Passion and Politics: Sissinghurst and Greece
Explore diplomat Harold Nicolson's role in the fortunes of post-war Greece at a pivotal time in the country's development.
18 October 2025 - 29 March 2026 | Open daily* | 11am - 5:00pm*
Greek philosophy, politics, literature and history had a profound influence on diplomat Harold Nicolson. While often overshadowed by his famous novelist wife Vita Sackville-West, it is in this landmark exhibition where Harold's legacy takes centre stage for the first time.
From acting as specialist adviser at the Paris Peace Conference to the creation of the Delos garden at Sissinghurst, discover Harold's key role in the post-war fortunes of Greece and how, in turn, Greece inspired his iconic home.
Featuring Ancient Greek artefacts, rare agendas from the Paris Peace Conference, unpublished caricatures by Harold, personal photographs, and more.
Free with standard admission. Booking is not required.
The exhibition is located upstairs in the Oast Exhibition Space with no step-free access. A guide of the exhibition will be available to look through inside Visitor Reception.
*From Tuesday 28 October inclusive, the exhibition will close at 3:30pm. Closed on 24 and 25 December.
A personal perspective
This exhibition allows visitors to explore in detail the extent of Harold's diplomatic work and the leaders he wrote about.
Through his unique, first-hand accounts, find out what went on behind closed doors at a pivotal time in Greece's development.
Exhibition highlights
5th to 4th century BC ceramic cockerel
This cockerel dates back to Ancient Greece and is usually on a shelf in Vita Sackville-West's Writing Room. Research by KCL's ancient archaeoligist Rebecca Levitan indicated that the cockerel is older than first thought, making it one of the oldest items in Sissinghurst's collection.
The Paris Peace Conference
The Paris Peace Conference (1919 - 1920) took place at the end of the First World War, in which the victorious Allies set peace terms with the defeated Central Powers.
UK Prime Minister David Lloyd George, U.S President Woodrow Wilson and French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau led the discussions. Harold was often the only diplomat in the room and wrote about the historic event extensively in his diary and letters to Vita and his father.
'The Maker of Modern Greece'
Harold held numerous government positions, working alongside leading political figures such as UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Another of these figures was Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, often dubbed 'The Maker of Modern Greece'.
The Allied Powers felt indebted to Venizelos, who brought Greece into the First World War on the their side.
Dine[d] with Venizelos... He tells us stories of King Constantine... of the Cretan insurrection... of Greek culture, of modern Greek and its relation to the classical... rather moving.
Greek influences at Sissinghurst
Harold and Vita were often inspired by their travels abroad and brought back plants or trinkets that they used to create their home and garden here. From Persian roses to Italian garden structure, world influences can be seen throughout Sissinghurst Castle.
The most obvious inspiration from Harold and Vita's travels to Greece is of course the Delos garden.
The recreation of a Mediterranean garden at Sissinghurst was first attempted in the 1930s after the couple's 1935 trip to the Cyclades. They faced many challenges here as amateur gardeners including the Kent climate and the north-facing position of the garden. Despite their best efforts, the garden in their minds never quite materialised.
Within the last decade, Sissinghurst has worked with garden designer Dan Pearson OBE and his team to reimagine the Delos garden at Sissinghurst, in line with the vision originally conceived by Harold and Vita nearly a century ago.
[W]e found masses of large stones lying about and, not liking orthodox rock gardens, assembled them into little flat terraces the shape, size and height of the ruins on the Greek island of Delos.
Acknowledgements
Sponsored by The Centre for Hellenic Studies at King's College London.
For the exhibition research, the National Trust has worked with King's College London.
With thanks to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Archives, George Seferis Papers & Special Collections, Princeton University Library, Harold Nicolson Papers, Aviva, The Little Greene Paint Company, and the Philharmonia Orchestra of Athens.
Our partners
King’s College London is a world-renowned university that delivers exceptional education and world-leading research.
The Centre for Hellenic Studies at King's College London is a unique grouping of academics in different disciplines and departments, with interests and expertise covering more than three millennia, from Aegean prehistory to the history, language, literature and culture of Greece, Cyprus and the worldwide Greek diaspora today.
Established in 2016, the Athens Philharmonia Orchestra performs, records, and promotes the art music composed during the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries within and beyond Greek borders by Greek or Greek-origin composers.
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