It starts to unfold from the moment you arrive, and board the specially designed Land Rover shuttle which takes you from the car park to the main complex.

The building itself is an outstanding architectural achievement, with its imposing proportions and strong Art Deco influence. The historic vehicles are displayed in the main museum hall, which provides a striking setting with its semi- circular design, unique roof structure and subtle lighting.

On the first floor you will find the Engineering Gallery with its displays of engines, suspensions, transmissions, sectioned cars and other components, demonstrating many of the moving parts that go into a motorcar. The displays are interesting, informative and above all, accessible. A noticeable absence of the usual rope barriers allows close inspection, bringing the past dramatically close to life. The collection has something to appeal to everyone. Exhibitions such as ‘Fashion and the Motorcar’, for example, show the close connection between motorcar design and the style influences of the Edwardian period.

For researchers and serious enthusiasts, the centre holds a comprehensive technical archive of several million engineering drawings, production records, photographs and rare film material. This is accessible via private reading room which is open to all- ideal for passing interest, school projects or more detailed research.

Vehicles that made racing and rallying history are featured here, as are unique prototypes, and a number of design concepts which never saw the light of day. In addition to the Trust’s own priceless collection, Gaydon also features prominent displays from the Lucas and Corgi museum collections.

As the new focus of motoring history in the UK, and with its easily accessible, central location, Gaydon is a natural venue for all kinds of special events. These include car club rallies on most weekends during the summer months, plus a variety of other events ranging from car auctions to auto jumbles and antique fairs.

Vocabulary:

heritage – наследство, наследие

charity – благополучность, учреждения или дела

vehicle – перевозочное средство (автомобиль, вагон, повозка и т.п.)

comprehensive – объемлющий, исчерпывающий

extensively – широко, пространно, во все стороны

to feature – изображать, рисовать, показывать, отводить важнейшее место

subtle – едва различимый, искусный, хитроумный

suspension – подвеска

transmission – передача, коробка передач, привод

accessible – доступный, достижимый

venue – место сбора, встречи

The shugborough estate

Set on the edge of Cannock Chase, the Shugborough Estate is the magnificent 900 acre ancestral home of the Earls of Lichfield. The Estate stands testament largely to the efforts of two people. Thomas Anson (1695-1773) enlarged the mansion, landscaped the parkland and commissioned the building of a remarkable collection of neo-classical monuments. The finances for such an ambitious project largely came from his brother George Anson (1697-1762). A naval officer, he acquired fame and fortune by capturing a Spanish treasure galleon and later became First Lord of the Admiralty.

Originally built in 1693 the mansion has been greatly altered by successive generations of the Anson family. Between 1745 and 1748 the house was extended to feature splendid rococo plasterwork by Vassali and further improved towards the end of the 18^th century by the well-known architect Samuel Wyatt, including the addition of eight ionic columns forming the grand portico. Fine collection of eighteen century ceramics, silver, paintings and French furniture decorate the rooms. The ‘Lichfield at Home’ exhibition gives an insight into the photographic work of the present Earl and reveals an unusual array of personal and family memorabilia.

The Shugborough landscape features eight monuments of great importance in the evolution of English architecture. The work of Thomas Wright of Durham and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart, they were built during the mid - eighteenth century and mainly reflect the English landowner’s admiration of classical architecture, fashionable at that time.

Vocabulary:

ancestral – наследственный, рядовой

to commission – уполномочивать, давать заказ (художнику), укомплектовывать

naval office – морской офицер

successive – последующий

insight (into) – способствовать проникновению в суть, пожимание

earl – граф (английский)

array – боевой порядок, масса, множество

acquire - приобретать

capture - захватывать силой, брать в плен

extend - расширять (дом и т. п.)