Visits in 2017
Sunday March 26th
Canterbury Cathedral and Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and it forms part of a World Heritage Site.
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge. The building takes its name from its benefactor, Dr James George Beaney. A cultural hub in East Kent it provides a range of services under one roof, uniting art, heritage, books, ideas, information and collections, including an exceptional collection of paintings and objects from Anthony Van Dyke to David Hockney
Sunday 23rd April
Uppark House
We will visit Uppark House which was largely destroyed by fire and restored in the 1990’s. A highlight of the collection is one of the best examples of a 17th century doll's house in the country. The servant’s quarters, accessible by winding underground tunnels, give real insight into the engine room of a thriving household.
Note the originally planned joint visit to Hinton Ampner has had to be dropped for technical reasons.
Sunday May 21st
Oxburgh Hall, Swaffham, Norfolk
Built in 1482 by the Catholic Bedingfield family, explore the hidden doors and priest hole. The house contains needlework by Mary Queen of Scots and colourful wallpaper from the mid 19th century.
Sunday June 18th
Hever Castle
Dating back to the 13th century, Hever Castle was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and Mother of Elizabeth I. Its panelled rooms house fine furniture, tapestries, antiques and what is regarded by David Starkey as ‘one of the best collections of Tudor portraits after the National Portrait Gallery’. The Book of Hours Room beautifully illuminates two prayer books which belonged to Anne Boleyn and bear her inscriptions and signature.
Sunday 20th August
Clarence House, London
Clarence House is the official London residence of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The arrangement of the rooms and the grouping of their contents remain recognisably as they were in Queen Elizabeth’s time, with much of Her Majesty’s collection of works of art and furniture in their former positions. Pictures include works by Veronese, Landseer, and Bogdani.
Sunday September 10th to Tuesday September 14th
We have planned a three day trip to Cardiff - The outline Itinerary is:
Day 1 – We travel Radlett to Cardiff. On arrival the afternoon will be free to explore the National Museum Cardiff, home to world class art and natural history. The art collection here is one of Europe’s finest, with 500 years of magnificent paintings, drawings, sculpture, silver and ceramics from Wales and across the world, including one of Europe’s best collections of Impressionist Art.
Day 2 – We Visie Castle Coch, a 19th C. Gothic Revival castle built on the remains of a genuine 13th C. fortification with dazzling ceilings, over-the-top furnishings and furniture. We return to Cardiff for a visit to Cardiff Castle. Our guided house tour here will take us through some of the most amazingly opulent, highly decorated rooms and we will see the spectacular fairy-tale apartments, rich with murals, gilding and elaborate wood carvings, stained glass and marble, created by artarchitect William Burges for the 3rd Marquess of Bute.
Day 3 – Before we travel home we go to Chepstow Museum which displays the rich and varied past of this ancient town, once an important port and market centre. The 18th and 19th century paintings and prints in Chepstow Museum illustrate the everlasting appeal of Chepstow and the Wye Valley to artists and tourists alike. After time here we continue to Cheltenham. Here we include a visit to the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, which houses an internationally significant collection including Arts and Crafts Movement and Fine Art.
The exact order of excursions may be subject to change.
Full details are here and here is a booking form.
Sunday 24th September
Snowshill Manor and Garden
Every room in Snowshill Manor is filled with hundreds of objects, from model boats and scary Samurais, to toys and an attic filled with bicycles. The Manor is to this day presented as Wade arranged it, a treasure trove of curiosities. The Garden is two acres it includes formal lawns, colourful borders and water features - with autumn colour in September and October.
Sunday October 15th - PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE
Osterley House
Once described by Horace Walpole as 'the palace of palaces', Osterley was created in the late 18th century by architect and designer Robert Adam. Today the house is presented as it would have looked in the 1780s . A collection of rare portraits and artworks has been returned to Osterley Park and House on a ten-year loan.
Canterbury Cathedral and Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and it forms part of a World Heritage Site.
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge. The building takes its name from its benefactor, Dr James George Beaney. A cultural hub in East Kent it provides a range of services under one roof, uniting art, heritage, books, ideas, information and collections, including an exceptional collection of paintings and objects from Anthony Van Dyke to David Hockney
Sunday 23rd April
Uppark House
We will visit Uppark House which was largely destroyed by fire and restored in the 1990’s. A highlight of the collection is one of the best examples of a 17th century doll's house in the country. The servant’s quarters, accessible by winding underground tunnels, give real insight into the engine room of a thriving household.
Note the originally planned joint visit to Hinton Ampner has had to be dropped for technical reasons.
Sunday May 21st
Oxburgh Hall, Swaffham, Norfolk
Built in 1482 by the Catholic Bedingfield family, explore the hidden doors and priest hole. The house contains needlework by Mary Queen of Scots and colourful wallpaper from the mid 19th century.
Sunday June 18th
Hever Castle
Dating back to the 13th century, Hever Castle was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and Mother of Elizabeth I. Its panelled rooms house fine furniture, tapestries, antiques and what is regarded by David Starkey as ‘one of the best collections of Tudor portraits after the National Portrait Gallery’. The Book of Hours Room beautifully illuminates two prayer books which belonged to Anne Boleyn and bear her inscriptions and signature.
Sunday 20th August
Clarence House, London
Clarence House is the official London residence of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The arrangement of the rooms and the grouping of their contents remain recognisably as they were in Queen Elizabeth’s time, with much of Her Majesty’s collection of works of art and furniture in their former positions. Pictures include works by Veronese, Landseer, and Bogdani.
Sunday September 10th to Tuesday September 14th
We have planned a three day trip to Cardiff - The outline Itinerary is:
Day 1 – We travel Radlett to Cardiff. On arrival the afternoon will be free to explore the National Museum Cardiff, home to world class art and natural history. The art collection here is one of Europe’s finest, with 500 years of magnificent paintings, drawings, sculpture, silver and ceramics from Wales and across the world, including one of Europe’s best collections of Impressionist Art.
Day 2 – We Visie Castle Coch, a 19th C. Gothic Revival castle built on the remains of a genuine 13th C. fortification with dazzling ceilings, over-the-top furnishings and furniture. We return to Cardiff for a visit to Cardiff Castle. Our guided house tour here will take us through some of the most amazingly opulent, highly decorated rooms and we will see the spectacular fairy-tale apartments, rich with murals, gilding and elaborate wood carvings, stained glass and marble, created by artarchitect William Burges for the 3rd Marquess of Bute.
Day 3 – Before we travel home we go to Chepstow Museum which displays the rich and varied past of this ancient town, once an important port and market centre. The 18th and 19th century paintings and prints in Chepstow Museum illustrate the everlasting appeal of Chepstow and the Wye Valley to artists and tourists alike. After time here we continue to Cheltenham. Here we include a visit to the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, which houses an internationally significant collection including Arts and Crafts Movement and Fine Art.
The exact order of excursions may be subject to change.
Full details are here and here is a booking form.
Sunday 24th September
Snowshill Manor and Garden
Every room in Snowshill Manor is filled with hundreds of objects, from model boats and scary Samurais, to toys and an attic filled with bicycles. The Manor is to this day presented as Wade arranged it, a treasure trove of curiosities. The Garden is two acres it includes formal lawns, colourful borders and water features - with autumn colour in September and October.
Sunday October 15th - PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE
Osterley House
Once described by Horace Walpole as 'the palace of palaces', Osterley was created in the late 18th century by architect and designer Robert Adam. Today the house is presented as it would have looked in the 1780s . A collection of rare portraits and artworks has been returned to Osterley Park and House on a ten-year loan.