OUTINGS
Outings News
On Thursday 26th August we travelled to Petersfield to visit Uppark House and Gardens (see report and photos below).
On Monday 6th September we had our long awaited visit to Highclere Castle, this was originally planned and booked for September 2020, but as they say better late than never. (Report and photos to follow.)
On Tuesday 5th October, we have our trip to Audley End house and Garden, this is an early 17th century house, and is one of the finest example of a Jacobean house, a palace in all but name with a beautifully designed Capability Brown garden. If you wish to visit this property there are still a few places available an application form is in the August newsletter.
Save the date for our final trip of the year. To kickstart the festive season we will be going to Wisley Glow on Wednesday 1st December. The application form will be in the October newsletter. This is a tour of the garden illuminated by light, fire candles, fountains and a spectacular horticultural display inside the glasshouse. You can celebrate the season in style with a seasonal supper in their Terrace restaurant or enjoy warming meals in the food hall for food on the go. You can find hot drinks and tasty treats to keep you aglow along the trail. The garden centre will be packed full of beautiful decorations and gift ideas for all the family. Don’t miss the festive chalets by the garden entrance for seasonal goods to buy or browse. So let’s get in the festive mood with this spectacular event.
Some of our members have said they do not have a printer to print out the application form for our outings . Please send a short note to the organiser of the event will suffice. Just remember to put your membership number plus where you want to pick the coach up . Also we do not need a SAE if you are happy to receive confirmation of your place by email.
Joan Young
Outings Coordinator
On Thursday 26th August we travelled to Petersfield to visit Uppark House and Gardens (see report and photos below).
On Monday 6th September we had our long awaited visit to Highclere Castle, this was originally planned and booked for September 2020, but as they say better late than never. (Report and photos to follow.)
On Tuesday 5th October, we have our trip to Audley End house and Garden, this is an early 17th century house, and is one of the finest example of a Jacobean house, a palace in all but name with a beautifully designed Capability Brown garden. If you wish to visit this property there are still a few places available an application form is in the August newsletter.
Save the date for our final trip of the year. To kickstart the festive season we will be going to Wisley Glow on Wednesday 1st December. The application form will be in the October newsletter. This is a tour of the garden illuminated by light, fire candles, fountains and a spectacular horticultural display inside the glasshouse. You can celebrate the season in style with a seasonal supper in their Terrace restaurant or enjoy warming meals in the food hall for food on the go. You can find hot drinks and tasty treats to keep you aglow along the trail. The garden centre will be packed full of beautiful decorations and gift ideas for all the family. Don’t miss the festive chalets by the garden entrance for seasonal goods to buy or browse. So let’s get in the festive mood with this spectacular event.
Some of our members have said they do not have a printer to print out the application form for our outings . Please send a short note to the organiser of the event will suffice. Just remember to put your membership number plus where you want to pick the coach up . Also we do not need a SAE if you are happy to receive confirmation of your place by email.
Joan Young
Outings Coordinator
Report on Outing to Uppark House & Gardens
Our August outing was to Uppark House, a 17th century residence donated to the National Trust in 1954, which overlooks the stunning panoramic South Downs. The gardens were designed by Humphrey Repton, the foremost architect and landscape designer of his day. It survived a devastating fire in 1989, resulting in a pioneering conservation project. It was free flow and everyone admired the interior of the house with all its beautiful paintings and exquisite treasures. The Doll’s House especially left people in wonderment. Our members enjoyed the day out in spite being caught up in a 12 mile M25 tailback returning to Tunbridge Wells. Thsnk you to Stella Westrup for organising.
Report on Outing to Anglesey Abbey
On Tuesday 27th July we had our first outing since February 2020 to Anglesey Abbey. The outing was enjoyed by 47 of our members.
The house was last owned by Lord Fairhaven who bequeathed it to the National Trust on his death in 1966. He primarily bought it because it was near Newmarket race course and the queen mother visited and stayed in the house when she went to the race course. The origins of the house date back 900 years and was an infirmary and then a priory but that was dissolved under Henry the eighth’s reign.The ruins remained until early in the seventeenth century when the present house was built .There is an eclectic collection of antiquities dating from the early Tudors to the 1960’s. The gardens were beautiful, consisting of a formal garden, herbaceous garden, a rose garden,an area that had stunning silver birch trees and many more lovely areas of the garden.
The house was last owned by Lord Fairhaven who bequeathed it to the National Trust on his death in 1966. He primarily bought it because it was near Newmarket race course and the queen mother visited and stayed in the house when she went to the race course. The origins of the house date back 900 years and was an infirmary and then a priory but that was dissolved under Henry the eighth’s reign.The ruins remained until early in the seventeenth century when the present house was built .There is an eclectic collection of antiquities dating from the early Tudors to the 1960’s. The gardens were beautiful, consisting of a formal garden, herbaceous garden, a rose garden,an area that had stunning silver birch trees and many more lovely areas of the garden.
Here are some of the outings that we enjoyed before Coronavirus restrictions came into effect:
The Royal splendour of Windsor Castle. All that glittered was gold!
The awe-inspiring Bletchley Park set in acres of garden, renowned for breaking the Enigma Code.
Polesden Lacey was a truly beautiful house set in very pretty gardens. The interiors had been furnished with no expense spared and our Queen and Princess Margaret spent many holidays there as children.
The Spitfire and Hurricane Museum at Manston was a homage to the very young and brave men that flew these planes and lost their lives. A truly inspiring visit, plus we visited Reculver bay where the bouncing bomb was trialled.
