A la Ronde has launched a digital platform for online visitors.
The National Trust has launched a new digital platform called The Compendium at A la Ronde.
The platform allows virtual visitors to explore the house, grounds, and collection from anywhere in the world.
The Compendium includes stories, images, films, and research, and will continue to grow over the coming years.
The platform features a virtual reality tour of the Shell Gallery, which has recently undergone conservation work.
Emma Mee, project manager at A la Ronde, said that they are delighted to be launching a new way of experiencing the stories of the National Trust property.
She said: "The Compendium is fully accessible, meaning online visitors can access never-before-seen photographs, videos, and facts from our volunteers, staff, and more."
The Shell Gallery was made inaccessible to visitors due to its age and fragility.
However, the recent conservation work allowed for digital scanning technologies to be used, meaning the gallery can now be experienced online in detail.
The Compendium also features information about the BBC2 series, Hidden Treasure of the National Trust.
Emily Deal, digital curator at A la Ronde, said: "This has been a wonderful opportunity to showcase the incredible knowledge and research at A la Ronde, helping more people to connect with the site’s heritage.
"From the Parminter cousins’ intentions for A la Ronde to the unique features today which make this a very special place, we have been able to explore a new variety of exciting histories.
"We’re usually confined to what we can communicate on-site, but the Compendium gives us limitless opportunities to engage a wider audience and communicate A la Ronde’s incredible story."
She added that the new digital offer will mean that people all over the world can share the intriguing stories of A la Ronde.
A la Ronde was built by Jane Parminter and her cousin Mary Parminter in the late 18th century.
The pair decorated the house with imaginative interiors, using natural but fragile materials such as feathers and shells.
These materials are now so fragile that access is only permitted to specialist conservators, but access can now be given digitally to online visitors through The Compendium.
The project has been made possible by the Wolfson Foundation, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the National Trust, as well as the support of visitors.
The Compendium is part of the A la Ronde: Conserving the Past, Creating the Future project.
The project has seen new spaces across the house open for visitors, and community workshops and events are planned for September 2024.
From September, new touchscreen and virtual reality headsets will be available for in-person visitors, allowing them to experience the online tour and interact with the Shell Gallery for the first time.
The new Shell Gallery Virtual 360 Tour can be found on the Compendium.
A la Ronde is open every Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30am to 5.30pm until November 1 2024. Normal admission applies.
More information can be found on the National Trust's website.
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