What an inspiring place! We spent an unforgettable afternoon visiting the artist Henry Moore’s former family home and studios at Perry Green. It’s tucked away in a pretty corner of Hertfordshire near Much Hadham. I advise researching the route before you set off. It’s off the beaten track and the final stretch of the journey is through winding country lanes.
Henry Moore’s sculptures look wonderful in the grounds and it is fascinating to step inside the different studios where they were created. Each studio is packed with Moore’s maquettes, sketches and tools all which add to the understanding of his working methods. The staff positioned around the site on the day were very knowledgeable and friendly.
In addition to the sculptures, gardens, house and studios, there is a 16th century barn displaying Henry Moore’s wonderful tapestries which he commissioned from West Dean College in Sussex. There was music playing and a bride-to-be and her family checking out the barn for her wedding when we visited.
The shop serves as the ticketing area and is both the entrance and the exit to the gardens. It was well stocked with art books and carried a good selection of Henry Moore prints, postcards, art materials and souvenirs. As well as a newly opened visitor centre, there are plenty of toilets, a car park and an attractive café serving light meals and teas.
We noticed that disabled visitors are well catered for. There are mobility scooters and wheelchairs that you can borrow for your visit which you might need as there are 60 acres of gardens and countryside to explore. Unusually, you are allowed, even encouraged to touch the sculptures and there are large print guides available if you require.
We found it cheapest to buy a family ticket for £31.50. It cost an extra £4.50 per person to buy a timed ticket for a tour of “Hoglands”, Moore’s house, but this extra half hour was the highlight of our trip. The guide gave a fascinating tour of the ground floor rooms, their eclectic contents and stories about the famous visitors. The house has been left as it was at the time of Moore’s death in 1986. As the house is small and the corridors narrow, only about half a dozen people can take the tour at a time and everyone is provided with disposable overshoes shoe covers.
If you are interested in 20th century art, British Sculpture or gardens pick a sunny day and you are going to enjoy this one. We allowed 2 and half hours for our visit but we could easily have spent the whole day here.
“Henry Moore Website”:https://www.henry-moore.org/visit/henry-moore-studios-gardens
