Beanbags at Ickworth House

Just checked out images of bean bags in NT property. They look a sight more comfortable and somehow more appropriate than a row of cheap wooden chairs.
Decision made. I'm all for it.

Always been a fan with the juxtaposition of ancient and modern.

Although if you nabbed two you could have a little snooze

than, not that

I can't think of any form of seating that is more out of sync with an historic stately home that a bean bag. It certainly wouldn't encourage me to "linger" in the room. I agree with petallus - cheap wooden chairs would have been preferable if they feel the need to provide usable seating. How could you enjoy the artefacts on display if you're plunged to knee level in a beanbag anyway? Madness.

Some photos of the bean bags in situ might have helped me form a clearer opinion. As it is I just have to imagine them.
In essence, I'm all for diversity, even in the hallowed NT properties.

I wouldn't use them; far too difficult from which to rise elegantly, but I would be interested and amused in seeing them used by youngsters/children.

Rather akin to seeing a fenced off, multi-coloured play area for children in a beautifully landscaped garden.

Cheap wooden chairs would have been better though.

Stately homes I have visited do not encourage visitors to sit in early 19th c chairs. The bean bags are meant to provide usable seating where there was none before.

Everything being dumbed down until we are all dumb and stupid.

(Not us, of course - future generations)

That makes me feel very sad - mainly because it's my nearest NT property and where we always haul visitors off to for the day, and now it will be spoilt.

The comments are illuminating.
They seem to suggest a dumb down of history.

Maybe they are hoping to get lots of Yoof visitors who think that beanbags are passe therefore historic? Ones who know no difference between three centuries ago and 3 decades ago?

I'm not quite sure why they are doing this. If it is to provide those who are tired with something to sit on while they linger and admire the period items, then it is a bit useless as anyone who needed such a facility would be unlikely to be able to get up from a beanbag! Quite barmy!