• Return coach journey
• welcome talk 
• Tour of galleries
• Lunch
• Tour of sculpture gardens
• Opportunity to visit Sherborne Abbey

COST: £26 inclusive, per head

TIMING:  

9.00      Depart from Wilton Park and Ride.   Please arrive in time to board the coach ready to leave promptly.

10:15    Arrive at Sherborne House.   Opportunity to buy refreshments at the Pavilion Café.

10:45    Welcome talk on the history of Sherborne House and the Sir James Thornhill staircase.

11:00    Self-guided tour of the galleries.

12:30    Lunch in the Pavilion Café - included in the cost of the trip, a light lunch of soup and bread. If anyone wants dessert or coffee then please purchase this independently.

1:15      Opportunity to visit the Sculpture Gardens (please note these extend to the opposite side of the road) and shop. You are welcome to stroll into the town and see the Abbey or do a spot of retail therapy!

3:00      Meet back at the gates of Sherborne House to board the coach.

4:15      Expected arrival time back at the Wilton Park and Ride.

BOOKING:  Book at any meeting, pay by credit card or electronically online. 

N.B.  Some Members have put their name on the list for this visit, but appear not to have paid – please could you check?

For further information, please contact Pauline Cullis:   picullis79@gmail.com or phone her on 01722 718743  or  07710 296797.

For last minute cancellations on the day, please contact Pauline on 07710 296797.

Disappointingly, there was not sufficient interest in this visit, and so it has been cancelled.  We apologise for this.

Rosslyn O'Connor has been in touch with everyone who had already paid, or expressed interest.  

This will be a comprehensive tour of the Founder's Building, and is for a maximum group of 40. 

There will be a talk on the private art collection, with free time to explore the Art Gallery.

Further information about the Royal Holloway College is available on their website, click  HERE

Lunch will be supplied, and will include a selection of sandwiches, fruit platter, coffee, tea and mineral water.

TIMING:  The coach will depart Wilton Park and Ride at 8.45am, and leave Egham at around 4pm.

BOOKING:  From 16 April.

For further information, please contact Rosslyn O'Connor: rosslynoconnor@outlook.com or phone her on 01722 743256.

This visit is for a maximum of 50 people, and was fully subscribed almost immediately.  BUT due to some cancellations, there are now a handful of spaces on the coach.  Please contact Rosslyn O'Connor, details below, if you are interested in learning more or wish to book.

The cost of the actual tour round the club is £27 per head, and this will be payable on or before our next meeting on 19 March by credit card or electronically online. 
The price of the coach will depend on our final numbers, and therefore this cost will be payable separately, at a later date.  
To clarify, for this visit we are having to charge separately for the venue and the transport, rather than combining them both together in the usual way.
The tour will be 90 minutes long, with time to visit the museum as well.  As we are a big group we would be split into two, departing 15 minutes apart:  one would start at 11.15am, the other at 11.30am.  We would aim to depart for home at around 2.30pm.  Details such as time of departure from the Park & Ride will be announced later.

There are no facilities at Wimbledon for a snack or even a picnic, and so we will have to provide our own sustenance to eat on the coach.

 Please contact Rosslyn O'Connor, contact details below.

Email rosslynoconnor@outlook.com or phone her on 01722 743256 or 07768 622218

NEWLY PLANNED VISIT

Rosslyn O'Connor has organised a visit by coach to the D Day Museum in Southsea, on Wednesday 23 October.

If you are interested in going and would like to book a place, please email Rosslyn: rosslynoconnor@outlook.com or phone her on 01722 743256.

COST:   £26 which includes transport by coach.

PAYMENT:

By Bank Card at the meeting in September (preferred);

Online:  Sort Code 40-52-40   A/C No 00060136; 

By cheque, payable to:   The Arts Society Wylye Valley

Reference:     Your name / Visit 4

TIMING:  The Coach will depart Wilton Park & Ride at 9.30am, returning from Southsea at 4pm.

Unfortunately, the visit to Lacock has been cancelled as too few people were interested in going.   

We apologise to everyone who had booked, but please be assured that you will receive a refund in due course.

The history of Lacock Abbey began in 1232 when it was founded by Ella, Countess of Salisbury. After the dissolution of the monasteries, it became a Tudor home and over the centuries acquired Renaissance and Gothic architectural features.

In the 19 century the estate was bought by the Fox Talbot family.  William Fox Talbot developed the first photographic negative, an invention of huge importance.  The Fox Talbot Museum shows the development of photography from those early days up to the present time.

Lacock Village is a medieval village planned on a grid pattern (similar to Salisbury). Shops include a cafe and bookshop. There is also a tearoom.  Lacock Gardens are extensive and date back to the Abbey’s origins.

Property website click Here

TIMINGS

09.30  Depart Wilton Park and Ride.

10.30  Arrive Lacock Abbey for free-flow visit.

Lunch. A light lunch can be bought in either the National Trust tea room in the Abbey courtyard or in the village cafe.  Picnics are allowed in the grounds.

16.00  Depart for Wilton 

COST:

National Trust members:  £14.50

Non members:   £33.50

Bookings start on 20th March.

To book for this visit please contact Jane Wallace or Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email, or at the meetings:

Jane:       01722 780475  wallacejanew@aol.com 

Rosslyn:  017227 43256  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

PAYMENT:

By Bank Card at a meeting (preferred);

By BACS:  Sort Code 40-52-40   A/C No 00060136; 

By cheque, payable to:   The Arts Society Wylye Valley

Reference:     Your name / Visit 3

Mapperton House began life in the 11th century and has since been owned by only six families. It has been the home of the Earls of Sandwich since 1955 and currently is run by the heir and his wife, Viscount and Viscountess Hinchingbrooke.

The Tudor manor was largely rebuilt in the 1660s and had some Georgian additions. In 2006 it was voted the Nation’s Finest Manor House by Country Life. The house and gardens contain an Italianate garden laid out in 1920 and a wild garden commenced in 1950. They were named Historic Houses Garden of the Year in 2020. Part of the 1900 acre estate has been the subject of a recent re-wilding project which involves beavers, Exmoor ponies and White Park cattle. (This costs extra to visit, so is not part of our visit today.)

The house and gardens have been used for several films, including Emma, Rebecca and Tom Jones.

Property website click Here

TIMINGS

09.15  Depart Wilton Park & Ride

10.30  Arrive Mapperton House.  Coffee and biscuits – which are only included with the pre- ordered lunch!

11.00  First tour of house

Lunch:  pre-ordered lunch of plated sandwiches.  Visitors' own picnics can be taken to the area next to the car park only.

Free time to visit the garden and shop.

15.30  Depart for Wilton

COST:  

£35.50  or £45.00 to include coffee and the sandwich lunch.

Bookings start on 20th March.

To book for this visit please contact Jane Wallace or Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email, or at the meetings:

Jane:       01722 780475  wallacejanew@aol.com 

Rosslyn:  017227 43256  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

PAYMENT:

By Bank Card at a meeting (preferred);

By BACS:  Sort Code 40-52-40   A/C No 00060136; 

By cheque, payable to:   The Arts Society Wylye Valley

Reference:     Your name / Visit 2

Dyrham Park is a Restoration Mansion built with Dutch style interiors.

William Blathwayt , the creator of Dyrham was a Restoration Civil Servant. He was hard working, fluent in Dutch and secretary to the British Ambassador to The Hague, when relations with Holland were crucial. He rose to become Clerk to the Privy council. He was loyal to King James II, yet equally loyal to Willliam of Orange.

In 1688 he married the heiress to Dyrham, Mary Wynter and began rebuilding her Tudor house in a style to reflect his importance within the Government of the time and his loyalty to the Crown. Subsequent descendants did not prosper as William Blathwayt had and the house fell into disrepair. It was finally sold to the National Trust in 1961.

Dyrham is still as William Blathwayt built it, with romantic facades and interiors in the Anglo-Dutch fashion of the late 17th Century and is filled with an abundance of Dutch paintings and porcelain, fabrics and furniture.

Property website click Here

TIMINGS:    

09.15  Depart Wilton Park & Ride.                   

10.30  Arrive Dyrham Park in time for coffee.

11.30  House opens for free flow visit. 

Free time for lunch or a picnic and to visit the gardens & shop.

15.30  Depart for Wilton.

COST:     

National Trust members: £18.00

Non-members    £36.50  

Bookings start on 20th March.  To book for this visit please contact Jane Wallace or Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email, or at the meetings.

Jane:       01722 780475  wallacejanew@aol.com

Rosslyn:  01722 743256  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

PAYMENT:

By Bank Card at a meeting (preferred);

By BACS:  Sort Code 40-52-40   A/C No 00060136; 

By cheque, payable to:   The Arts Society Wylye Valley;

Reference:     Your name / Visit 1

The Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst is where the elite of the British Army train to be officers.  Cadets arrive for nearly a year of training in the leafy expanses of this military enclave on the Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey border. Founded in the early 1800s, the buildings are suitably imposing and filled with tradition.  This is a morning tour to Sandhurst, when we will learn about the history of the Academy and the world-famous military training that has taken place here for all officers of the British Army since 1812.

Features of the tour include Old College, the Indian Army Memorial Room, other prestige rooms, paintings & medals, the Royal Memorial Chapel, the Roman Catholic Chapel, the grounds & architecture.  Stand in the rooms where many statesmen and rulers have trained, including Sir Winston Churchill.  Immerse yourself in the history of this unique establishment, which is recognised around the world.  Learn about key military figures whose names adorn the Prestige Rooms in Old College, including the Duke of Wellington and the 1st Duke of Marlborough.

Lunch is not provided for this visit, so we advise bringing a small picnic for the journey home.

Timing

08.15   Depart Wilton Park & Ride

09.45  Arrive Sandhurst for refreshments, followed by a guided tour.

13.00  Depart for Wilton

COST:    £42

To book for this visit please contact

Jane Wallace or Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email or at the meetings, details as follows:

Jane Wallace:  01722-780475   wallacejanew@aol.com

Rosslyn O’Connor: 01722-743256    rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

Payment details

By Bank Card at the meetings (preferred)

by BACS:       Sort Code 40-52-40     A/C No 00060136

by cheque:  The Arts Society, Wylye Valley

Reference:     Your name / Visit 4

Sadly this visit has been cancelled due to insufficient bookings.  Apologies for any disappointment this causes.

One of the organisers, Jane Wallace and Rosslyn O'Connor, will be in touch with all those who had booked for the visit.

https://www.sculpturebythelakes.co.uk

Nestled in 26 acres of Dorset’s glorious countryside, lies Sculpture by the Lakes, an oasis for art lovers and collectors. Created by renowned sculptor Simon Gudgeon and his wife Monique, SBTL is home to over 30 of Simon’s large sculptures, around the lakes, as well as works by thirty other international sculptors.  There is also a Gallery exhibiting sculptures, paintings, and hand-made prints – and a lovely garden.  

Timing          

09. 00   Depart Wilton Park & Ride

10.30   Arrive at the Lakes for a free flow visit

16.15   Depart for return to Wilton

There are Café facilities for lunch, or bring a picnic.  To book a table, phone 07899-802843, or a variety of food is available  from The Pantry

COST:     £29  

To book for this visit please contact Jane Wallace or Rossly O'Connor or by phone or email or at the meetings, details below:

Jane Wallace:  01722-780475    wallacejanew@aol.com

Rosslyn O'Connor:  01722-743256  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

Payment details

By Bank Card at the meetings (preferred) 

by BACS:        Sort Code 40-52-40     A/C No 00060136 

by cheque:    The Arts Society, Wylye Valley 

Reference:     Your name / Visit 3

 https://www.syonpark.co.uk

Syon House lies ten miles upstream of London and is the home of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family - the Percys, have owned it since 1594.  Prior to this it had been the only Bridgettine Abbey in England, founded by Henry V in 1415.  It became a great centre of scholarship with close links to the Tudor dynasty until dissolved by Henry VIII.  Both Capability Brown and Robert Adam were involved in extensive projects in the 18th century, and the 3rd Duke built the Great Conservatory in the 19th century. Today, continuous restoration has involved removing all 1960s buildings, restoring Brown’s Lake to its original layout, re-roofing the entire building, and re-painting the Great Hall, using Adam’s original colours. 

Timings          

08.30   Depart Wilton Park & Ride

10.30  Arrive Syon House 

11.15   First guided tour

11.30    Second guided tour

Café facilities on site at Hilliers Garden Centre and other delights

16.00   Depart for return to Wilton

COST:     £33 – which includes  coach, visit and tour  

To book for this visit please contact

Jane Wallace or Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email or at the meetings

Jane Wallace:  01722-780475          wallacejanew@aol.com

Rosslyn O’Connor: 01722-743256  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

Payment details:

By Bank Card at the meetings (preferred)

by BACS:       Sort Code 40-52-40     A/C No 00060136

by cheque:  The Arts Society, Wylye Valley

Reference:     Your name / Visit 2

Marble Hill House is a Neo-Palladian villa in on the Thames in Twickenham. It was built between 1724 and 1729 for Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk and mistress of George 1st. Its compact design, based on an Andrea Palladio design became the standard model for late Georgian villas and for plantation houses in the American colonies. The house is now owned by English Heritage who have spent 7 years and £8m restoring it and improving its presentation, so that they now consider the House to be ‘one of the forgotten gems of Georgian London’.

Osterley House - Osterley House is in Isleworth, West London. It is one of the finest and most complete of Robert Adam’s designs still in existence. The original Tudor house was built in the 1570s by Sir Thomas Gresham, a financial advisor to Edward V1, and Queen Mary and Elizabeth 1st. He founded The Royal Exchange and Gresham College. The Tudor walled garden is all that remains of this period.  In the early 1700s the house was bought by the Child family, wealthy bankers, and in 1761 Sir Francis Child employed Robert Adam to transform Osterley into a grand entertaining house. Adam spent 20 years working on the house and its interiors, which include a 120ft Long Gallery, State Apartments and several opulent entertaining rooms and the Child family filled the house with great works of art. Osterley continued to be known as a party house up into the 1930s. After the 2nd World War, during which the grounds were used as a Home Guard training establishment, the then owner Lord Jersey  gave the house to the National Trust and its furniture to the Victoria and Albert museum.
The formal garden has recently undergone a 6 year renovation project, highlighting the Adam Garden House, the Tudor walled garden and Mrs Child’s Flower Garden.

Timing

08.30 Depart from Wilton Park & Ride.
10.30 Arrive Marble Hill House. Free flow for groups of 15, which will be staggered.

12.00 (approx) Arrive Ham House Café facilities available at both venues.

16.15 Depart for return to Wilton.

Cost of Entry - (this is in addition to the Arts Society charge for the visit) 

Marble Hill House:  Free entry for everyone

Osterley House:  Free entry for National Trust and Art Fund members (please remember to bring the appropriate cards).  Non-members will pay individually, currently the National Trust charges £14 per head.

COST OF VISIT: £22

To book for this visit please contact Jane Wallace or Rosslyn O’Connor, contact details as follows:   

Jane Wallace 01722 780475 wallacejanew@aol.com       Rosslyn O'Connor 01722 743256  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

Payment details
By Bank Card at the meetings (preferred)

by BACS: Sort Code 40-52-40 A/C No 00060136

by cheque: The Arts Society, Wylye Valley

Reference: Your name / Visit 1

Full booking information for each of the visits, with costs & timings, are all advertised here on our website.  Under each visit is a contact number and email address for making the bookings.

BOOKING OPENED ON 15 March 2023.

Payment this year will preferably be by card, although BACs payments & cheques will also be accepted.

TO BOOK: please contact Rosslyn O'Connor:  01722 743256, 07768 622218, rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

OR  Jane Wallace: 07970 857559 wallacejanew@aol.com

THE MUSEUM IS HOME TO OVER FIFTY RESCUED HISTORICAL RURAL BUILDINGS, RECONSTRUCTED IN 40 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL PARKLAND IN THE SOUTH DOWNS.  SIX OF ITS HISTORIC HOUSES INCLUDE CAREFULLY RESEARCHED PERIOD GARDENS, SHOWCASING PLANT, HERBS AND FLOWERS, GROWN BY OUR ANCESTORS.  WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE WORKING SMITHY, WATER MILL AND TUDOR KITCHEN, AND WATCH SEASONAL DOMESTIC, CRACT AND FRAMING DEMONSTRATIONS.  THE MUSEUM IS ALSO HOME TO THE BBC'S 'THE REPAIR SHOP'.

Please remember to bring a face mask

Timings:

09.00    Depart Wilton Park and Ride

11.00    Arrive The Weald for a free flow visit

1600     Depart for Wilton

There are cafe facilities for lunch, or bring a picnic.

COST:    £28.00

www.wealddown.co.uk

Bookings will open 0n 16 February at the lecture or through:

Rosslyn O'Connor  01722 743256  07768 622218  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

Jane Wallace  wallacejanew@aol.com

The necessary payment details are: 

By Cheque:  The Arts Society Wylye Valley

By BACS:     Sort code:  40 52 40   A/C  00060136

                   Reference:   Your name/Visit 4

Breaking news:  You will now be able to pay at the meetings with our new Card Reader

At first glance, the Uppark of today appears as a homage to its fine 18th centry furnishings and its beautiful parkland setting.  But beneath the surface there is a far more complex story, one of the polical allegiances, pioneering conservation, tragedy and triumph.  Uppark's story begins with the creation of a deer park in the 14th centory and nearly ended when tragedy struck in 1989, when much of the house was destroyed by fire.  An incredible rescue operation was soon followed by the National Trust's most complex restoration.

www.nationaltrust.co.uk/uppark

Timings:

0830        Depart Wilton Park and Ride

1030        Arrive Uppark House

1600        Depart for Wilton

There are cafe facilities for lunch or you may prefer to bring a picnic.

Cost:

National Trust members   £15

Non Members                  £23

Free entry for National Trust members to House and Gardens

Bookings will open 0n 16 February at the lecture or through 

Rosslyn O'Connor  01722 743256  07768 622218  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

Jane Wallace         01722 780475   wallacejanew@aol.com

Payment as follows:

1. By cheque to The Arts Society Wylye Valley

2. By BACS.  Sort code:  40 52 40   A/c No:  00060136.  Ref:  Your name/Visit 3

3. By card machine at the lecture

One of the finest 15th century house in England, nestled in the heart of the picuresque Piddle Valley in the famous Hardy county of rural Dorset.  The house dates from 1485 and is a mangificent example of early Tudor architecture.  The house, now owned by the Cooke family, has been privately owned for over 500 years.  The Great Hall, with a roof of curved brace timbers and an oriel window with fine heraldic glass is one of the finest examples of this period.  The Grade 1 listed gardens surround the main house with Elizabethan style ham stone courts.

Timings:

0930         Depart Wilton Park and Ride

1100         Arrive Athelhampton House

1110         Coffee and Talk

1615         Depart for Wilton

There are cafe facilities for lunch

Cost: £35 (includes coffee and talk)

www.athelhampton.com

Bookings will open on 16 February at the lecture or through 

Rosslyn O'Connor  01722 743256  07768 622218  rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

Jane Wallace         01722 780475   wallacejanew@aol.com

Payment as follows:

1. By cheque to The Arts Society Wylye Valley

2. By BACS.  Sort code:  40 52 40   A/c No:  00060136.  Ref:  Your name/Visit 2

3. By card machine at the lecture

Due to the large rise in the cost of fuel the price of the visit will be same for everyone whether you travel in the coach or in your own car.

A house with two tales, Hughenden has a rich history.  Home to Queen Victoria's favourite prime minster - Benjamin Disraeli, the Manor provided a backdrop for political dramas, royal visits and an enduring love story.  And it has an equally significant 20th century story to tell when it baceame the base for secret map-making operation during the second world war, so secret that it only came to light sixty years later.  Codenamed 'Hillside', for which unconventional artists painted maps for bombing missions - including the famous Dambusters' raid, the Manor played a significant role in shaping the outcome of the War.

www.nationaltrust.co.uk/hughenden

Timings:

0830      Depart Wilton Park and Ride

1030      Arrive Hughenden Manor

1115      Talk on WW11 operations, followed by a free flow tour of the manor and grounds.

1600      Depart for Wilton

There are cafe facilities for lunch unless you would rather bring a picnic.

Cost:  

National Trust members  £18

Non members                 £31

Free entry for National Trust members to Manor and gardens.

Bookings will open on 16 February at the lecture or through 

Jane Wallace    01722 780475    wallacejanew@aol.com

Payment as follows:

1. By cheque to The Arts Society Wylye Valley

2. By BACS:  Sort code 40 52 40  A/c 00060136.  Ref:  Your name/Visit 1

3. By card machine at the lecture

VISIT TO BLENHEIM PALACE

15 tickets remain for this visit

This magnificent palace has been called England's Versailles, and with good reason—it's still the only historic house in Britain to be named a World Heritage Site. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in the early 1700s in collaboration with Nicholas Hawksmoor, Blenheim was given by Queen Anne and the nation to General John Churchill, first duke of Marlborough, in gratitude for his military victories (including the Battle of Blenheim) against the French in 1704. The exterior is opulent and sumptuous, with huge columns, enormous pediments, and obelisks, all exemplars of English baroque. Inside, lavishness continues in extremes; you can join a free guided tour or simply walk through on your own. In most of the opulent rooms family portraits look down at sumptuous furniture, elaborate carpets, fine Chinese porcelain, and immense pieces of silver. Exquisite tapestries in the three state rooms illustrate the first duke's victories.  

Sir Winston Churchill wrote that the unique beauty of Blenheim lay in its perfect adaptation of English parkland to an Italian palace. Its 2,000 acres of grounds, the work of Capability Brown, 18th-century England's best-known landscape gardener, are arguably the best example of the "cunningly natural" park in the country. Looking across the park to Vanbrugh's semi-submerged Grand Bridge makes for an unforgettable vista. Blenheim's formal gardens include notable water terraces and an Italian garden with a mermaid fountain, all built in the 1920s. 

Please remember to bring a facemask, just in case 

Timings:    

08.30   Depart Wilton Park & Ride

10.30   Arrive Blenheim Palace

11.00   Tours of Palace and Gardens

16.15   Depart for Wilton 

       There are facilities for lunch, or you may prefer to bring a picniC. 

 COST:   £33

   To book for this visit please contact Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email: 

                 01722-743256                    rosslynoconnor@outlook.com 

        You will then be sent the necessary payment details

Berkeley Castle 1 High Street, Berkeley GL13 9BQ  

Wednesday 7th July, 2021  

Berkeley Castle - the home of the Berkeley family for the last 900 years. It was first built in the eleventh century as a defensive keep, controlling the Severn Valley between Gloucester and Bristol. It became infamous as the place where Edward II was horrifically murdered and was the setting for the first performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, commissioned for a family wedding. The State Rooms are full of tapestries, rugs and family portraits and the Castle is surrounded by extensive gardens and views of the River Severn.

There is also a Butterfly house. 

Please remember to bring a facemask.

Timings:    

08.30   Depart Wilton Park & Ride 

10.30   Arrive Berkeley Castle  

11.15    Guided tours 

16.15   Depart for Wilton 

       There are restaurant facilities for lunch, or you may prefer to bring a picnic

  COST:       £25

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     To book for this visit please contact Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email: 

                 01722-743256                    rosslynoconnor@outlook.com 

        You will then be sent the necessary payment details

St Giles House, Wimborne St Giles, BH21 5NA

 Wednesday 30th June 2021  

The home of Lord Shaftesbury, this beautiful family house has a long and rich history.  In the past 400 years it has been at the heart of politics, philosophy and social thought.  In recent times an award winning restoration has seen it brought back to life and become family home once again. To quote Elizabeth Grice: "Today the house rises magnificently from the glorious parkland, its red-brick facade glowing in the sunshine, the lake restored, the long beech avenue replanted." 

We are extremely lucky to be able to visit this house and to see at first hand some of the conservation work in progress. 

This visit is open to members only as we are limited to 30 people. 

Please remember to bring a facemask 

We will use our own transport for this visit.

Timings: 

13.45    Arrive St Giles House 

14.00   Talk by Lord Shaftesbury, followed by a tour of the house. There         

              will also be time to view some of the conservation work being

              undertaken by some of our members  

16.00    Tea 

17.00    Depart           

 COST:       £30 

  To book for this visit please contact Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email: 

01722-743256                    rosslynoconnor@outlook.com 

  You will then be sent the necessary payment details

 Forde Abbey, Chard, Somerset, TA20 4LU

Wednesday 9th June 2021  

More than 900 years of history are encapsulated in this elegant former Cistercian monastery and its 30 acres of award winning gardens, which include a tumble of terraces, water gardens, temples and borders.   

Forde Abbey is part medieval, part modern, part ecclesiastical, part plutocratic and still in the custodianship of a private family. 

Hopefully we can buy a coffee on arrival and you will need to bring a picnic lunch.  The House will be open from 12 to 3. 

This visit is open to members only as we are limited to 30 people. 

Please remember to bring a facemask 

Timings:    

09.30       Depart Wilton Park & Ride 

11.00        Arrive Forde Abbey  

Thereafter you will be free to visit the House and gardens at your leisure 

16.15       Depart for Wilton          

 COST:       £27  

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 

To book for this visit please contact Rosslyn O’Connor by phone or email:

 01722-743256                    rosslynoconnor@outlook.com

 You will then be sent the necessary payment details

More than 900 years of history are encapsulated in this elegant former Cistercian monastery and its 30 acres of award winning gardens, which include a tumble of terraces, water gardens, temples and borders.  Forde Abbey is part medieval, part modern, part ecclesiastical, part plutocratic and still in the custodianship of a private family.

There will be time for coffee on arrival before a private guided tour of the Abbey.  Thereafter, we will be free to have lunch in the cafe and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring on our own.

For further details and timings contact:

Rosslyn O'Connor   01722 743256

Jane Wallace          01722 712603

Berkeley Castle has been the home of the Berkeley family for the last 900 years.  It was first built in the eleventh centruy as a defensive keep, controlling the Severn Valley between Gloucester and Bristol.  It became infamous as the place where Edward 11 was horrifically murdered and was the setting for the first performance of 'A Midsummer Nght's Dream', commissioned for a family wedding.  The State Rooms are full of tapestries, rugs and family portraits and the Castle is surrounded by extensive gardens and views of the River Servern.  There is also a butterfly house.

For full details and timings please contact:

Rosslyn O'Connor   01722 743256

Jane Wallace          01722 712603

In 1520 Henry V111 and Katherine of Aragon travelled t0 France with an entourage of 6,000 courtiers to meet his rival, the French King - Francois 1, for an 18 day event, known as The Field of Cloth of Gold.  Hampton Court Palace are holding an exhibition to mark the 500th anninversary of this legendary encounter, which will reunite weapons, manuscripts, works of art, gold and clothing from the actual event.  We will have a guided tour of the exhibition and will be able to visit other interesting parts of the palace and gardens.

For details and timings contract:

Rosslyn O'Connor  01722 743256

Jane Wallace         01722 712603

The home of Lord Shaftesbury, this beautiful family house has a long and rich history.  In the past 400 years it has been at the heart of politics, philosophy and social thought.  In recent times an award winning restoration has seen it brought back to life and become a family home once again.  To quote Elizabeth Grice "Today the house rises magnificently from the glorious parkland, its red-brick facade glowing in the shunshine, the lake restored and the long beech avenue replanted".  

We are extremely lucky to be able to visit this house and to see at first hand some of the conservation work in progress.

For further details and timings of this visit please contact:

Rosslyn O'Connor   01722 743256

Jane Wallace          01722 712603

Selborne, near Alton, was the home of Gilbert White, the 18th Century naturalist.  His daily observations of the surrounding natural world were published in 1789 as "The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne", which has never been out of print.  The Library contains a copy of every subsequent edition.

The Oates Collection commemorates the advertures of Frank Lawrence, a Victorian explorer and of his nephew, Lawrence 'Titus' Oates, a member of Scott's expedition to the South Pole.  Major General Patrick Cordingley will guide us through the Oates Collection and a member of stff will explain the importance of Gilbert White.  The Head Gardener will guide us through 5 acres of restored gardens.

On a sunny, but happily not fiercely hot, summer’s day Pewsey Vale Coaches took our group on an excellent two house visit. In the morning we enjoyed seeing both Rodmarton Manor and its beautiful gardens, with herbaceous borders magnificently in bloom. The Arts and Crafts house, built from scratch starting in 1909, was a revelation showing the best attributes on the movement; a house built by local people giving skills to the community and drawing inspiration and advice from the leading lights of the time led by the architect Ernest Barnsley (1863-1926). We were split into two groups and the owner of the house gave well-informed, lively and sympathetic tour to one of them. Some fascinating furniture of the highest quality made for the house by the Barnsleys and other exponents of the movement such as Peter Walls and Oliver Morel is still in situ - an added interest. After a notably good sandwich lunch we set off for an extraordinary contrast, and one that certainly tested the skills of our driver, who came through with flying colours. Owlpen Manor is that rarest of buildings - a lovely early house which retains its Tudor appearance and footprint. Hidden in a steep secluded valley approached through narrow winding lanes, it has a sense of remoteness with its church set behind it and other vernacular buildings tucked in further down the valley, and creates a glimpse of the late mediaeval community. The Daunt family held this minor manor from 1464 until 1803. It was indeed fortunate to slumber through the C19, although in increasingly perilous condition. The house, apart from the East Parlour which was brought more up to date in the early C18, was sympathetically restored when bought by the Arts and Crafts movement architect Norman Jewson in 1925. Amongst more interesting features and contents than it is possible to enumerate, an upper-floor chamber retains an exceptionally rare set of cloth distemper-painted wall-hangings c.1700 relating part of the story of Joseph. It is believed to be the only room in England to have retained such hangings in situ covering all the walls. We were again fortunate to be given a superb commentary from the owners who were generous with information and time, all delivered in fine style. The garden on such a steep site with fine topiary was also much enjoyed. Our thanks and appreciation go to Rosslyn for arranging yet another ‘not-to-be-missed’ event.

Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire is the home of Lady Ashcombe and her family.  The present house dates back to the 15th century and contains many treasures from Roman times to the present and has played an important role in our national history for 1000 years.  It was the home of Katherine Parr after she married Thomas Seymour soon after her third husband, Henry Vlll died.  She survivied him by one year and is buried in the beautiful 15th century chapel.  The castle is surrounded by by ten award winning gardens.  These include the Queens' Garden, so called because four queens admired the roses here.

Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 Sherborne Castle has been the home of the Digby Family since 1617.  The State Rooms reflect a glorious variety of decorative styles from the great periods of English history.  Fine furniture, family portraits and superb porcelain represent the tastes of the Digby family for over 400 years.  The gardens and pleasure grounds surrounding the 50 acre lake form a magnificent 'Capability Brown' landscape, with sweeping lawns, borders and majestic specimen trees.

Minterne House is reputed to be one of Dorset's best country houses and has one of the great gardens of England, with a mile of spectacular garden walks.  It has been owned by the Digby family since 1768.  The current house, built in 1904 by the 10th Lord Digby, contains a large historical collection of ancestral artefacts relating to both the Churchill and the Digby families.

On 11th October we had our last visit of the year to the Russell-Cotes Museum & Art Gallery in Bournemouth. The weather was very blustery & the sea looking pretty wild but once in the haven of the museum we were treated to guided tours by two excellent guides.  The collection is an eclectic mix of paintings, sculptures and ‘things’ which the Russell-Cotes acquired on their globe-trotting adventures. They lived in the house with their many treasures until their death after which the house & its contents were given to Bournemouth.  The house is in a spectacular position overlooking the sea & was the first house in England to have double glazing, helping to keep the house warm & protected from wind & weather. If you have not visited this gem of a museum do go there - it is well worth it.

On a very hot Thursday 5th July 2018 45 members of the our Society set off from Wilton Park & Ride for Wells in Somerset picking up four more in Codford on the way.

The coach journey was quick and we arrived in good time for our planned visit to Wells Cathedral where we were faced with the magnificent and celebrated gothic façade of the West Front.  We were divided into three groups, two of which had very good, audible and knowledgeable guides.  After an hour of fascinating insight into the building and its ecclesiastical history we had time to explore more of the Cathedral, which was consecrated in 1239, and its impressive Chapter House and Library.  Many also, found the famous Vicar’s Close, a cobbled street of about 200 yards long with medieval houses on either side and a chapel at the end.  Cathedral Choristers, Vergers and other employees live here together with a boarding house belonging to the school.

After a leisurely lunch at various local hostelries we all met up again for an afternoon visit to the adjacent Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, the medieval home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for over 800 years.  It is surrounded by a Moat, Gatehouse and Ramparts and sits in fourteen acres of beautifully tended gardens (now a partner with the RHS), a haven of tranquillity and peace.  Again, we were divided into groups for a pre-planned guided tour of approximately an hour.

We returned to Wilton in good time after an inspiring, informative and happy visit to Wells. 

On Thursday 7th June, members of the Wylye Valley Arts Society visited Farrs, the Beaminster home of furniture designer John Makepeace and his wife Jennie.  John welcomed the group on the lawn in front of his 18th century house and gave a brief introduction to the day.  The group then split into two, one half going for coffee and a tour of the garden, the other half invited into the house.

John is a wonderfully creative, innovative and inspiring furniture designer.  The reception rooms at Farrs contain a stunning collection both of his own work and the work of other modern artists and designers.  John described in detail the concepts and techniques used to create the pieces.  Amongst so much beautiful work, some of the pieces that most impressed me were a pair of cabinets decorated as marquetry zebras, a dining table made from laminated ash supported on arched legs, an elegant and comfortable chair made from different types of oak with laminated spindles of holly providing the ergonomically designed back rest and another chair made from laminated oak which had been carved to create a pattern through the different layers.  John works almost exclusively in wood using modern glues, metal pins and twisted laminates to create the beautiful shapes and the functional strength of his unique furniture.

It was now time for the first group to go for coffee in the kitchen in the oldest timber framed part of the house.  John’s wife Jennie told us a bit about the history of the house and the work that she and John have done there since moving to Farrs 10 years ago.  The main garden is now a lawn surrounded by tall, cloud-cut topiary yew hedges, offsetting a polished steel, giant oval sculpture.  A gap through the hedge leads into a wonderland of His & Hers gardens.  John’s garden features a pond, surrounded by banks of decorative grasses, with an elegant sweeping bridge across to a round Cotswold-stone summer house.  In the summer house, a circular rotating sofa looks out across the bridge to the waving grass and ornamental objects.

By contrast, Jennie’s garden is a colourful and dense profusion of flowers, shrubs, fruit, vegetables and herbs.  Her summer house is a lime-plastered straw-bale artist’s studio, with a wood burner and hammock.  Clematis and roses climb over the structures and archways. This peaceful and relaxed garden concealed the vast amount of work that Jennie obviously does to maintain her artistic haven.

Sadly the time had come to leave Farrs and return to the coach for the short journey to Hooke Park, the architectural school set in a natural woodland which was established by John Makepeace in the 1980s.  The school, which has now been taken over by the Architectural Association, provides a woodland campus where architects can learn the techniques of working with natural timber.  After a picnic lunch, the group again split into two, one half going to the Refectory for an introduction to the work of Hooke Park by the Director, Martin Self, while the rest went on a tour of the prototype buildings led by John Makepeace.

The amazing buildings, designed and constructed since 1982, include a huge sweeping triple shell workshop, with its vaulted timber frame covered by an insulated PVC membrane roof and another very large workshop with a heavy timber frame clad in planks.  One of the most amazing buildings is the wood-chip shed with a great central supporting arch made of interlinked, forked branches cut from the surrounding woodland.  Many internationally famous architects have been involved in the design of the buildings and there are exciting plans for further development of Hooke Park as a woodland training ground for the architects of the future.

John Makepeace had taken us on a fascinating tour both of his home at Farrs and of the architectural school at Hooke Park.  Thank you John and his wife Jennie and Martin Self at Hooke Park for truly inspirational day.

Arts Society visit to Frampton, 17 May 2018

Our private day visit to Frampton was exactly why membership of our branch of the Arts Society is so special. We were welcomed and looked after by Janie Clifford whose family have owned the estate, since William of Normandy granted the land to their ancestors over 900 years ago. The village of Frampton is idyllic, the village green surrounded by houses of every historic architectural style as well as the village pub and shop.

Janie served us coffee in the 16th C Wool Barn before we walked across Rosamund’s Green  (Fair Rosamund was reputedly the mistress of Henry II) to visit Frampton Court. Built in 1730, the Grade 1 listed house is very attractive. We enjoyed guided tours by the family archivists who were consequently a fund of local and family history. The atmosphere was very much of a family home filled with collections and memorabilia from different generations. The gardens look out on to the Polo fields and lakes beyond but the old stone apple press (turned by horses) and octagonal dovecote were a memory for me.

After a very good lunch, provided by Janie and colleagues, Janie then showed us around her own gardens at The Manor where she and her family live now on the other side of the Green. The Manor is an illustration of the development of country house architecture from the 13th C. It looked so beautiful built from local Frampton brick, covered in flowering wisteria and roses. Janie has created many “rooms” in her garden from the earlier simple lawns so there is always a different vista to the herbaceous borders, topiary, wild flower garden, water features and large kitchen garden, all enhanced by the scent from her carefully chosen planting. At the same time, the garden is true to the family and felt very comfortable and welcoming, as was our lovely hostess. We enjoyed a very special day.

The Arts Society Wylye Valley April Visit.

A number of members of the Wylye Valley Arts Society last week had a hugely successful and enjoyable day visiting The Southampton City Art Gallery and The Sea City Museum. The Art Gallery holds one of the finest collections of art in the south of England with a comprehensive and impressive display of works from the Renaissance to the contemporary St Ives Group. Our guide, Tim Craven, curator, whose knowledge of the history of the Gallery and all the exhibits was excellent, contributed hugely to the success of the day. In the afternoon we visited the adjoinng Sea City Museum which focused on the sinking of The Titanic in 1912. A poignant but very well illustrated exhibition it tells the story of the crew and their families, many of whom lived in Southampton, and the inquiry that was subsequently held in London. Again we had further insight into the event from a talk from a member of staff. A fascinating and interactive exhibition, to interest both young and old.

Our day visit to the Reading area proved to be ‘a game of two halves’, cleverly contrasting two entirely different approaches to domestic bliss.  At first sight, Basildon Park seemed the quintessential grand country house, proudly overlooking its parkland and the surrounding countryside.  It was designed in the late 18th century by John Carr of York for Sir Francis Sykes, a rich and successful ‘nabob’ recently retired from service in India.  The estate was sold in 1838 and over the next seventy years underwent the usual additions and improvements.  Then from 1910, apart from being requisitioned during both World Wars, the house lay empty and unloved.  In 1952 it was on the verge of demolition when Lady Iliffe made the brave decision to reinstate the bare interior as it might have been in its glory days.  Fortunately she and her husband were both well-informed on matters of taste, and sufficiently wealthy.  Their hunt for suitable furnishings was given an unexpected boost when an East Anglian farmer, using another abandoned John Carr house for agricultural storage, donated two lorry-loads of architectural salvage.  Lady Iliffe scoured country-house sales for suitable items, including grand four-posters and a pair of huge and simply stunning mirrors with their pier-tables.  Yet in spite of returning the décor to its classical origins the aim, so successfully achieved, was for the ‘new’ Basildon Park to be primarily a family home and not simply a museum.

After lunch we moved a few miles east, where Nuffield Place astonished by its modesty.  Built in the Arts & Crafts style in the early 20th century, in 1933 it was purchased by the motor-car magnate William Morris, Lord Nuffield, who through talent and dogged persistence had worked his way up from bicycle repairs to manufacturing primitive motorcycles and then motorcars.  He never lost sight of his humble origins and always remained a mechanic at heart.  In spite of his vast business empire and becoming one of the richest men in the world, ostentation and glamour were the last things on his mind.  The house, which he extended and adapted piecemeal, was never more than a comfortable family home, of unremarkable appearance.  Yet inside, it faithfully reflects the true character of the man, with everything just as it was in his lifetime.  In his small dressing room are two built-in cupboards.  In the smaller hang his House of Lords robes while the larger, and clearly more important, houses shelves of hand tools, clocks under repair and other mechanical oddments. As with his cars, his only concern was that the new furniture should be plain, serviceable and affordable  -  but everywhere there are family photographs and small personal treasures, which keep alive his character.  It is hard to believe that this was the home of a man whose only interest in earning several fortunes was how best to endow the medical, academic and other institutions and charities which still bear his name.

Finally, two details which highlight the atmosphere of each home.  In Basildon Park’s elegant library, almost destroyed  in a post-war fire while in the care of the Ministry of Works and still showing scorch marks on the floorboards, a vintage Dansette plays a vinyl disc of Maria Callas singing an aria from Tosca.  In the Nuffield sitting room an equally venerable television set is playing archive footage of the 1937 Coronation, with the order of service on the chair beside it.  There was much to mull over on the drive back to Wilton.        

About 50 members of the Wylye Valley group enjoyed a most rewarding day at Waddesdon Manor on 15 June 2017.  Built by Ferdinand Rothschild in the second half of the 19th centruy in the the style of a 16th century French chateau, the house contains a wealth of beautiful and unusual objects.  The Rothschilds were collectors in the grand manner, and were fortunate to be able to acquire furniture, paintings and other obects from several distinguished British families hit by the agricultural depression around the time when Waddesdon was built.  But they also greatly admired the French style and the furniture includes a beautiful small writing table made for Marie-Antoinettte, and other desks of French royal provenance.  The house contains a large collection of Sevres porcelain, and examples of Meissen.  Savonnerie carpets and rich textiles adorn many of the rooms.  Portraits, including several by Gainsborough and Reynolds, and other objects show members of the family and their special interests.  A most unusual object is a musical automaton in the shape of an elephant with a moving trunk, tail and ears, and figures moving across the stages below.  The collection has been added to over the years and is still growing.

Following the tour and lunch in the restaurant, we listened to an interesting talk in the vaulted cellars about the Rothschild wines, from their grands crus in the Bordeaux area to more recently established wineries in most of the New World wine-producing areas.  We tasted two good examples of the latter.

We also had time - and reasonably good weather - to walk in the lovely gardens.  There is an elegant French-style parterre at the back of the house, overlooking extensive, partly wooded grounds with views out to the Vale of Aylesbury.  To the side of the house is an aviary with rare birds and a rose garden.

As a new member I found this day out was a great opportunity to meet other members, both during our sociable coffee and lunch breaks and as we toured to the house and garden.  Many thanks to Rosslyn O'Connor for arranging such a successful day.

Rosemary Spencer

At 0830 hrs on 11 May Wylye Valley DFAS members assembled at the Wilton Park and Ride for another memorable outing arranged by Rosslyn O’Connor.  We had a very comfortable coach from Pewsey Vale Coaches with an excellent driver.

Our first stop was at Chavenage House, Tetbury where we were very warmly welcomed by three generations of the Lowsley-Williams family and their dogs who live in this beautiful Manor which dates back to 1576.  It is often used as a venue for weddings and by film crews and as we entered the main entrance, all the Poldark fans amongst us immediately recognised the front of “'Trenwith', the Poldark family pile!  We all looked around hoping to see Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson! 

At the outset we were regaled with most amusing anecdotes and a resume of the history of the estate from one of the family members.  We then divided in to two groups and were taken on an intimate tour of the house and private chapel and enjoyed views from the garden of unspoiled countryside.  Since it was built there have been few alterations made to the manor which has about it an air of tranquility.  It is however reputed to be one of the most haunted houses in England and the tapestry-lined bedrooms dating back to Cromwellian times took our breath away.   Following the tour, we had a most excellent lunch all prepared and cooked by a family member.   At Chavenage you can escape into the peaceful surroundings of a Cotswold manor, virtually unchanged for 400 years, which I think we all did!

After lunch we moved on the Chedworth Roman Villa, a National Trust run property.  The approach was a long narrow single lane country lane which really tested the skills of our very good driver.  Again, we were warmly welcomed.  Our guides were indeed most knowledgeable and enthusiastic and we all learned a great deal about this ancient and very peaceful site and its amazing mosaics and bath houses.

We then all gathered on our coach for the return journey to the Wilton Park and Ride which we reached at about 1830hrs.  It was a long day but a most memorable, enjoyable  and interesting one.  We were all very grateful indeed to Rosslyn O’Connor for all her arranging to ensure the outing was such a success.

Visit to Swindon Railway Museum and Lydiard Park

On 4 April,  24 members of the society went on an outing to Swindon. Not exactly an obvious cultural centre but the home of two great historic attractions.

We first visited the Museum of the Great Western Railway housed in some of the original railway sheds on what was one of the largest railway works in the country.

It has been cleverly done and takes one on a recreated tour through the factory which produced the giants of steam driven transport. Several splendid restored locomotives are on display including the Caerphilly Castle, which you can walk underneath, and the famous King George V with recreations of the old ticket offices, refreshment rooms, signal boxes and goods yard. A fascinating look back at the former world of mass travel.

A stones throw from the museum is the eco headquarters of The National Trust known as Healis, where a very good lunch was enjoyed by several members.

In the afternoon we visited Lydiard Park on the outskirts Swindon. The house is described as “a Palladian Box with Georgian Decoration” and was built in the 1740s.

It was the home of the St John family one of whom became Viscount Bolingbroke in 1712. The fifth viscount managed to get the very loud hooter which summonsed the workers to the GWR factory, which we had just been to, silenced only for it to be reinstated shortly afterwards after a public outcry!

The St John family was always in debt and after the house had been requisitioned for use by the army in the second world war it was sold to Swindon Borough Council for £4,500.

The council have made an excellent job of restoring it and we had a tour of the ground floor rooms where many of the original St John family portraits which have been returned to the house have been rehung. We had wonderful young guide, employed by the council, taking us round both the house and the railway museum!

An unexpected surprise was the adjoining church which is unremarkable from the exterior but full of interest inside. The rather faded wall paintings are notable and about to be restored and there are some beautiful monuments to members of the St John family. Best known is the Golden Cavalier monument to Edward St John who died in 1645 while fighting for the King. In the chancel is the St John Triptych which we were lucky enough to be shown by a chance meeting with the custodian of the church. A very rare family memorial comprising several large folding panels richly decorated and showing the family tree and a large family group.

A most enjoyable and varied day. A great many thanks to the Rosslyn O’Connor for organising it.

David Coates

On 5 October we had our fourth and final visit for this year, to Bristol.  Our first port of call was Brunel’s magnificent SS Great Britain.  Our guide told us the fascinating story of this historic ship, not only of her creation, the voyages she made, but of the amazing recovery and journey back from the Falkland Islands in 1970, to her current resting place in the original dry dock where she was built.  The remarkable restoration that has taken place over the last 40 plus years gives the visitor an exciting experience.  For any of you who may have ‘missed the boat’ for this visit (it was fully booked), I would urge you to make your own visit.

Following lunch on board – thankfully not ship’s biscuits complete with weevils – we departed for the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.  This splendid Edwardian building houses a wonderful collection of paintings, silver, ceramics and examples of the natural sciences.  In all, we had a wonderful day and many thanks to Rosslyn O’Connor for organising it.