The Grand Tour - An Extract from the Journal of Mr Wyndham, Collector of Curiosities

The Grand Tour

An Extract from the Journal of Mr Wyndham. The Closing Years of the Eighteenth Century

Welcome to The Emporium Café, situated in the historic Wyndham House,  Yeovil. Read the  story of Mr Wyndham and his Grand Tour,   inspired by the traditions of eighteenth-century gentlemen who travelled Europe in search of art, architecture and culture. Today, those journeys are reflected in our uniquely themed tables and interiors, inviting every guest to become part of the story…

There comes a moment in every gentleman’s life when he must look beyond the familiar and seek a broader understanding of the world.

Among Britain’s landed families, the Grand Tour was regarded as the final chapter of a young gentleman’s education. It was not undertaken for leisure alone, but to study architecture, art, music, gardens, craftsmanship and, perhaps most importantly, the many different ways in which people welcomed one another into their homes. 
He wrote:-

It was with such purpose that I departed Somerset in the closing years of the eighteenth century.

My possessions were few: a travelling trunk, a journal, a sketchbook and an insatiable curiosity. I imagined I would return with pleasant recollections and little more.

I could not have been more mistaken.

Every destination changed me.

In France I discovered elegant châteaux where hospitality was considered an art. Beautiful surroundings, gracious conversation and thoughtfully prepared tables reminded me that a guest’s experience begins long before the first course is served.

Italy stirred my imagination. In Florence, Venice and Rome I admired magnificent architecture, wandered bustling piazzas and spent evenings in candlelit salons where music, conversation and fine wine brought strangers together as friends.

Beyond Europe my horizons widened still further.

I stood beneath towering palms within magnificent conservatories. I marvelled at birds of astonishing colour, their feathers brighter than any artist’s palette. I encountered intricate craftsmanship, luxurious textiles and remarkable creatures—zebras, leopards and elephants—which seemed almost mythical to a gentleman raised amidst the rolling fields of Somerset.

Yet the greatest lesson I learned was not found in grand buildings or rare treasures.

It was found in people.

Every nation I visited expressed hospitality in its own way, but everywhere I travelled there was the same desire to gather, to converse, to celebrate and to make visitors feel welcome.

I returned home with far more than sketches and souvenirs.

I returned with ideas.

Ideas that would shape Wyndham House into more than a residence.

I wished it to become a place of curiosity, conversation and welcome—a house where every object carried a story, every corner sparked the imagination and every guest departed having discovered something new.

Although the centuries have passed, those memories continue to inspire this house.

Today, they live on through the tables around you.

Each bears the name of a moment, a place or a discovery from my travels.

The Orangery recalls magnificent glasshouses filled with citrus trees, fragrant blossoms and exotic plants.

Birds in the Bush celebrates peaceful gardens alive with birdsong from dawn until dusk.

The Château honours the warmth and generosity of the great country houses of France.

The Piano Bar remembers evenings where music became the language shared by every guest.

Leopard’s Lair and The Zebra Lounge pay tribute to the extraordinary wildlife that filled me with awe and reminded me that the natural world is the greatest artist of all.

The Palm House reflects the botanical wonders gathered beneath soaring glass roofs from every corner of the globe.

The Peacock’s Parlour celebrates beauty, elegance and the joyful spectacle of nature.

The Velvet Oasis recalls luxurious surroundings where weary travellers rested, reflected and shared stories of their journeys.

The Explorer’s Rest honours those quiet moments between adventures, when one pauses to appreciate how far one has travelled—and wonders where the next road may lead.

Finally, The Maharaja’s Office celebrates the remarkable craftsmanship, rich textiles and generous hospitality I encountered in India, where every object possessed a history and every room revealed another wonder.

• See how our own Interior Design department Trove Designs brought this cafe concept to life, it has genuinely been our biggest transformation yet. 
  As you enjoy your visit, I invite you to look beyond the table before you.

Notice the details.

Ask questions.

Share stories.

For the greatest discovery of any journey is not the place itself, but the memories we create there.

May your own journey through Wyndham House be filled with curiosity, good company and warm hospitality.

Mr Wyndham
Collector of Curiosities