Reports on Visits 2011 Thursday 21st April 2011 Windsor and Savill Gardens
Thursday 19th May 2011 Tunbridge Wells and Titsey Place and Gardens Wednesday 22nd June 2011 Wisbech and Peckover House and Gardens Thursday 21st July 2011 Banbury and Sulgrave Manor Wednesday 17th August 2011 Stamford and Grimsthorpe Castle Wednesday 14th September 2011 Marlborough and Bowood House and Gardens Thursday 6th October 2011 Marlow and Basildon Park |
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With only a few days to The Royal Wedding we wondered, as we left Upminster, how Windsor would look. We pulled up into a crowded coach park with many tourists following their tour guides’ coloured umbrellas. We all dispersed to coffee houses for a welcome drink. Windsor was decked out with red, white and blue bunting strung across the roads and every shop window seemed to have a display of souvenirs for sale. The Queen had returned to Windsor from Westminster Abbey having attended the Maundy Thursday service. The streets were very crowded so we decided to find a bench along the riverside and eat our lunch. It was soon time to return to the coach for our afternoon visit to Savill Gardens. The entrance building looked very imposing and here we found cafes, gift shop, gardening centre and of course toilets. With the warm spring we were having the plants had started flowering earlier than usual. The garden had been planned with seasonal areas reached by winding pathways. We found some interesting plants and trees during our walk and visited the greenhouse with a high walkway on one side. At 4pm it was time for tea and cake and a look around the gift shop and plants. We boarded the coach for a clear run home having had a very enjoyable day out. |
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The day was warm and sunny for our May visit and the swift journey to Royal Tunbridge Wells had us sipping coffee in the Pantiles by 10.15am. Royal Tunbridge Wells is an attractive town and our three hour stay gave us plenty of time to wander and admire the Georgian architecture, window shop in the Pantiles and the High Street and for some, venture into the greener areas of the town. John and I spent some time in the Church of King Charles the Martyr which started as a chapel in 1676. Today, after many alterations and additions it has many admirable features one of which is a beautiful baroque plaster ceiling. Princess Victoria attended morning service in 1835 and a brass plaque commemorates her visits. After lunch, we arrived at Titsey Place around 2.00pm and had another three hours in which to enjoy the house (dating from 1775) and the gardens. We were warmly welcomed and divided into three groups for a guided tour of the house. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and took us expertly through the several rooms giving us a history of the two families, the Greshams and the Leveson Gowers, which had owned the property. The outside of the house, clad in Roman cement, is rather dull but this belies an attractive interior. I particularly liked the Drawing Room, the New Dining Room and the Gold Bedroom, with their delicate pastel colours which were complemented by the furniture and furnishings. There were many family portraits on the walls and other treasures included four Venetian scenes painted by Canaletto. There was not enough time to do
justice to the garden with its magnificent trees, sweeping herbaceous border,
formal beds with a Box link border, rose gardens, lakes and fountains, all
surrounded by wonderful views. We had
to make time for a delicious cream tea and as we made our way to the tearoom we
passed through the walled garden which was thriving with all manor of fruit and
vegetables. It looked spectacular. All in all, an excellent day. |
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Wednesday 22nd June 2011 Wisbech and Peckover House and Gardens
‘The English Garden’ dismisses any garden of only 4 acres as ‘small’. By this token, the gardens of Peckover House at 2 acres are miniscule. But it would be difficult to find a more floriferous garden, packed with blooms, flowering shrubs, fruit trees, specimen trees, garden features and an orangery. The early dahlias particularly attracted our attention. Have you noticed how the weather forecasters increasingly promise random showers? That way they cannot be wrong. The dull day gave way to drizzle as we approached Wisbeach. We dived into the Reed (reed-thatched) Barn for an early lunch. Then a leisurely sunny walk around the garden before a heavy downpour drove us into the house. A Quaker business family, the Peckovers, owned it for 150 years and it is full of their memorabilia. They were accomplished watercolour artists, and travelled widely, recording their visits in numerous sketches. A pianist in the library added a touch of elegance whilst we perused the family photo albums and more. Downstairs the kitchens with copies of Mrs Beaton’s book and the butler’s pantry gave an air of the reality of living a more than a century ago. In one room was a model railway/tramway of the old line from Upwell to Wisbeach along the route we had travelled into Wisbeach, manned by a veritable enthusiast. There were two cabinets of curiosities, but really the whole house was a cabinet of treasures and curiosities. We walked along by the side of the Nene to Elgood’s Brewery. Stretching out behind their high-class pub are the brewery gardens of a different style – a Japanese garden, formal gardens, a lake, a wonderful maze and some huge ancient trees also collected by the Peckovers. Then we hurried back into the town to see, but not to do justice to, the Georgian crescent, the parish church and its gardens, the market place, missing the Museum and the Horse Fair, before catching the coach for the journey home. After the mid-day shower the weather had been kind, and despite the long day, it really was a worthwhile visit, with insufficient time to see all. Truth to tell, the menacing slab grey clouds which greeted the assembled members as the Swallow coaches pulled up spot on time and the well oiled routine started, did not look very promising on this, our second outing with the Society. As A127 changed to M25 and Essex gave way to Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire the occasional splattering of rain on the windscreens finally, not far short of Banbury, gave way to glimpses of blue sky and even sunshine. At Banbury where we arrived just after 11.30 a two-hour stay gave the group an opportunity to stretch legs and look around the market town. There appeared to be little interest in searching for the fine lady on her white horse and it was clear that the town had been visited on a previous outing. We enjoyed a look around the market and briefly strayed into the regulation covered shopping area before lunching. The streets were lined with magnificent hanging baskets. At 1.30 the short journey from Banbury to Sulgrave Manor through steadily narrowing roads was pleasant and the weather remained warm and dry. The existence of Sulgrave Manor as a visiting attraction stems from a movement in 1914 to celebrate the centenary of the Treaty of Ghent on Christmas Eve of 1814 which brought to an end the last war in which England and the USA were opposed. Chiefly, we were squabbling over Canada and the war was generally supposed to have ended in a nil-nil draw. Although comparatively small, the Manor and its history, dating from its building by an ancestor of George Washington in the 16th Century, followed by decline and rearrangement in the 18* Century are interesting and this was admirably described by our enthusiastic, entertaining and amusing guide on the visit, Jenny Overson. Of equal! interest were the garden and grounds of the Manor and the extensive array of herbs. Finally we must acknowledge that the cakes produced for our delight were even finer than those boasted about by Mr. Kipling. We also enjoyed very much the aerobatic display specially put on by the swallows over the mole-bill free lawn. On the road home from what had been a most enjoyable day the coaches were filled with the scent of a whole variety of flowers and herbs, which we hope are now flourishing in their new Upminster homes. The journey home for those of us on the No. 1 coach was enlivened by the cunning plan to avoid M25 blockages and made a pleasant change from motorway driving. Wednesday 17th August
2011 Stamford and Grimsthorpe Castle
We are usually lucky with the weather for our excursions. A few days wild and windy weather preceded the September trip but the 14th dawned bright and sunny. This was to be one of the longer journeys of the season so it was nearly noon before we arrived at our first stop. Marlborough is a pleasant town where the wide High Street is lined with many fine buildings, interesting shops and a variety of places to eat. At one end stands the Town Hall, designed in 1882 but not built until 1900-02, with the parish church of St Mary the Virgin behind. At the other end is St. Peter’s which has been redundant since 1974. It is now run by a trust, used for various activities and contains craft shops and a café. This is where I had lunch and it seemed a little strange to be eating in what still looked very much like a church even though the pews had been removed. The town was very busy as it was market day. I just had time for a quick look at the stalls before making my way to the coach park. Another half hour brought us to Bowood, the very grand home of the Lansdowne family. The house was entered through the Orangery which contained an exhibition entitled “Bowood Through the Artist’s Eye”. There were several other rooms to visit on the ground floor to view the paintings, statues, furniture and so on. Upstairs were exhibition rooms filled with yet more family treasures associated with such people as Queen Victoria, Byron and Napoleon. Outside were the terraces, my favourite part of Bowood, with fine views and on either side of the steps a magnificent statue of stag. The grounds are extensive and there was no time to explore them properly but many of us managed a walk round the lake to view the cascade and the caves. I also walked briefly in the woods where the trees were mostly green but some were showing the first signs of the autumn glory to come. This worked up an appetite for the two-scone cream tea which I managed to consume before boarding the coach for the long but trouble free journey home. |
Wednesday 14th September
2011 Marlborough
and Bowood House and Gardens
We are usually lucky with the weather for our excursions. A few days wild and windy weather preceded the September trip but the 14th dawned bright and sunny. This was to be one of the longer journeys of the season so it was nearly noon before we arrived at our first stop. Marlborough is a pleasant town where the wide High Street is lined with many fine buildings, interesting shops and a variety of places to eat. At one end stands the Town Hall, designed in 1882 but not built until 1900-02, with the parish church of St Mary the Virgin behind. At the other end is St. Peter’s which has been redundant since 1974. It is now run by a trust, used for various activities and contains craft shops and a café. This is where I had lunch and it seemed a little strange to be eating in what still looked very much like a church even though the pews had been removed. The town was very busy as it was market day. I just had time for a quick look at the stalls before making my way to the coach park. Another half hour brought us to Bowood, the very grand home of the Lansdowne family. The house was entered through the Orangery which contained an exhibition entitled “Bowood Through the Artist’s Eye”. There were several other rooms to visit on the ground floor to view the paintings, statues, furniture and so on. Upstairs were exhibition rooms filled with yet more family treasures associated with such people as Queen Victoria, Byron and Napoleon. Outside were the terraces, my favourite part of Bowood, with fine views and on either side of the steps a magnificent statue of stag. The grounds are extensive and there was no time to explore them properly but many of us managed a walk round the lake to view the cascade and the caves. I also walked briefly in the woods where the trees were mostly green but some were showing the first signs of the autumn glory to come. This worked up an appetite for the two-scone cream tea which I managed to consume before boarding the coach for the long but trouble free journey home. |
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An earlier forecast of heavy rain and strong winds was confounded by the sun and blue sky that greeted us on our departure from Corbets Tey. Smooth pick ups followed and the two gleaming coaches were soon heading towards the West along the much improved M25. The Georgian town of Marlow was soon coming into view with its many interesting and individual shops and eating establishments. Resisting the temptation we made our way through to the river footpath where the Marlow Lock and the River Thames meet with the roar of the weir in the background. Such a glorious view of the river, shaded blue, revealed itself with the majestic tower of All Saints Church in the background. A more than satisfactory lunch followed and in due time we boarded the coach for the journey to Basildon Park passing through some beautiful beech-wood countryside with red kites circling above. This was truly England at it’s best. Arriving at Basildon Park with its very impressive Palladian frontage one wondered what delights awaited us inside. We were not disappointed. The magnificent neo-classical plasterwork on the ceilings and walls were outstanding, painted in hues of pink, green and lilac together with 18th century carved mahogany doors. It was a pleasure to view a house so well preserved and renovated and the Dining Room and the red velvet clad Octagonal Drawing Room were both outstanding. Decorated from floor to ceiling entirely with sea and land shells, the Shell Room was a sight to behold and there was a step back in time with the recreated 1950’s kitchen which stirred a few memories. After an exhausted tour of the house we moved on to the tea room to sample a fine selection of cakes and cream teas. Time did not allow us to see but a small part of the extensive grounds but the view from the East Front showed wonderfully mature trees stretching down to the Thames and continuing onto the distant hills. It was a fitting end to the 2011 coach outing season and our thanks are to Maggie and Les for planning and arranging these splendid trips.
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