Step into Hidden History at A la Ronde: Virtual Reality Shell Gallery and Archaeology Exhibition Open 

Visitors can now experience the past at National Trust A la Ronde, nr Exmouth, Devon, in new ways this summer with the launch of a virtual reality experience allowing access to the Shell Gallery and a new archaeology exhibition called Digging Deeper. 

For the first time, visitors can step virtually into one of A la Ronde’s most delicate and intriguing spaces: the Shell Gallery, as seen on BBC Hidden Treasures of the National Trust.  

This upper-floor room, closed to the public due to its fragility and limited access, is adorned with nearly 25,000 shells arranged in intricate patterns. Through state-of-the-art virtual reality headsets, visitors can now explore this newly restored space.  

A 10-minute guided VR experience allows users to wander the gallery, zoom into details, and interact with stories and facts about its creation. It offers a unique opportunity to witness this hidden treasure while preserving its delicate fabric. 

Also launching this summer is the Digging Deeper archaeology exhibition. This exhibition was inspired by a single line in a handwritten will from 1849, where Mary Parminter, the original owner of A la Ronde, described a garden with ornate features including a mysterious ‘Shellary’. This led National Trust archaeologists and volunteers to investigate. 

Over three weeks in 2023, two excavation trenches revealed lost architectural features, ancient artefacts, and a forgotten garden path. Further discoveries in 2024 by workers in the bee garden, including fragments of decorated plaster and crystals, suggested the remains of the 'Shellary'. 

The exhibition features finds from the 2023 dig, surprise discoveries from the bee garden, earlier artefacts from 1995, and Mary’s original will. Visitors can see a section of a demolished obelisk, take part in hands-on activities, and learn what it’s like to work as an archaeologist. 

The Digging Deeper exhibition runs from March 4 to November 2 and is located in the house. The house is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am-4pm. 

Plan your visit at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/alalronde