Monk’s House Weekend, 1931 (Detail) (AW45)

Monk’s House in Rodmell, Sussex, was the country retreat of Leonard and Virginia Woolf, situated just a few miles across the downs from Charleston Farmhouse, the home of Virginia’s sister, Vanessa Bell. It provided them with a welcome oasis of peace from the busy life of literary London.
Here we see them on a typical summer’s weekend, Virginia relaxing outside her “writing lodge”, a shed at the end of the garden, and Leonard busy gardening.
The lawn outside the lodge was the scene of many an enthusiastic game of bowls between themselves and with visitors.