Farleys House & Gallery — Attraction in Wealden

I recently visited the Henry Moore foundation in Hertfordshire and in my review I stated It was one of my favourite places I had visited. It had a magical feel and I felt so close to the artist and his life that I really understood more about his art and inspirations after my visit.

Farley’s has a similar feel. Lee Miller had an amazing life and with the support she found from husband Roland Penrose was one of the 20th Century’s most remarkable women. This wonderful house contains some remarkable artefact such as Lee’s knuckledusters, Baby Hermes typewriter and one of her Rolleiflex camera’s as well as some of Roland’s Surrealist artwork. Throw in a few original Picasso’s, a Miro and a Carrington amongst others and you have an art lovers paradise. The tour guide was excellent BTW. I can’t think of another house with a Surrealist fireplace! After I strolled around the gardens that featured many sculptures I then made my way across the yard via the Cafe area to a gallery space which apparently has several different shows a year, this one being ‘Summer of 37’. A gentleman with a remarkable knowledge of Lee gave me a quick rundown of the photos that documented an important year in Lee and Roland’s life. There was also a selection of Lee’s wartime photo work. On my way out I realised the gentleman was Lee’s son Anthony, hence the amazing knowledge. I had a lovely chat and he kindly signed a couple of books I had purchased. Overall a wonderful house to visit and a must for anyone interested in Lee, Roland, the Surrealist movement or just interested in lives that are almost in ‘touching distance’ lived to their fullest. I will return. As a link to Henry Moore, Anthony will be at the Moore foundation in October in conversation with Henry’s daughter Mary. Also watch out for a Lee Miller show running Oct to Feb 2026 at Tate Britain.Thats in...

They made mistakes then they’re rude and unhelpful about it. Only here for your money.

We went to the gallery and fell in love with one of the photos. However, they didn’t have the matted print in stock so we paid the price (£60) there so they can get it printed and matted. Two weeks later, we received a photo which is not matted with a bent corner due to poor packaging. We we’re really surprised how an expensive photo was packaged so poorly.

We reached out and asked them to send the matted photo as that’s what we paid for. They got back and told us that:

“Unmatted prints are £45.75, whilst the matted prints in our shop are £60.00 - the extra costs you pay by ordering online are VAT and postage and packaging. “

On what planet does VAT, postage and packaging costs £15?? When we ordered it in store, also no one explained to us that by paying £60 (which is the exact same cost as the matted photos in store) that we would only be receiving a damaged and flimsy photo in poor packaging.

We then called the gallery and the person who picked up the phone was also extremely rude and sounded like she’s too good to talk to us about their mistakes.

They were very unhelpful both in emails and on the phone about their own mistakes. They kept pushing the responsibilities away, said it’s impossible that we weren’t informed about the photos being unmatted, and impossible that it was damaged, and basically meant that we were lying about everything. Seems like they’re just there for the money rather than providing a good experience for visitors and customers, which for the price we paid we thought we would get.

We felt very disrespected and...

My knowledge of Lee Miller before visiting Farley House came mainly from Wikipedia and the 2023 film Lee. I was hoping to see photographs I hadn't yet seen and to find out more about her career, and her friendships with, say, Paul Élaud. Perhaps there are lesser known photographs and more information along these lines within the house although I suspect not. Often these places become shrines dominated by the over enthusiastic middle aged, invariably volunteers, and this is no exception. Perhaps unfairly I am comparing it to the peace and serenity of state funded museums and art galleries. State funded museums and art galleries are required to cater for all and not a select few, and the over enthusiastic middle aged volunteers within these are I guess asked to respect that not everyone will enjoy their seemingly compulsory noisy opinionated enthusiasm. Anthony Penrose comes across as a sweet person and if you are into hearing without choosing to about somebody's wealthy and colourful mother's partying and her extra martial affairs then this is the place for you. FYI there is no shade in either carpark if taking a dog. £10 allows dogs into the garden and cafe but not into the gallery. The £25 admission does understandably not allow dogs into the house. For the kind of interests I have and because of the way I enjoy learning, I am not entirely sure from my £10 visit that I would enjoy...