a harvest of fruit from the apple trees or to forage for blackberries from the hedges. Every year, I wonder if I might gather a few walnuts or whether the squirrels will yet again have all of them. Thinking back to 2018, I remember the soft light of this time of year, during which the movie Downton Abbey was being filmed. The historical drama arrived in cinemas the following autumn, opening with a long sequence revealing the…

For more than five centuries, the hauntingly beautiful stone carvings ornamenting Rosslyn Chapel have captured the imaginations of writers, artists, and visitors from all walks of life. Founded by Sir William St. Clair in 1446, the small medieval chapel in Roslin, Scotland, overflows with fantastical figures: flowers, leaves, and celestial images embellish the ceiling; a host of angelic beings herald the birth of Christ; and vine-sprouting Green Men—small faces thought to portray the cycles of life and nature—peek from more than one hundred locations, each boasting a different visage. It seems no surface has been left untouched by the stonemason’s hand, yet many carvings remain shrouded in mystery. In the Lady Chapel, fascinating stone cubes protrude from the ceiling’s arches. Each block is engraved with distinct designs that some researchers,…

“THE AUTUMN MONTHS ARE A TIME OF GIFTS, ABUNDANCE, AND RICH COLORS OF RUSSET AND GOLD FOLIAGE THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS GARDENS AND WOODLANDS.”—Lady Carnarvon A favorite volume on the growing shelf of published works by the esteemed Countess of Carnarvon, Seasons at Highclere: Gardening, Growing, and Cooking Through the Year at the Real Downton Abbey is a heartwarming and inspiring hardcover book perfect for resting on one’s coffee table year-round. Within its pages, the gracious hostess unlocks the gates of this storied estate—an emerald sanctuary that reveals its beauty with each passing phase of the calendar. In spring, the gardens begin to burst with color, while lambs begin to frolic, and a symphony of sunlight seems to breathe new life before the land eagerly wades into the tranquil warmth and…

THE ARTIST’S PALATE Begins on page 31 Dried Plum–Cinnamon Scones p.33 Makes 12 ½ cup dried plums1¾ cups hot water3 cups all-purpose flour3 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided4 teaspoons baking powder1½ teaspoons Viennese cinnamon½ teaspoon fine sea salt½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed1 cup cold heavy whipping cream1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 large egg, lightly beaten1 tablespoon waterHomemade Clotted Cream (recipe follows)Jam 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a heatproof bowl, combine plums and 1¾ cups very hot water. Let soak for 5 minutes. Drain plums well. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in cold butter until mixture is crumbly. Add cold cream, dried plums, and vanilla…

“THE WHOLE SECRET OF LIFE IS TO BE INTERESTED IN ONE THING PROFOUNDLY AND IN A THOUSAND THINGS WELL.”—Horace Walpole…

Poised on the banks of the River Derwent, its gilded window frames glinting in the sun, the palatial house and grounds of Chatsworth seem spun from the thread of legends. Though the lavish property is renowned for its storied history and remarkable beauty, it is endeared to the hearts of Jane Austen enthusiasts due to its connection with the 2005 movie adaptation of one of her most beloved novels, Pride and Prejudice. In the motion picture, directed by Joe Wright and starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, Chatsworth serves as the location for Pemberley, the grand home of Mr. Darcy. It’s unclear whether Jane Austen intentionally modeled Pemberley upon the “Palace of the Peak,” but the sumptuous interiors, soaring frescoed ceilings, and significant collections of art, sculpture, and books certainly…

“THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL SLOWLY HAS BECOME MORE PRECIOUS THAN EVER.”—Fredrik Laseen, General Manager…

Beyond its obviously captivating appearance, copper has been renowned for centuries as one of the best choices for both decorating and equipping one’s kitchen. The material is durable, naturally antibacterial, and an excellent thermal conductor, allowing one to prepare food with precise temperature control for even cooking. Especially in antique versions of the cookware, a tin lining has proven to be an essential element, protecting food from copper’s reactivity. But, of course, it is that exterior autumnal splendor that captivates so many hearts. There is a bounty of new and centuries-old pieces available to collectors, and both options carry a similar promise: to endure and be passed down through the generations. With proper care, which is far simpler than most people often assume, one’s prized pieces can maintain a brilliant…

In the charming neighborhood of Marylebone, symmetrical rows of Georgian residences rise from a tranquil road to greet the London sky. Behind one unassuming black door and its small brass plaque, the serene romance of Henry’s Townhouse greets visitors with splendor and hospitality. Offering refuge to travelers are six unique bedrooms, each designed to honor a family member of the Austen family, from siblings and cousins to Henry’s first wife, Eliza. Her room is cloaked in blushing silks and luxurious antiques, while Phylly’s boudoir boasts a massive, regal bed, and James’s retreat exudes a study-like atmosphere—chess set and all. These vignettes of eighteenth-century style leave guests feeling truly enchanted and eager to return, while the hospitality of modern amenities hidden alongside the period furniture stir feelings of being surrounded by…

The natural tones of Constable’s landscape paintings shade our setting, which showcases a pairing of greens and browns, accented by flashes of brilliant blues. Wedgwood pieces lend elegance to the table, which boasts a rich mix of textures, including a variety of linens, woven chargers, and several leatherbound books. Dried Plum–Cinnamon Scones bring together orchard and spice to create a teatime essential perfect for autumn. Along with dollops of jam, we top the fresh-baked treats with a generous serving of homemade clotted cream, a British accompaniment that can be prepared in the oven or in an electric pressure cooker. “I NEVER SAW AN UGLY THING IN MY LIFE: FOR LET THE FORM OF AN OBJECT BE WHAT IT MAY—LIGHT, SHADE, AND PERSPECTIVE WILL ALWAYS MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL.”—John Constable…

“WE HOPE THIS CURATED COLLECTION OF HOMES, HISTORY, AND INSPIRATION WILL REAFFIRM YOUR PREFERENCE FOR ALL THINGS COZY.”—Bethany Adams In The Collected English Cottage, the latest hardcover volume from Bethany Adams and The Cottage Journal, inspiration abounds. “While cottage style means many things to many people,” the editor explains, “at the heart of the design influence is something that lives in a storybook—thatched-roof homes hidden away among the rolling hills of the country, surrounded by stretches of green, rippling creeks, and fields of jovial wildflowers.” In chapters devoted to objects, interiors, and gardens, Bethany reveals keys to the enduringly popular English aesthetic. “We present the spaces, elements, and principles at the roots of cottage style, from personal homes in the Cotswolds to manor houses as rich with pattern and color…