Inside Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge, England
Located just a stone’s throw away from the heart of Cambridge city centre, Kettle’s Yard is a home-from-home gallery of British modern art.
For 16 years, Kettle’s Yard was the property of Jim Ede, the first modern art curator at the Tate Gallery, and his wife, Helen. He purchased four terraced houses in 1957, and knocked them into one to create the splendid building that stands today.
Thanks to Jim’s friendships with artists and other like-minded people, over the years he amassed a wonderful collection of art. Works include paintings by Joan Miro, Georges Braque, Christopher Wood and Ben and Winifred Nicholson, as well as sculptures by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.
He filled his house with these works and carefully positioned them alongside a collection of beautiful furniture, ceramics, glass and natural objects, with the aim of creating a harmonic living quarter.
…a living place where works of art could be enjoyed… where young people could be at home unhampered by the greater austerity of the museum or public art gallery.
Exploring inside Kettle's Yard
The house itself is preserved exactly how Jim and Helen left it. Upon entering the house, you’re greeted by a serene space of whitewashed walls, bare woodwork, and ample light.
After a brief welcome and introduction, you are encouraged by the guide to explore the house as if it was your own.
I enjoyed the intimate gesture, and it was an easy invitation given that I was already wishing that I lived at Kettle’s Yard from the moment I stepped through the door.
The interior is about as charming as any home can get, and tasteful too. From the paintings to the candles holders, and from the cushions to the cups, there wasn’t a single thing that looked out of place. I wanted it all.
I ambled first through a series of modest rooms and cosy nooks. It was easy to imagine Jim and Helen retreating into these spaces with a book in tow. You encounter a plethora of unlabelled artworks, many of which rest at armchair height.
Every twist and turn allows you to glimpse at meticulously arranged porcelain, ceramics, glass and natural objects. I marvelled at how a curated selection of pebbles and stones could look so beautiful. Through purposeful arrangement, even a set of pebbles had transformed into a piece of art. No wonder Jim was the curator of the Tate: he had vision.
The top floor
Going upstairs, the house opens out into a much bigger, almost Le Corbusier-inspired space, extended in the 1970’s to accommodate the ever-expanding number of artworks, and artefacts.
On this floor the paintings grow in size, and arranged more like a traditional art gallery. An abundance of natural light highlights each painting.
Other spaces are scattered with plants, worn furniture, rugs, throws and their personal library of books.
Jim Ede hoped that Kettle’s Yard would be a place where visitors would ‘find a home and a welcome refuge of peace and order, of the visual arts and of music’.
He achieved this. Kettle’s Yard became a sanctuary of sorts for students and those with artistic interests. He would open up the house every afternoon during term-time to allow students and visitors to view his home.
I imagine he touched a lot of lives. He knew how to build communities and foster relationships.
A home museum
For me, the main appeal of Kettle’s Yard not only lies within its aesthetic beauty, but how intimate it is compared to your usual art gallery experience. There are no labels, no stuffy atmosphere, and no guards waiting for you in any of the rooms.
It really does feel like you’re wandering around someone’s house when they’re not there. I guess this is because you are.
You are encouraged to make yourself at home. So do that. Potter around or relax on the furniture as you would in your own home. It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up some interior design tips while you’re at it. If I ever find myself lucky enough to get on the property ladder, I’ll be back here in seek of inspiration.
Kettle’s Yard is special. Here, art is observed in a different way. It’s personal. Not behind white lines. Not under the watchful eye of guards. But rather in a free environment away from the institutional constraints found within 95% of art galleries.
General information about Kettle's Yard
Address: Castle St, Cambridge CB3 0AQ
Website: www.kettlesyard.co.uk
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12 – 5pm
Admission fee: Free, timed entry tickets to the House are available at the information desk on arrival or via their website.
