We are running a coach trip to Kew Gardens, departing Malmesbury long stay car park at 9am and departing Kew at 4.30pm.

The cost is £55pp which includes the coach and entry into The Gardens.

If you look at the Kew Gardens website you will see all the wonderful things on offer. Kew has one of the most diverse collections of living plants of any botanical garden in the world.
The new Henry Moore exhibition, Monumental Nature , has 30 sculptures within the landscape and Arboretum and there is an indoor botanical art exhibition to compliment the sculptures.
Also worth a visit are the Princess of Wales Conservatory and new Carbon Garden looking at the role of carbon in the life of plants.
There are 5 cafes and restaurants to choose from as well as 3 shops to visit and picnicking is permitted throughout the Gardens.

We hope you can join us. We anticipate that this visit will be very popular so early sign up is recommended.

COST £55pp.  PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A BOOKING FORM

 MADRESFIELD COURT AND MALVERN 

Madresfield Court has been home to the Lygon family for over 900 years. The house has a rich history, Edward Elgar and Evelyn Waugh being frequent visitors. 

The present building has extraordinary examples of Arts and Crafts architecture as well as extensive collections of ceramics, paintings and antique furniture. 

There are formal gardens, lawns, a rock garden and kitchen garden to enjoy. After a guided house tour and self-guided garden visit, with the opportunity to purchase light refreshments, we shall have a short coach journey into Malvern, parking centrally, for free time. Malvern is compact with numerous cafes and restaurants as well as the Priory and Malvern Museum should you wish to visit. There are also attractive shopping and beautiful views to enjoy. You will be given a map to help you find your way around. 

The coach journey from Malmesbury is approximately one and a half hours and about ten minutes from Madresfield into the centre of Malvern. 

Cost of Ticket £46 pp      Please click here for the booking form.

The visit is open to members and their partners 

EVENTS DETAILS:

Please assemble at Malmesbury Long Stay Car Park (SN16 9JT) at 8.45 for a prompt departure at 9.00am.

Arrive at Madresfield at 10.30am, split into 2 groups for a guided house tour and garden visit with light refreshments (coffee, tea, cake) to be purchased individually.

Depart Madresfield at 1.pm for 10 mins drive into Malvern town centre.  You will be given a map. Free time in Malvern for a visit to The Priory, shopping and refreshments.  Malvern is compact with many places to eat and wander around.

Depart Malvern at 4.00pm and arrive back in Malmesbury at approximately 5.30pm

EVENT ORGANISERS:  Lesley Auden. 07880335960. lesleyauden@hotmail.com.

                                        Caroline Chambers 07837741431.  chambers0063@gmail.com

ACCESSIBILITY: 

THREE ROOMS (CHAPEL, NEW GALLERY AND LONG GALLERY) ARE NOT FULLY ACCESSIBLE BUT REMAINDER OF THE TEN ROOMS ARE FULLY ACCESSIBLE. 

REFUNDS: 

This cost can be refunded if there is a waiting list for the event and your place can be taken by another members. No refund within 14 days of the trip. 

INSURANCE: 

The Arts Society Malmesbury cannot be held responsible for any personal accident, loss, damage or theft of a member’s personal property 

 A SELF-DRIVE VISIT TO COTSWOLD FARM TO SEE THE SNOWDROPS ON 3RD FEBRUARY 2026. TO MEET AT 11.00 AM 

Cotswold Farm Gardens. Duntisbourne Abbots, Cirencester, Gloucestershire 

GL7 7JS 

Cotswold Farm, situated just north of Cirencester, is an enchanting Arts and Crafts garden designed by renowned architect/craftsman Norman Jewson in the 1930s. 

The garden is laid out on descending levels, enclosed by Cotswold stone walls and yew hedges. It overlooks a peaceful valley and has year-round interest. 

There are dedicated snowdrop days to see the many varieties, and we have the opportunity to have a private visit to the gardens. 

The visit will be on a self-drive basis and there will be a chance to wander in the gardens and enjoy the beautiful views. 

Lunch will be included - soup and a roll, hot drink and homemade cake. 

The total cost will be £15 pp. For more details of the gardens visit the website, cotswoldfarmgardens.org.uk. 

Please click here for the Booking form.

Hellens Manor

Hellens Manor is a much-loved Tudor/Jacobean home, and is one of the oldest dwellings in England with foundations dating from the 12th Century.  It has been home to the Munthe family since 1945, and now hosts a music festival and garden festival annually.  

Attractions include heirlooms of Anne Boleyn, the haunted bed chamber prepared for Queen Mary Tudor, a panelled music room adorned with its English Renaissance frieze, and paintings by Gainsborough, Van Dyke, Peter Lely and Goya as well as some fascinating stories.

The Arts Societies of Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Malvern have been involved with embroidery in the Manor.

 St Mary’s Church, Kempley

This tiny Norman church was probably built in the early 12th century.  It is adorned with the most outstandingly complete and well-preserved medieval wall paintings in Britain, a vivid reminder of a time when church interiors were covered in such decoration.  It also has some exceptionally ancient timbers including the oldest timber roof of any building in England.  

Departure from Malmesbury long stay car park by coach at 9:30 am, with return at approximately 5:00 pm 

Cost and Booking

The cost is per person £52 including travel, coffee on arrival at Hellens Manor, and lunch

Booking

Further details of this visit are on the booking form, which must be completed and returned, together with payment, to book a place.

Unfortunately we have had to cancel this trip as not enough members wanted to join the tour. Deposits will be fully refunded by the tour organiser.

Here is a detailed preview of our ‘Bloomsbury Group’ inspired trip for May 2025 - just a taster to inspire you to join us next year, and we shall start selling the trip in July this year.  The trip leaves Malmesbury on 22nd May 2025, returning on 25th. We hope that you will join us.

There will be no additional single-room cost for single travellers. The price includes the coach from Malmesbury and return, and all breakfasts and dinners. 

The interactive booking form is available here, and the terms and conditions relating to bookings are here.

If you have any questions, please contact Katharine Odlum at one of the lectures, or by email or phone: Artsbank24@gmail.com  or 07754 089456

THIS IS NOW SOLD OUT

Tetbury is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and the second largest town in the Cotswolds. It was an important market for Cotswold wool and yarn during the Middle Ages, and has a fascinating history.

Chair of the History of Tetbury Society, Jane Haines, will take us round the historic sights of Tetbury on a guided walk that will last approximately 1.5 - 2 hours.

We shall meet at The Chipping car park in the centre of town at 10.20, promptly starting the walk from there at 10.30.  There is paid parking at The Chipping car park, as well as unpaid parking at The Goods Shed, however this does then involve quite a steep walk up the hill to The Chipping.  

Places are limited for this guided walk, so please sign up as soon as you can. Please note that the walk will involve some hilly elements although these can be avoided, so please come prepared.

Cost

The cost of the guided walk is £7.00 per person. 

*** SOLD OUT ***
 

Kelmscott Manor is a Grade 1 listed farmhouse, built in around 1600 adjacent to the River Thames. The house - perhaps the most evocative of all the houses associated with Morris - contains an outstanding collection of the possessions and works of Morris, his family and his Arts and Crafts associates, including furniture, original textiles, pictures, carpets, ceramics and metalwork.

This is a self-drive visit, and we will have exclusive access to the Manor for the duration of the morning tour.

In 2022 Kelmscott opened after a £6m refurbishment. As well as structural repairs and a new learning facility the visitor experience has been enhanced by the redisplayed interior that provides a more authentic impression of life in the time of the Morris family. Every new placement of furniture and objects has been informed by visual and written sources consulted during extensive research, and as a result the house feels very homely.

The timetable for the visit is:

• 10.15: Meet in the car park on the edge of Kelmscott village, well signed from the Lechlade Road (GL7 3HF). It is a level 10-minute walk to the Manor, but Kelmscott can provide a shuttle bus for those who would find the walk difficult. Please indicate on the Booking Form.
• 10.30: Homemade biscuits, tea or coffee on arrival.
• 11.00: A short introductory talk from and experienced guide.
• 11.15: Guided tours in groups of 10, duration approximately 1.5 hours.
• 12.45: Lunch in the 5* rated tearoom:a seasonal savoury buffet. Individual choices cannot be accommodated except specific dietary requirements, please indicate on the Booking Form.

In the afternoon, feel free to browse in the gift shop or wander in the gardens and meadow. The burial place of Williams Morris and his family is at St George’s Church which is close to the car park.

The cost is £33.50 PP including tea/coffee and biscuits on arrival, entrance, private guided tour and buffet lunch. To book your place on this visit please complete and return the booking form. Your place will be confirmed once we have received your completed booking form and payment.

Buscot Park (NT) is an 8-minute drive away for those who would like to visit it separately from the Kelmscott Manor visit.

We hope you can join us at Kelmscott Manor.

This Walk is now fully booked, with a waiting list.

Local historian, Charles Vernon, will take us round the historic sights of Malmesbury on a guided walk that will last around 1.5 to 2 hours.

The hill top market town of Malmesbury has a long history going back to the Iron Age, and is the burial site of Athelstan – the first king of all England.  We shall not be going into the Abbey – this can be visited individually – but there are many listed buildings in the town and many stories to tell about its involvement in the Civil War, lace making, religious history, a flying monk and the world of literature and philosophy. 

We shall meet at the Market Cross in the centre of town at 10.15.  The easiest place to park is the Long-Term Car Park (opposite KwikFit and the Co-op supermarket) at the bottom of the town, and then walk up.  

Places are limited for this guided walk, so please sign up as soon as you can.  Please note that the walk will involve steps and steepish paths, so please come prepared.

Cost

The cost of the guided walk is £7.50 per person. Please complete and return the attached booking form, and bookings will only be confirmed on receipt of payent as well as the booking form.

We are going to Naples, Ischia and Herculaneum in March 2024 – would you like to join us?

Following the successful guided tours to Romania and the Veneto we have decided to arrange a similar visit to Naples, Ischia and Herculaneum in March 2024. This six-day tour will depart on 18th March 2024, flying from Heathrow to Naples, and will include accommodation in a central 4* hotel in Naples, all excursions, entrance fees and guided tours, and much more.

Booking

The cost will be from £1,649, and full details are in the attached brochure and booking form. There will be a limited number of places so early booking is recommended.

Due to flight scheduling restrictions, we would be grateful if you could send us your Booking Form as soon as possible.  Should numbers be too low to make the visit viable, these deposits will be returned.

Unfortunately this visit has been cancelled owing to the unexpected temporary closure of the Barber Institute.

Winterbourne House is a rare example of an early c20th suburban villa and garden.  The house dates from 1903, when John and Margaret Nettlefold built it.  Nettlefold was a renowned town planner who carried the ideas used in this house into the less wealthy areas of the city.  He adopted the designs of the Arts and Craft movement to make the house modern and light.  The garden is also well worth a visit but, being November, we have decided to leave that to you to wander around or not!  We shall have a talk and guided tour of the house.

The coach will then take us to the Edgbaston Park Hotel for lunch.  A lunch menu is attached for you to make your choice and then give to me, together with your booking form, so that I can pre-order our lunch before our visit.

After lunch, the coach will drop us off at the Barber Institute of Fine Art, and there you can wander around in your own time.  It is described as being one of the finest small art galleries in Europe, and is a haven of tranquillity on a bustling university campus.

Both venues have cafés for you to enjoy.

All information of timings is on the booking form and here are links to the websites for Winterbourne House and to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, both of which are in Birmingham.

This is a unique opportunity to see Westminster Abbey in the quiet of the evening, after the tourists have gone.  There are only 10 musical tours each year and only 80 places available for each tour.  We have secured 40 places.

The tours are organised by The Purcell Club - named after Henry Purcell, the famous composer, who was organist of Westminster Abbey 1679-1695.  It is a male voice choir formed predominantly from members of the Westminster Abbey Old Choristers’ Association, though guest singers join from time to time.  The singers give their services in order to put on these tours, and all the profits from ticket sales go to support the Abbey and a range of small charities.

The tour starts at 7pm in the nave and then the group moves around to various other points in the Abbey including the Quire, Sacrarium, High Altar, the Cosmati Pavement (unique in this country), St Edward the Confessor’s Shrine, Henry VII Chapel and Poet’s Corner.  At each point a speaker describes the history and architecture of the Abbey in some details and members of the Purcell Club (all former Westminster Abbey choristers) sing anthems and other pieces ranging from the 16th to 21st centuries.

On returning to the Nave for the final part of the tour, a short piece is played by one of the Abbey organists to demonstrate the Abbey’s magnificent organ.  The tour ends at the Unknown Warrior’s Grave, with the choir singing a piece of suitable solemnity such as ‘The Kontakion for the Departed’.

The evening concludes at approximately 9.15pm and the coach is booked to depart at around 9.30pm.

Please note

1. Much of the Abbey floor and steps are uneven.
2. That some areas may be dimly lit.
3. There are several places on the tour where there are several flights of steps. 
4. Some parts of the Abbey are accessible by wheelchair but areas that are not include the Cosmetic Pavement, St Edward the Confessor’s Shrine and Henry VII chapel.

Cost

£95 per person (includes coach travel  + 2 course supper in the Abbey’s Cellarium Cafe)

Timing

2.00pm coach leaves Malmesbury’s Station Road (long stay) car park

5.30pm supper in the Cellarium Cafe at Westminster Abbey       

7.00pm tour of the Abbey starts

9.30pm coach departs Westminster Abbey, returning to Malmesbury around 23.55pm

Booking

To book your place(s) please complete and return this booking form.

We have organised a private visit to the Peto Gardens at Iford Manor, at a time when the gardens can be viewed at their best.  In addition to the normal entry for the public, your visit will include:

1. A talk and guided tour of the gardens by the owner of Iford Manor.
2. A visit to the Shell Pavilion and the family’s private garden, not normally open to the public.
3. Refreshments including tea/coffee and cake in the glorious courtyard café.

In addition, we have organised a delightful picnic area by the River Frome, beyond the car park, for those of you who wish to extend your visit and bring your own lunch.

Situated just 15 minutes from Bath, the peaceful Grade 1 registered garden of Iford Manor is unlike any other, with its romantic design and architecture, and magnificent rural views across an unspoilt valley.

Dating back to the Domesday Book, the gardens seen today were largely designed by renowned Edwardian landscape architect Harold Peto, who lived at Iford from 1899 – 1933. His great love of the Italian garden style is plainly evident at Iford, where flowers occupy a subordinate place amongst the more structural elements of cypress, statuary, hedges, water features and broad walks.

Over the past 50 years today's owners, the Cartwright-Hignett family, have lovingly restored the garden and continue to develop it, including finishing the Japanese Garden, extending the woodland walks and redesigning areas of the garden as they age.

Please note:

1. The Gardens are on a steep slope with many steps, so this visit is not suitable for those with mobility problems.
2. This is a self-drive visit.  Full directions will be sent to you by email nearer the date.
3. The tour is restricted to 25 – so please apply early.

Cost:    £25.00 per head, which includes the guided tour and refreshments in the café.

Booking: To book your place(s) please complete and return this booking form.

We have arranged for a guided tour of the highly decorated rooms of Cardiff Castle, which combines a medieval castle and Victorian Gothic Revival mansion situated in the middle of Cardiff. In the first half of the 19th Century, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, who owned the Castle, commissioned William Burgess to remodel the castle in the Gothic Revival style, and the resulting interior designs were considered to be amongst the most magnificent that the Gothic Revival style ever achieved.

The tour will be followed by lunch, before we walk to the National Museum of Wales which is within walking distance.

These galleries hold the second largest collection of impressionist paintings in the UK, outside London, and have many world-class pieces of art and decorative art. We will be able to walk around the art galleries in our own time. 

Travel Arrangements

We will travel from Malmesbury to Cardiff by coach, leaving the Malmesbury Long Term Carpark at 9:00am.

We can enjoy a cup of tea before leaving on our return journey to Malmesbury, arriving there at about 6:00pm. 

Cost

The cost is £41.50 per person, to include coach travel, guided tour at the Castle, coffee/tea upon arrival and lunch.

To book your place please complete the booking form and return to the contact shown. Confirmation of a booking will only be made on receipt of the cost as well as a completed booking form.

To see a selection of the photographs taken on the day click here.

Please join us for a guided tour of Broughton Castle and a walk around its lovely parkland. The coach will take us to Broughton Grange Gardens in the afternoon for a pre-visit talk about the gardens, and then we wander individually. We will be offered tea and cake before returning to Malmesbury.

Broughton Castle is the home of Lord and Lady Saye and Sele, whose family has lived here since 1447.  Simon Jenkins has given the house and parklands 5 stars – one of only 20 awarded this accolade by him.  Broughton Grange Gardens is an award- winning garden designed by Tom Stuart Smith in 2001 who created a six-acre walled garden and is now considered to be one of the finest private contemporary gardens in Britain.  It is set in over 400 acres of parkland. 

The visit is by coach from Malmesbury Long Term car park, leaving at 09.00am. Coffee will be served on arrival, and lunch is included as are tea/cakes before we depart at 17.00pm for our return to Malmesbury.

The Cost will be £55 per person. To book your place on this visit click here for the online booking form. If you use an iPad you are unlikely to be able to fill in the online booking form, so please print it, fill it in by hand and post to the adddress given on the form.

To view a selection of photographs taken click here.

Hereford Cathedral is a light and airy building constructed almost entirely of local sandstone of a soft red hue. Started in 1080, most of the visible architecture is from the Decorated Gothic period of the 13th and 14th centuries, featuring complex tracery, large and spectacular stained-glass windows and particularly fine stone carvings.

It is most famous for the Mappa Mundi.  Made by Richard of Holdingham around 1300 it is the only complete world map of its kind.  It is a fascinating pictorial encyclopaedia of the medieval world and is one of the cathedral’s greatest treasures and of international importance.

The cathedral also houses the Chained Library.  Created in 1611 it is the largest of its kind in existence.  In the Middle Ages books were so rare and valuable that they were often chained for safe keeping. Among the manuscripts on display is a copy of the original Magna Carta of 1215 and the illuminated 8th century manuscript known as Hereford Gospels.

Our visit will start with refreshments in the College Hall followed by a guided tour of the cathedral and a visit to the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library Exhibition.  Depending on numbers, the group will be split into two at this point so that everyone will be able to enjoy the many treasures on view.

Afterwards you are invited to join the Committee for a light lunch at The Green Dragon Hotel near the Cathedral main entrance or find your own alternative café or restaurant.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Hereford at your leisure.  The city is compact and pleasantly devoid of cars, so ideal for wandering around.   As well as many fine buildings – mainly Georgian - there is a City Museum and Art Gallery opposite the front of the cathedral, and the Black and White Museum on The High Town which also boosts the usual array of shops and a large indoor market.  There are also some very pleasant riverside walks along the River Wye just south of the Cathedral Close.

NOTE: This is a self-drive visit. If you do not wish to drive this distance yourself, car-share options are available.

COST: £15.00pp including special tour, exhibition entrance fee and refreshments on arrival.

BOOKING: To book your place please click here for the Booking Form.

No.1 Royal Crescent is a magnificently restored Georgian town house at one end of Bath's world-famous Royal Crescent.

Designed by John Wood the Younger, and built between 1767 and 1774, the Royal Crescent is a fine example of Palladian Revival architecture and is one of the greatest urban developments of the 18th century.

On the impressive approach to the museum, the grand architecture and sweeping elegance of Royal Crescent gives you a taste of the luxury that was enjoyed by those who stayed here - the cream of Bath’s 18th century high society. 

Each room is an elegant example of Georgian architecture and furnishings, and offers a snapshot of daily goings-on; the dinner table is set for a lavish meal, while the servants' hall shows their pristine coats hanging from hooks on the wall. Furniture, pictures and objects, carefully chosen to replicate Georgian tastes, line each room.

No.1 Royal Crescent is not open to the public on Tuesdays, but we have organised a specially curated private tour around the rooms which, as well as featuring many elegant examples of fine Georgian furnishings, will be freshly decorated to depict an authentic Georgian Christmas. The tour will start at 11:00am.

Cost

This is a self-drive visit and the cost is £25.00 per head.  

To apply

To apply please click here and then complete and return the booking form together with payment. If you have a laptop you should be able to complete the form online, and then either save it so that you can email it, or print and post it. If you have an iPad you should print the form, complete it and post it, as the software used for creating the form is for laptops.

This visit is open to members and partners, but preference will be given to members should demand be high.

Note

You are welcome to join some of the Committee for a light lunch afterwards at a nearby restaurant – further details will be sent to you by email nearer to the date of the visit. 

This is a self-drive visit costing £11.50pp including a guided tour of the Castle.

Berkeley Castle was built as one of the March Castles to keep out the Welsh, and has been home to the Berkeley family for 900 years.  As such it is the oldest building in the country to still be inhabited by the family that built it.  It has many royal connections – Edward II is reputed to have been murdered there, and it became a royal castle in Tudor times – and many of the artifacts on display reflect this.

Your visit will comprise a guided tour of the castle in small groups. followed by an opportunity to stroll around the attractive gardens with delightful views and either partake of refreshments at The Walled Garden café or enjoy your own picnic.

Visit details

11:00 Assemble at the Main Entrance to the Castle

11:15 Guided tour of the Castle (party split into two groups)

12:30 Lunch at The Walled Garden café or enjoy your own picnic

13:30 Afternoon to enjoy the gardens at your leisure

 For full details please read the attached booking form

This visit is organised through the National Open Garden Scheme.

This group of six gardens, centred around the historic Dauntsey Park Estate, ranges from the Classical C18 country house setting of Dauntsey Park, with spacious lawns, old trees and views over the River Avon, to mature country house gardens and traditional walled gardens.

Enjoy the formal rose garden in pink and white, old fashioned borders and duck ponds at Idover House, and the quiet seclusion of The Coach House with its thyme terrace and gazebos, climbing roses and clematis. Here, mop-headed pruned crataegus prunifolia line the drive.

The Garden Cottage has a traditional walled kitchen garden with organic vegetables, apple orchard, woodland walk and yew topiary. Meanwhile the two acres at The Old Pond House are both clipped and unclipped! Large pond with lilies and fat carp, and look out for the giraffe and turtle. The Old Coach House is a small garden with perennial plants, shrubs and climbers.

If you are interested in joining this visit please contact Biddy Hadfield on bthadfield@btinternet.com for further information.

Miserden Gardens was the Winner of Historic Houses’ Garden of the Year 2018. It has a lovely, timeless walled garden with amazing views over a deer park and the rolling Cotswold hills beyond. The garden was designed in the 17th Century and still retains a wonderful sense of peace and tranquillity, especially with its spectacular 92 metre long mixed borders.

Other magical features of this garden, which has spanned generations, include a unique sycamore tree that has grown through a Cotswold stone wall, grass steps, an ancient mulberry tree and a yew walk.

If you are interested in joining this visit please contact Biddy Hadfield on bthadfield@btinternet.com for further information.

The Woodland Gardens are a separate attraction on the Bowood Estate, only open for six weeks during the flowering season. Covering over 30 acres, this garden is an oasis of bluebells, azaleas, magnolias, and rhododendrons. Considered to be one of the most exciting gardens of its type in the country with over 30 hardy hybrids, which were thought to be extinct.

The Woodland Gardens surround the family mausoleum, one of Robert Adam’s finest classical buildings, which was commissioned in 1761 by the widow of the 1st Earl of Shelburne.

Recently, the Woodland Gardens have been the subject of one of the most exciting and significant horticultural finds – over 30 original hardy hybrids which were thought to be extinct. The original plants date back to when the garden was first planted by the 3rd Marquis of Lansdowne in 1854. The present Marquis’s great grandfather substantially expanded the gardens on his return from India where he had been Viceroy.

If you are interested in joining this visit please contact Biddy Hadfield on bthadfield@btinternet.com for further information.

Unfortunately this deferred visit has had to be cancelled due to the Covid situation. 

You would have been able to visit magnificent gardens, museums and medieval buildings in Haarlem, The Hague and Gouda in the company of our very knowledgeable and well respected lecturer Sophie Oosterwijk. The visit would include flights to/from Bristol, hotel accommodation, some meals and all entrance fees.

For more details click here. 

Sophie Oosterwijk

Born in Gouda (Netherlands), Sophie has an MA and PhD in English Literature (Leiden), an MA in Medieval Studies (York) and a PhD in Art History (Leicester). She has taught at the universities of St Andrews, Leicester, Nottingham and Manchester, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, National Trust, V&A, U3A, WEA and other organisations, and has organised many study days, tours and visits. Sophie is also a regular lecturer for Cambridge University and Martin Randall Travel, and is an Honorary Research Fellow with the School of Art History at the University of St Andrews. She has produced numerous publications. 

This visit has been cancelled

Our final visit of the year will be a leisurely one, taking us to two contrasting country houses high up in the north Cotswolds near Moreton-in-Marsh.

We will spend the morning visiting Sezincote – an extraordinary monument to the British love affair with India, and thought to be the inspiration for the Brighton Pavilion.  We shall have a private guided tour around the interior of the house followed by an opportunity to explore the grounds at leisure.  The gardens were designed by the famous garden architect Humphrey Repton in a classical style but with obvious Indian influences such as temples, bridges and water features.

We will then travel down the hill to Bourton House for a summer lunch in their magnificent barn, after which we will be given an Introductory Talk by the Head Gardener . You can then wander around the gardens and arboretum at your own pace.  The gardens were featured in Gardener’s World in August 2019 and are renowned for extensive topiary, flamboyant herbaceous borders and a series of garden rooms, from the traditional White Garden to exotic cannas and yuccas – all set against the backcloth of a classic honey-coloured Cotswold manor house.   

VISIT DETAILS

09:00   Leave Long Stay Carpark in Malmesbury

10:15  Tour of Sezincote and Gardens

12:30  Depart Sezincote

12:45  Arrive at Bourton House

13:00  Lunch at Bourton House

14:30  Introductory Talk by Head Gardener

14:45  Self-Guided Tour of Gardens                   

16:30  Depart for Return Journey to Malmesbury

17:30  Arrive at Malmesbury

COST

£50 per person, to include coach travel, entrance fees, talks and refreshments.

BOOKING FORM

Click here for the booking form which must be completed and returned.

View some of the photos taken on the day

Join us for a ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour of the Bristol Old Vic – the oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world.  Built in 1766, the auditorium retains much of its Georgian splendour whilst the rest of the theatre has undergone a £12 million restoration to bring it bang up to date.

Our tour will take us through the theatre’s 250 year history, from the origins of its beautiful Georgian design to tales of the myriad first-class actors who have trod its boards over the years.

In the afternoon we will visit the New Room – John Wesley’s Chapel.  Built in 1739, it is the oldest Methodist Chapel in the world and a hidden gem.  This building has also undergone extensive restoration and featured in the second series of ‘Poldark’ so you may well recognise it.

In between we will enjoy a delicious two course lunch at Côte Brasserie in Quakers Friars nearby.

Itinerary: 

09:30      Leave Malmesbury long-term car park

10:30      Arrive Bristol Old Vic for coffee and biscuits

11:00      Backstage tour

12:30      15 minute walk to Côte Brasserie for lunch

13:00      Lunch

14:30      5 minute walk to The New Room for tour

16:00      Depart Bristol

17:00      Arrive back at Malmesbury

Cost: £55 pp to include Coach, Tours and Lunch

Booking Form: This form must be completed and returned, and payment made, before a place can be confirmed. Click here for the Booking Form.

NB: Unfortunately, due to the nature of the backstage theatre tour, this visit is not suitable for those with mobility problems. 

Our Garden Visit this year takes us to Hampshire to visit two outstanding gardens near Stockbridge.  The first is Houghton Lodge, a rare example of an 18th century ‘Cottage Ornee’, which we will be shown around on a private tour. Afterwards you will be able to stroll at leisure around the delightful riverside gardens which include a walled kitchen garden, long border and orchid house.

We will then make a short journey to the Leckford Estate, former home of the John Lewis family, where we will enjoy an informal lunch in their beautiful barn restaurant.  This will be followed by an introductory talk to the Longstock Water Gardens, rated as one of the finest in the world for its water lilies. As we have arranged another private visit you will be able to fully enjoy the peace and tranquillity of these magnificent gardens before our return trip to Malmesbury.

TRAVEL: Our coach will leave Malmesbury Long Stay Car Park promptly at 08:30 and is expected to return to Malmesbury at approximately 18:00.

COST: The cost of this trip including coach, coffee and lunch is £58. For a booking form, click here.

Wilton House is one of the great houses of England and was one of only twenty to be given a five star rating by Simon Jenkins in his definitive book ‘England’s Thousand Best Houses’.

This splendid Palladian palace with Inigo Jones and Wyatt interiors will be familiar to many of you as it has been used as a film location for countless historical dramas and films from Pride and Prejudice to The Crown.  Yet it is no mausoleum – it is still the country seat of the Earl of Pembroke and has a welcoming and friendly vibe to it.

Our visit will concentrate on the house’s internationally famous art collection.  A private guided tour of the paintings and artefacts has been arranged followed by a special buffet lunch with salmon, home-cured ham and a variety of salads.

After lunch there will be ample time for you to enjoy the formal gardens and riverside parkland, see the Pembroke Classic and Supercar Collection and view the special Cecil Beaton Exhibition for 2019 curated by Jasper Conran.

If you have never been on an Arts Society visit before, then this is the one for you!  Friends and family welcome.

Cost

The cost of this visit, including coach travel and lunch, is £55 per person.

Further details are on the attached Booking Form which must be completed and returned together with your payment in order to secure a place on this visit.

For further details of Wilton House click here.

Join us on a very special trip to visit the Library and Walled Garden at the Getty family's Wormsley Estate near Stockenchurch in Buckinghamshire.

We are delighted to be able to go on one of these very extra special visits (only five are allowed each year). We will visit the rare collection of prints, illustrations and manuscripts (ancient and modern), and book bindings from all periods. We will then we will visit the Walled Garden and will be given a talk by the Head Gardener. 

The Walled Garden dates back to the mid-1700s, when the original garden was created by Richard Woods, a contemporary of 'Capability' Brown. Neglected for the best part of a century, the gardens were brought back to life by celebrated garden designer Penelope Hobhouse.

Set in rolling countryside outside Stokenchurch in Buckinghamshire, Wormsley is a private estate and has been home to the Getty family since 1985. The Estate is first mentioned in official records in 1106 and, since 1547, has been in only two families; the Scropes/Fanes and the Gettys.

The Estate continues to invest in this outstanding collection, which features the first edition of Caxton’s printing of The Canterbury Tales, Anne Boleyn’s Psalter and the first folio of Shakespeare’s “Comedies, Histories and Tragedies”.  Other highlights include manuscripts dating from the 12th to the 15th Century, important Bibles and extraordinary modern bindings.

Cost

The cost of this visit, including coach travel and a packed lunch, is £55 per person.

Further details are on the attached Booking Form which must be completed and returned together with your cheque in order to secure a place on this visit.

For more details of The Wormsley Estate visit the website

Join us on a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham, to see over 150 objects that have been brought back temporarily to their original settings. We will have our own personal, curator-led tour.

This exhibition brings back to Strawberry Hill some of the most important masterpieces in Horace Walpole’s unique collection for a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Horace Walpole’s collection was one of the most important of the 18th Century. It was dispersed in a great sale in 1842. For the first time in 170 years Strawberry Hill can be seen as Horace Walpole conceived it, with the collection in the interior as he designed it, shown in their original positions. The exhibition opens on 20th October and closes on 24th February.

We will depart by coach at 08.30 from Malmesbury long-stay car park. The tour of Strawberry Hill House will start at 11:00 and will last 90 minutes.

This will be followed by lunch which will comprise quiche and salad, a glass of wine, coffee and cake. The cost of lunch is included in the price.

We plan to leave Strawberry Hill at 14:30 to return to Malmesbury, and expect to arrive at about 16.30.

Cost - £67 per person which covers coach travel, the tour of Strawberry Hill House and lunch.

All of the tickets for this visit have been sold. If you wish to put your name on the waiting list please email Katharine Odlum - kj@odlumfamily.co.uk .

For details of Strawberry House and the Exhibition click here.

We have arranged a private tour for 20 members of Rodmarton Manor for Tuesday 18th September, followed by a light lunch and the opportunity to explore the fabulous gardens.

Rodmarton Manor is the supreme example of a house built with all its furniture made according to Arts and Crafts ideals. It was one of the last country houses to be built and furnished in the old traditional style when everything was done by hand with local stone, local timber and local craftsmen.

Ernest Barnsley and the Cotswold group of Craftsmen, who built and furnished the house for Claud and Margaret Biddulph, beginning in 1909, were responsible for the revival of many traditional crafts in the Cotswolds which were in danger of dying out.

Most of the furniture was made specially for the house, either in the Rodmarton workshops, or by Sidney Barnsley, Edward Barnsley and Peter Waals. Some furniture was bought after the house was built but all pieces are directly or indirectly attributable to the original craftsmen or people who had connections with them.

The eight-acre Cotswold garden is interesting any month of the year but really beautiful throughout the summer months. It was designed originally as a series of outdoor rooms and is still the same today. There is a wide selection of planting that has been done over the years, with superb vistas and views throughout, and plenty of places to sit and admire the view.

Provisional timings

11:00       Meet at Rodmarton Manor

                Guided tour of Manor

12:30        Light lunch

14:00        Self-conducted tour of gardens

Booking

Tickets cost £20 which covers the tour of the house and gardens, and lunch. Further details will be available at the February lecture.

You may book your place on this visit at any of the regular lectures. Payment is required at the time of making a booking or within seven days. This fee can only be refunded if there is a waiting list for the visit and your place can be taken by another member.

For further information on Rodmarton Manor visit its website.

We will be taking a party of members by coach for a private guided tour of Clandon Park during which we will hear about the exciting plans for restoration following the fire in April, 2015.

This visit follows on from the very good lecture many of us heard in November.

This is an exciting opportunity to view three rooms (the Marble Hall, Saloon and State Bedroom) and the basement. All access to the site requires hard hats and high-viz jackets, which will be supplied.

For more information on Clandon Park visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clandon-park.

We will then travel a short distance to Watts Gallery - Artists Village, based around an art gallery dedicated to the work of Victorian-era painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts.

After lunch at The Old Kiln there will be opportunities to visit the Gallery (with its collection of Victorian paintings and sculpture), the Watts Studios (a recently opened museum of G F and Mary Wattses' work which brings back their vision of Art for All) and, a short walk away, the extraordinary Grade 1 listed Watts Chapel (a working village parish chapel decorated by Mary Watts).

For more information on Watts Gallery visit www.wattsgallery.org.uk.

The visit concludes at 4.45pm.

Timetable

• 08.30 Coach to leave Malmesbury Station Road long-stay car park
• 10.45 Arrive at Clandon Park for coffee
• 11-12.30 Hard-hat tour of Clandon Park
• 1.30-2.15 Lunch at The Old Kiln
• 2.15-4.45 Free time to explore the Gallery, Chapel, Studio and shop
• 4.45 (approx) Coach departs
• 7.00 (approx) Arrive back in Malmesbury

Cost

£45 pp which includes return coach travel, morning coffee, entrance to The Watts Gallery and lunch.

Not included: National Trust entry to Clandon Park (free to members who can show a current membership card, otherwise £7.20) and afternoon tea.

Note: there is a walk to reach the Watts Chapel.

Payment is required at the time of making a booking. This fee can only be refunded if there is a waiting list for the visit and your place can be taken by another member.

For more details of this visit please contact: 

Lesley Auden , 01666 502081 or

Carolyn Brothwood , 01666 824877

Unfortunately we have had to cancel this visit as not enough members wanted to take part.

In June 2018 our members will have the opportunity to visit a number of the best known gardens in Herefordshire. This three-day tour by coach will be accompanied by a professional tour guide, and we will stay in a convenient three-star hotel for two nights.

The tour will visit the following gardens:

• Sir Roy Strong’s garden at The Laskett
• The Old Rectory, Thruxton
• Croft Castle
• Westonbury Mill Water Garden
• Berrington Hall where the garden was designed by Capability Brown
• Stockton Bury Gardens
• Hampton Court Castle

The tour will depart from Malmesbury on 26th June and return on 28th.

The cost will be £495 per person, based on two people sharing a hotel room (single supplement £90), and will include two nights dinner, bed and breakfast, entry to the above listed gardens and coach travel to/from Malmesbury.

A deposit is required at the time of booking: if a booking is made before 30th September 2017 the deposit will be £50; if the booking is made after this date the deposit will be £100.

We have agreed with the tour organiser that the deposit will only be refundable if not enough members would like to go on the tour. The terms and conditions governing any refund for a cancellation are shown on the booking form.

For more details of the tour click here.

To book your place on this tour click here. You will need to download the booking form, complete it and send to the organising company, Brightwater, with your deposit. If you have any queries about completing the form please call Brightwater on 01334 657144.

We will be taking a party of members to London by coach for a conducted tour of Westminster Abbey during which we will hear music provided by The Purcell Club.

This is a unique opportunity to see Westminster Abbey in the quiet of the evening, after the tourists have gone. There are only 10 musical tours each year and only 80 places available for each tour.

The tour starts at 7.00pm in the Nave and then the group moves around various other points in the Abbey including the Quire, Sacrarium, High Altar, the Cosmati Pavement (unique in this country), St Edward the Confessor’s Shrine, Henry VII Chapel and Poets’ Corner. At each point a speaker describes the history and architecture of the Abbey in some detail and members of The Purcell Club sing anthems and other pieces ranging from the 16th to 21st centuries.

On returning to the Nave for the final part of the tour, a short piece is played by one of the Abbey organists to demonstrate the Abbey’s magnificent organ. The tour ends at the Unknown Warrior’s Grave, with the choir singing a piece of suitable solemnity, such as ‘The Kontakion for the Departed’. The evening concludes at approximately 9.15pm.

Timetable

2.00pm - Leave Malmesbury Station Road (long stay) car park

5.30pm - Supper in the Cellarium Café at Westminster Abbey

6.50pm - Congregate in the nave of Westminster Abbey

9.30pm - Leave Westminster Abbey, returning to Malmesbury at around 23.55pm

Cost

£70pp (including the coach and a 2 course supper in the Cellarium Café)

Payment is required at the time of making a booking. This fee can only be refunded if there is a waiting list for the visit and your place can be taken by another member.

This tour is open to partners of members - we are also hoping to open it up to family and friends so do save the date.

For a Booking form and payment details please click here.

The Purcell Club

The Club is named after Henry Purcell, the famous composer, who was organist of Westminster Abbey from 1679-1695. It is a male voice group formed originally in the 1920s to provide music at Westminster Abbey Old Choristers’ annual dinners and other functions. In 1967 the Club realised that it could widen its operations by providing musical and historical tours, enabling it, by generating money from ticket sales, to raise significant sums for charity. Although the Club’s members are predominantly Old Choristers of the Abbey, guest singers join it from time to time, and the members give their services free in order to put on these tours.

For details of The Purcell Club click here.

For more details of this visit please contact Carolyn Brothwood on 01666 824877.

This is a great chance to visit this iconic house and gardens, and to hear about the history of the Holford family and how the world famous Westonbirt Arboretum was developed. This is possibly the finest ensemble of Victorian architecture, landscape and gardens in the Cotswolds.

Robert Stayner Holford (1808-1892) was MP for East Gloucestershire as well as being a wealthy landowner, landscape and gardening enthusiast, and art collector. With his vast wealth, he rebuilt Westonbirt House from the Georgian mansion erected only decades earlier by his father, and founded the Westonbirt Arboretum after succeeding his uncle and father between 1838 and 1839. His London home was Dorchester House. 

1.30pm Arrive at Westonbirt (members make their own travel arrangements).

2.00 pm Guided tour of the house to include Mary Holford’s boudoir.

3.00 pm Delicious cream tea served in the Reading Room – once the Main Drawing Room. During tea Alix, the Chief Gardener at Westonbirt, will give a short history of the gardens, which are being restored with the help of Mary Keen, the well known garden designer. Alix will answer any gardening questions you may have about your own gardens.

4.00 pm Visit the gardens, especially the now fully restored Italian garden, followed by a visit to St. Catherine’s Church, the last resting place of the final three generations of the Holford family.

The price for the visit and cream tea is £15 per person. To book your place contact Anne Carr-Jones by email or at one of our lectures. Payment is required at the time of making a booking. This fee can only be refunded if there is a waiting list for the visit and your place can be taken by another member.

Mill Dene is the romantic story of a young couple falling in love with each other and with a beautiful Cotswold stone water mill. The garden is set over 2 ½ acres and is a beautiful personal English country garden which is witty, fun and surprising. The garden includes a misty grotto, a bog garden and stream.

For more details of Mill Dene Gardens click here.

Batsford Arboretum was created in the 1800’s by Lord Redesdale, grandfather to the Mitford sisters, and was restored by the 2nd Lord Dulverton.  The Arboretum is home to a unique collection of some of the world’s most beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos. Hopefully, the blossom of the Japanese Cherry collection will be in full bloom when we visit.

For more details of Batsford Arboretum click here.

09.00 am      Coach departs Station Yard, Malmesbury

10.30 am      Coffee on arrival and introduction to Mill Dene by the owner, Wendy Dare

12.15pm       Depart for Batsford Arboretum

12.30pm       Lunch – Quiche, hot new potatoes and a choice of  salads

13.45pm       Tour of Arboretum with two Guides:  

                         + One guided tour will take 1 hour 

                         + The other tour will take 2 hours

                      There is a very good Plant Shop at Batsford

16.30pm       Depart Batsford Arboretum for Malmesbury

Cost               £38 including Coach, Coffee on arrival, Lunch and Guides           

To obtain a booking form for this visit click here.

For more details of this visit contact Christine MacLachlan at the next lecture or by email to mrsmac@southfields.biz.

Following on from the success of a similar trip to Rome for Malmesbury DFAS members in 2015 Acanthus is delighted to propose a new tour to the Veneto. This 5 day / 4 night trip, from Friday 7th to Tuesday 11th April 2017 will be an opportunity to visit the region with Dan Evans whose expansive knowledge of the history, art, architecture and culture of this wonderful part of ltaly will bring it to life. Dan has tutored in Italy on many occasions; he speaks ltalian and has a vast experience of taking groups to ltaly.  

Acanthus Education and Travel Ltd has run tours in the Veneto and Rome for NADFAS Groups, and is a Travel Trust Association accredited company offering 100% financial protection to all clients' monies.

Group size

The trip is limited to a maximum of 20 people.

A typical day

With a trip of this nature there will inevitably be coach travel involved. We will begin the day after breakfast at the hotel when our private coach will collect us anytime between 8.00 and 9.30, depending on the day's itinerary. Due to distances, some days will be longer than others and we will be mindful of the need for breaks and coffees / drinks. Lunches will either be pre-arranged at restaurants, if we are visiting a town, or else members will have the opportunity to find a coffee or ciabatta independently. After an afternoon session we will return to the hotel where we will either dine in or head for the excellent restaurants in nearby Treviso.

To read an overview of this fabulous visit click here.

To read the full itinerary and download a booking form click here.

European painting and drawing: highlights from the Ashmolean Museum

Paintings in the Museum’s galleries include work by European artists from Uccello and Bellini to Boudin, Holman Hunt, Pissarro, Sickert, Braque and Ben Nicolson.

The Prints and Drawings Department at the Ashmolean - not open to the general public – is home to drawings by Boudin (Monet’s teacher), Claude, Canaletto, Ingres, Millet, Pissarro, Manet, Cezanne and Morisot.

Trinity College: chapel, dining hall and gardens   

Trinity College Chapel was consecrated in 1694 has just been reopened following extensive renovation.

The Baroque chapel has been described as ‘one of the most effective and integrated ensembles of painting and sculpture in any chapel in Britain’.  Designed with advice from Sir Christopher Wren, it includes altar carvings by Grinling Gibbons and a ceiling painting of Christ in Glory by Pierre Berchet.

Timetable

8.30am             Depart Malmesbury long-stay car park

10.30am            Ashmolean – tour of galleries and print room

1.00pm              Lunch

2.30pm              Trinity College – chapel, dining hall and gardens

4.00pm              Depart Oxford

Booking forms

For a copy of the Ashmolean Museum and Trinity College booking form click here

If you would like to book a place on the coach to Oxford so you can spend the day shopping or exploring the city on your own click here for the Travel Only booking form.

Andrew James Quality Travel, which is the coach company that MDFAS uses, has obtained a number of tickets to this year’s Longleat Festival of Light and is offering them, together with coach travel from Malamesbury to MDFAS and other groups that use this company.

The timings are estimated at present but the pick-up from Malmesbury will be around Midday, and the return journey will leave Longleat at 19.00.

The cost is £35 per person which includes general Longleat admission, the Safari Park (except for the monkeys!) and the Festival of Light.

Here is an extract from the Longleat website:

"At the end of our special 50th anniversary year, the wondrous Festival of Light is returning and incredible, giant lanterns will light up Longleat once more. And this year’s event is going to be a celebration to remember.

As it’s our Safari Park’s 50th anniversary, this year our animal stars will be taking centre stage with breathtaking, larger than life scenes honouring some of our most famous residents. Walk through the grand entrance to the Festival of Light to be greeted by eight unique and majestic lion lanterns; commemorating our very first residents back in 1966. As you continue on your journey, you’ll be transported into the world of our animals; come face to face with intricate porcelain giraffes, stunning silk elephants and even giant gorillas. It’s going to be wild and all set against the stunning backdrop of Longleat House."

To book tickets please contact Carly Hillier at Andrew James on 01666 825655 or by email.

This very successful visit by 22 members of MDFAS provided us with a great opportunity to study some of the finest stained glass in the country, from the mid-1300’s to June this year, in the magnificent surroundings of Gloucester Cathedral. 

The Great East Window, in particular, is of international importance.  At the time of its installation in the 1350s it was the largest window in the world, and most of its original glass survives. 

Whilst, more recently, the early 20th C glass in the Lady Chapel is generally acknowledged to be the best of the Arts and Crafts movement. 

To see a selection of photographs taken during our visit click here.

For details of the programme for the day please click here.

Visit Report

Corsham Court is a hidden gem – a fascinating property that has been owned by the Methuen family since 1745.  Lancelot Capability Brown, John Nash and Humphrey Repton have all been involved in the evolution of the house and grounds, and hanging in the State Rooms are some works of art of international renown by artists from Fra Filippo Lippi to Sofonisba Anguissola and Sir Anthony van Dyck.

A delightful, sunny afternoon started with a delicious lunch at The Methuen Arms on Corsham High Street – the food was excellent, and it is always lovely to meet and get to know other MDFAS members!

At Corsham Court, we assembled in the Picture Gallery and listened to James Methuen-Campbell talk about the history of Corsham Court, the changes made to the property by Lancelot Capability Brown, and the evolution and importance of the paintings hanging in the Gallery. We also learned a little about the importance of establishing the provenance of paintings, and the difficulties and costs of being responsible for historic buildings and their contents. Conserving the Chippendale furniture is as important as insuring the only picture frame recorded as having been designed by Robert Adam.  Some of the other elements of note in the Gallery were the stucco ceiling designed by Capability Brown and made by Thomas Stocking of Bristol, and the pier-glasses and tables designed by the Adam brothers. The walls are lined with crimson silk damask, that also covers the chairs in the room – when the furniture needed re-covering or mending, silk was removed from the wall behind the paintings and replaced with pieces of linen, which means that when paintings are on loan or re-hung care must be taken to cover the linen patches.

Following our talk, we were able to walk around the State Rooms and the grounds at our leisure. The gardens extend to some 17 acres, with sweeping views down to a lake to the east, and an Oriental Plane on the south lawn that was planted by Capability Brown and has a canopy that is reputed to be the widest for any tree of its type in Europe.  Hidden amongst the trees to the south of the garden is the delightful Bath House, designed by Capability Brown but later Gothicised by Nash, with its stained glass windows, ogee roof and a short tunnel which leads from the Bath House through to another folly, called the Bradford Porch, and on into a walled garden.

To view some of the photographs taken during our visit click here.

Further information about the history and opening times of Corsham Court can be found on its web site:

This was a visit to Tormarton Court whereby members could make their own travel arrangements and pay for their own admission. It was a good way for groups of members to meet up, tour a place of interest and have tea together in an informal manner.

Tormarton Court is not normally open to the public, so approximately 30 of our members were fortunate in being able to benefit from a guided visit of the garden. Our guide was the Head Gardener who gave a very interesting history of the garden, and answered a wide range of questions from members. To round off the tour we enjoyed sumptuous tea, sandwiches and home-made cakes in the courtyard.

We note that Tormarton Court will be joining the National Garden Scheme, so members who were not able to join us this time may be able to visit at other times. 

To see photographs taken during the visit click here.

For details of Tormarton Court visit the Parks and Gardens UK web site.

Report on the Visit

Whatever happened to Flaming June?  We set off from Malmesbury in high spirits but under leaden skies on our trip north to Worcester, arriving first at the Elgar Birthplace and Museum.  In the Visitor Centre we were greeted with a very welcome coffee and biscuits, and then given an interesting introductory talk.  This was followed by an excellent video which told us everything we needed to know about Elgar’s life and works. 

We were then split into two groups – one to look at the comprehensive collection of Elgar memorabilia in the Visitor Centre, the other to browse around the birthplace cottage itself.  Both proved to be fascinating insights into the man behind the music, from his humble beginnings as the son of a piano tuner to a knight of the realm.  In particular, it was made clear how much Elgar’s compositions were influenced by his surroundings and friends.  As he moved many times he had many opportunities for inspiration.  It was therefore fitting that a bronze statue of him should have been placed at the bottom of the pretty cottage gardens so that he is sitting on a bench admiring his beloved Malvern Hills.

After a very satisfying morning we went a few miles up the road to Spetchley Park – home of a branch of the Berkeley family of Castle fame.  Again the welcome party was out in force and ushered us down the splendid, recently restored entrance to the park and into the old laundry for a good lunch of quiche and salads, followed by a variety of cakes which were very tasty but did nothing for the waistline.

 And then on to our guided tour of the gardens which are renowned for their large collection of unusual and rare plants.  With perfect timing, the rain, which had been threatening all day, then started.  And it did not just rain – it bucketed down!  So we all huddled under our umbrellas and looked in awe at the Head Gardener who did not bat an eyelid even though he had nothing more than a sleeveless jacket as protection – these gardeners are made of sturdy stuff!  First of all we were shown the lake which had  been created out of a medieval moat in the early 19th century and had undergone extensive restoration work over the last year, including draining and relining with clay.  

We were then given a brief history of the various generations of the family who had added the fine specimen trees and other favourite plants to the garden in a fairly random fashion so that the current design is more a result of gradual evolution than a grand master plan.  In particular, we were told about Ellen Willmott, sister of Rose Berkeley, who was one of the greatest plantswomen of her time and has many species named after her.  All this enthusiasm for planting has left a very full garden which is a challenge to maintain.  So we were also treated to some fine examples of bindweed and other unwelcome guests.  However, this gave us a moment to reflect that great gardens do not just happen; they require a huge amount of toil and effort – particularly in a wet summer!

Fortunately, the sun emerged before we had finished our tour so it was off for a quick cup of tea and then back home with another smooth journey.

To look at some of the photos taken click here.

I think a very big thank you is in order for Anne Carr- Jones who organised a splendid day out with her customary charm and efficiency.  Next time Anne can you wave your magic wand at the sun??

Led by NADFAS lecturer, John Osborne

Wednesday 01 -Wednesday 08 June 2016

From Moldavia to Transylvania, Bucharest to BraSov, the Red Lake to the Black Sea, Romania stands out for its rich cultural heritage and outstanding natural beauty. Nestled in the heart of Eastern Europe, its history is a tale of foreign conquest and staunch resistance. Long an important Roman province and the only Latin speaking state in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, Romania saw the gradual increase of Saxon influence and Ottoman expansionism during the medieval period before eventual unification of its principalities in 1881. Since then, it has been at the heart of Eastern European politics, resistant to Austro-Hungarian hegemony, subsumed by communist rule and since 2007 a member of the European Union.

Our tour will bring to life some of the most dramatic cultural achievements from throughout Romanian history. The painted monasteries of Bucovina epitomise the strength of Romania's Christian heritage in the face of Turkish invasion in the 15th and 16th centuries, whilst Bucharest' s Palace of Parliament showcases the megalomania of communist rule in the 1980s. In addition to historic Romania, there will be plenty of time to enjoy the country's dramatic landscape. From the spectacular Carpathian mountains to the dramatic BArgiu Valley - heart of 'Draculaland' - the Romanian countryside remains largely unspoiled.

Click here to read the report of the very successful visit to the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery in London.

Weather-wise November 14 was one of the best days this year, warm with plenty of wonderful sunshine, not too much traffic and Hampton Court Palace looked stunning.

As usual, we left Malmesbury at 8.00am and arrived bang on time at 10.30. Good thing we did, because our bus parking arrangements were changed that morning by phone: the problem was road works.  No matter, we managed.

At the Royal School of Needlework we saw some amazing examples of their students handiwork, and listened with avid attention to a lecture on the history of th school and accounts of their varied participation in many royal events.  We then met some of the students working with zest on various projects. We heard too the amazing amount of time this type of embroidery takes …hours and hours to complete a very small section. We were also told of the huge financial difficulties the School currently faces.  It is called the Royal School of Needlework.  But it does not enjoy any Government assistance. Everyone was wildly impressed with the work and most of us seriously worried about how long the School could continue to provide such a splendid service.

Next stop, lunch at the Tiltyard Café.  Very comfortable, exceptionally nice food, and not too expensive. – Some members even chose to soak up the sun on the terrace.  Others preferred to eat and look at the gardens from  the huge windows in the warm.

Then it was onwards for our afternoon programme.  A tour with Jane Petit  Our charming blue badge guide who  escorted us to see the most important parts of the palace. And gave us  Which included:-

• The Kitchens – with real wood fires burning.
• The chapel, the crown,
• King Henrys apartments
• The clock court with time and tide for all to see.
• William 111’s Apartments   The Presence chamber and his private apartments
• Queen Mary’s Audience chamber/Drawing room and the Queens Bedchamber.
• The Queens Gallery and so much more.

Finally, we sped out to see the Vine-240 years old and over 35.5m long.  It takes the keeper about three weeks to harvest the fruit.

Then home, on time, weary and thrilled by a fabulous day with a very special thanks to Helen O'Leary and her amazing organising skills in making the day so successful.

Click here for a report on the visit.

Click here for a report on the visit.

Please click here for a report on this visit.

Click here for a report on the visit.

After a magical trip to Westminster Abbey, MDFAS came up trumps again with a splendid day in Somerset.  With her renowned eye for detail Ann had even managed to organise perfect weather, and the sun shone as we duly arrived at the gates of Stoberry Park bang on time.  We were offered transport up the hill but, being doughty NADFAS members, we walked instead through the old park.  This took somewhat longer than anticipated as we all kept turning round to admire the magnificent view spread out before us – Wells Cathedral in the foreground against a backcloth of half of Somerset with Glastonbury Tor on the horizon.  It is difficult to do justice to this view with mere words but it was a view to warm the heart and lift the spirits and make you feel good to be alive!  The house we found at the end was not the anticipated stately house but a more modest stone–built affair which turned out to be the coach house for the original house which had burnt down in the 1950s. 

We were greeted by our hosts for the day, Frances and Tim Young, and copious amounts of tea and coffee and scrummy homemade tray-bakes which were consumed with relish.  We were then given a brief history of the gardens from their bleak beginnings of scrub and rubble in the mid 1990s to its current day maturity.  That’s under twenty years – an amazing achievement.  Frances is an artist and Tim a water engineer – a perfect combination for creating a garden of unique charm and interest.  Given the fantastic view they had kept the planting in front of the house very spare just using a large and beautifully maintained pond as the central feature.  The bulk of the planting was confined to the side and back of the house taking advantage of the shelter afforded by the magnificent old walls of the original kitchen garden.  This was further subdivided into an intimate sunken garden where grasses and other gravel-loving plants predominated, and an open area richly planted with trees, roses and herbaceous in a full artist’s palette of flower and leaf colour.  Thorough out the garden were strategically placed sculpture of great charm that could not fail to surprise and amuse you.  The girl on the swing, the little boy peeping through the bushes, the leopard lounging languidly on a branch of the false acacia tree….  This was a garden you could return to time and again and see something unexpected.

After our semi-guided tour where the Youngs and their head-gardener enthused us with their passion for the garden, we had an excellent buffet lunch on the terrace before splitting into two groups.  A small faction went on to Milton Lodge gardens – a more mature   Grade II listed gardens of the old hunting lodge to Stoberry House – whilst the rest of us were driven into Wells.  Here we enjoyed the contrast of the Bishops Palace Gardens. These were perfectly kept and took full advantage of the various water features and the medieval ruins which created garden follies of monumental scale. But somehow it lacked the magic of Stoberry.

 As ever when you are enjoying yourselves you run out of time so it was a hop, skip and jump to a whistle-stop tour of the cathedral which was small but perfectly formed.  We did not have time to do it justice but I have the perfect solution – as well as being passionate gardeners, Frances and Tim run Stoberry House as a high-class B & B, so guess where I am planning my next weekend trip?!

Click here for the report on the visit. 

Click here to for the report on the visit.

Click here for the report on the visit.