20th July 2024
Join us for free admission day to celebrate Gilbert White’s 304th birthday!
Although White’s birthday is on the 18th we’re waiting for the weekend to celebrate with our visitors.
Gilbert White’s Birthday Celebration
- 20th July 2024 10:30 am - 5:00 pm
- 10:30 am
- Gilbert Whites House
Gilbert Whites House
Gilbert White was aged 7 or 8 when the White family moved from the Vicarage on Selborne’s Plestor, to this house, called ‘The Wakes’ (named after the Wake family who had lived here previously). At that time the property would have been no more than a ‘two up, two down’ but over the subsequent years lots of extensions and additions have been made, creating the long sizeable house you see today.
The rooms have been restored following descriptions in White’s own correspondence and include a chair he used at Oriel College, Oxford (loaned from the College), items of contemporary furniture, family portraits and bed hangings embroidered for him by his aunts.
On display is the original manuscript of his book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, which was purchased with generous help from English Heritage and others.
Learn more