Summer Excursions 2009

Thursday 4^th June Compton Verney and Kenilworth Castle

We arrive at Compton Verney at 10.15. There is a short walk to the house across the Adam Bridge. For those unable to face the walk, staff will ferry you to the house. At 10.30 we take coffee (included) and receive a 15 minute introductory talk. We then proceed to the galleries, individually, until 12.00 when we will take lunch. Members are welcome to picnic in the grounds although no covered provision is available. Lunch (not included) is of a very good standard and varies from: Homemade soup followed by various salad sandwiches at £7.50 to Chicken Brest pieces in rich pesto and crème frâiche on rice at £8.95.

We will leave Compton Verney at 13.30 for the ½hr journey to Kenilworth. We arrive at the Castle Gatehouse (The coach will proceed to the parking area) to be met by our guide for a free tour of the castle area but specifically he reconstructed Elizabethan Garden. Following the tour you will be free until we take afternoon tea (included) at 16.00. We reboard the coach at 17.00 for the journey home.

Compton Verney is Warwickshire’s award winning art gallery housed in a grade 1 Robert Adam 1760 mansion. The mansion is surrounded by 120 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown Landscaped parkland with a Robert Adam bridge spanning the narrow part of the lake. The 6 permanent collections on show focus on areas under-represented in other collections. Naples from 1600 to 1800 is that represented by many masterpieces.

Kenilworth Castle has a rich and colourful history spanning 900 years. It is one of the most spectacular Castle ruins in England. English Heritage has recently completed a multi-million pound restoration. The stables now house a new exhibition charting the castle’s tumultuous history. There has been a stunning restoration of Leicester’s Gatehouse built in 1570 by Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, for Queen Elizabeth I. However the most spectacular restoration

Leave Huntingdon 08.45 am, return 6.30pm Cost: £31.60 (English Heritage Members £27.35) Please book by 20^th May.

Saturday 4^th July Emmett’s Garden and Chartwell

Our visit starts at 11.00am with coffee/tea and tour of this highly acclaimed garden. (A ‘buggy’ is available for those who require it as it is a hill garden.) We re-board the coach at 12.15 pm for the 15min trip to Chartwell. On arrival at 12.30 we will be given an introductory talk before taking lunch (not included) in the adjacent restaurant. We will be issued with timed tickets for access to the house. Both House, Studio and Gardens are accessed through a gatehouse which is a 10/15 minute walk from the House. It is suggested that you filter through, pre-lunch, to gain access to the picnic areas or post- lunch if eating in the restaurant. After the visit we will be taking tea, back in the restaurant, at 16.00 where you will be issued with a voucher to the value of £4.50. We will rejoin the coach at 17.00 for the journey home.

Chartwell was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1922 until his death in 1965. Sir Winston modernised the, originally gloomy, Victorian mansion by adding a garden wing consisting of 3 large and attractive rooms. The estate consists of 80 acres of ‘peace and tranquility’ that he loved. His work is evidenced everywhere from the new lakes to the robust brick walls built with is own hands. Approximately 130 of his paintings are exhibited in his Studio which stands in the grounds below the orchard. The house is full of his and his beloved wife Clementine’s memorabilia and one room is taken up wholly by the full dress uniforms he loved to wear.

Leave Huntingdon 09.00 am, return 7.00pm Cost: £38.00 (National Trust Members £23.40) Please book by 19^th June.

Saturday 1^st August Guided tour of Bushmead Priory and Eaton Socon

Our Guide, Sue Jarrett, is the Chairperson of the Eatons Community Association.

Eaton Socon did not become part of St Neots until the 1960s. The Great North Road passed through this one-time Bedfordshire settlement on the west bank of the Great Ouse river. At the end of the 12^th century a group of monks were given land in Bushmead which subsequently became the site of an Augustinian Priory. The Refectory with its fine roof and 14^th century wall paintings, survives in the care of English Heritage. Overlooking the river are the earthwork remains of a castle believed to have been constructed in the 12^th century at the time of the disputes between Stephen and Matilda. St. Mary’s Church, devastated by fire in the 1930s, was skilfully restored by Albert Richardson. Alongside the Church is the 1826 lockup/cage.

Please share cars to assemble at Bushmead Priory at 1.50pm, Cost: 8.00 (English Heritage Members £4.00)

Please book by: 24^th July (Let Les know if you require a lift)

Friday 4^th September Private Tour of Euston Hall

We have obtained permission to enter Euston Hall via the ‘private’ entrance and therefore much closer to the House. We start the tour at 2.30pm. The visit to the House, the Watermill, the Church of St Genevieve and tea will take approximately 3 hours. We will re-board he coach at 5.30pm for the journey home.

Home to the Dukes of Grafton for 300 years, the house contains paintings of the court of Charles II by Van Dyck, Lely and Kneller along with ‘Mares and Foals’ by Stubbs. The House was remodelled by Brettingham of Holkam in the 1750s. In the grounds is the Church, rebuilt in 1676 (after consulting Sir Christopher Wren and thought to contain fine woodwork by Grinling Gibbons), the Watermill redesigned by William Kent to resemble a church, a Temple (not open) – an unusual octagonal folly which was William Kent’s last work and Pleasure Gardens laid out by the diarist John Evelyn.

Leave Huntingdon 1.15pm, return 6.30pm Cost: £24.50

Please book by 21^st August.

EXCURSION BOOKING NOTES

Please book early and make out a separate cheque for each excursion. 

Make cheques payable to ‘Huntingdonshire Local History Society’ and send to:

Les Davidge, 43 Chapel Field, Gamlingay, SANDY, SG19 3QP

Please note especially the ‘Book By’ date, however do telephone Les on

01767 651 478 if you are able to come at the last minute (Outings are seldom over-subscribed)

CANCELLATIONS: If you cancel before the ‘Book By’ date your cheque will not be paid in. If you cancel later you may only receive a refund if the seat is filled.

NON MEMBER GUESTS are welcome. You will receive partial refunds for guest children, in respect of lower entrance fees, on the coach.

The following table shows the times in minutes relative to the time of departure 

      Route for June 4th (via A14W) 

         Dews Garage Somersham                                 35 minutes earlier

St Ives Houghton Road                                    20 minutes earlier
                        
                    Hartford Longstaff Way                                    15 minutes earlier 

Godmanchester Mill Car Park                            10 minutes earlier

Huntingdon Bus Station                                 Departure Time

Huntingdon Train Station                             5 minutes later

Route for July 4th (via A14E/M11) & Sept 4th (A14E/A11)

 St Ives Houghton Road                                   15 minutes earlier

Hartford Longstaff Way                                    8 minutes earlier 

Huntingdon Riverside Car Park                          Departure Time

Godmanchester Mill Car Park                                    5 minutes later

The Society undertakes to make arrangements for the excursions but cannot accept liability for any mishap or loss connected with them. Bookings are only accepted on that understanding.