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We were doubly fortunate to set off on such a sunny day and once again, to have as our coach driver, Krzsztof who had been our driver in Amsterdam the previous year. After stopping en route for coffee we reached Oxburgh Hall, our first destination, by lunchtime. Oxburgh is a fully moated Tudor manor house and it looked wonderfully romantic in the sunshine. Like many houses, it has ...

Our journey, in glorious Spring sunshine, through the Sussex countryside with its sweeping views of the South Downs brought us to Charleston Farmhouse; the country home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and a place much frequented by other members of the Bloomsbury Group. After some refreshments, we were guided round the house in small groups thus giving us the opportunity to have questions answered by our excellent ...

Our (very full) coach left Grayshott on a cold but fine day and took us first to Whitchurch to see the oldest working silk mill in the country, still in its original building.The mill, picturesquely situated on the River Test, is Georgian although the silk weaving machinery is Victorian. We began with a tour of the mill, seeing how silk threads of all sorts are made from ...

On a beautiful sunny, summer's afternoon we celebrated our 30th Anniversary with a very enjoyable Garden Party at Cross Farm, Shackleford. It was lovely to be joined there by so many of those who have been part of our society over the years. Our Founder Chairman, Sheila Sheath and two founder members, Wendy Bennett and Libby Mason, joined previous Chairmen and Presidents, current members and committee ...

As part of our 3oth Anniversary celebrations we went on a very successful 5 day tour to Holland. It was invaluable to have Amsterdam as the base for exploring Holland's cultural and artistic heritage and the glorious weather enhanced our visit. As well as a panoply of wonderful art in Amsterdam, The Hague and Haarlem, from the canals we could enjoy the historical gables as well as ...

The Edward Barnsley Workshop at Froxfield is set high up on the hills a couple of miles outside Petersfield, with far-reaching views over the woods to the South Downs.for nearly 100 years it has been home to craftsmen making the highest quality wooden furniture. The workshop is small and access limited so members shared cars to drive there. Then one group visited before and one after ...

We were blessed with a perfect warm Spring day and enjoyed bright sunshine and blue skies for our trip to Oxfordshire. Our first stop was at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, a theological college set in lovely countryside just outside Oxford. The new chapel there is named after a C19th College Principal and later Bishop of Lincoln. In 2013 the chapel won numerous architectural rewards but it was ...

Another big turnout of 50 members enjoyed this rewarding, if wet, day in London. Arriving on the South Bank of the Thames, we stopped off at The Swan, by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, for some tea and coffee before walking along to the theatre for our guided tour. As Elizabethan theatres did not really have what we understand as a 'Backstage', we sat in the shelter ...

Following Anne Anderson's talk on William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones in April, we visited Kelmscott Manor, Morris's Cotswold home from 1871 until his death in 1896. Stopping for coffee en route at The Rose Revived, a picturesque C16th pub/hotel by the River Thames, we had time to explore the pretty village of Kelmscott and discover its many associations with Morris, including both his and his ...

Andrew Davies followed his February lecture by leading some 40 members on a tour of the St Pancras and Kings Cross area. We enjoyed perfect weather and Andrew proved an ideal guide, marrying his encyclopaedic knowledge to enthusiasm and humour to keep us fascinated and entertained throughout the day. At St Pancras he showed us how the majesty of the Victorian architecture has been preserved ...

As the numbers the School can accomodate on group visits are limited to 24, six members kindly drove to Hampton Court Palace and gave lifts to the rest of our group. Hence we turned in, rather grandly, through the imposing front gates and, after fortifying ourselves against the February cold at the Tiltyard Cafe, we strolled through the gardens to meet our hosts at the ...

Like so many days this winter the day of our visit dawned cold and dismal but the weather was no deterrent for the 50 of us who boarded the coach for Greenwich. We were rewarded by a thoroughly enjoyable and very informative day. Undoubtedly, the highlight was the wonderful exhibition of Turner's sea paintings, alongside those of some of his major contemporaries. However, led by ...