Wednesday 12^th May 2021

Dorneywood House and Dorney Court

Dorneywood House is an 18th century house in Buckinghamshire traditionally used as the grace and favour house of the chancellor of the exchequer.

Originally a Georgian farmhouse, it has Victorian and later additions, and following a fire in 1910, was remodelled in 1919 by Sir Robert Lorimer.  It was given to the National Trust by Lord Courtauld-Thomson in 1947 as a country home for a senior member of the Government.

Dorneywood House will be opened specially for us in the morning.  After our journey the day will begin with a refreshing coffee.  Then half our group will view Dorneywood House and learn about the fascinating history of the house and its occupants while the other half view the gardens, then the reverse.

 We will then enjoy a private finger lunch at Dorneywood. 

Close by is Dorney Court, a grade 1 listed Tudor Manor house, dating from around 1440. It is one of England’s loveliest houses renowned for its architectural importance and historical significance.  It has been in the Palmer family for nearly half a millennium.

In the afternoon we have guided tours of Dorney Court in three groups with time, if you wish, to go to the garden centre where you may purchase tea before our journey home.

Tickets will be on sale at our March 2021 meetings.

Wednesday 11^th August 2021

Sezincote and Batsford Arboretum

Sezincote is a family run estate in the Cotswolds. It is a 200-year-old home in the style of a Mogul Indian Palace. The mixture of Hindu and Muslin detail makes it a unique example of the architecture of Akbur. It is thought that Sezincote is the only Mogul building surviving in Western Europe. The interior is purely classical Greek revival.

The gardens are originally attributed to Thomas Dancell and are a beautiful mixture of mighty oaks, flower beds, water and statues.  A later addition of the orangery unfurls above a Repton landscape that has remained unchanged since the mid 19th century.

Our afternoon visit is to Batsford Arboretum and wild garden.  This is home to a unique collection of some of the world’s most beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos. It was created in the late 1800’s by Lord Redesdale, grandfather to the infamous Mitford sisters, and is heavily influenced by the far East.

Our day will begin with coffee at a charming café before a tour in two groups round Sezincote Palace and garden.

We will then have lunch in a country inn, The Horse and Groom. The visit will end with a free flow tour of the Arboretum with time for a look round the garden centre and a chance to buy your own refreshments before the journey home.

Tickets will be on sale at our June 2021 meetings.

More information:
Sezincote website
Batsford Arboretum website

Wednesday 20^th May 2020 – Chatsworth

Unfortunately, this day visit has been cancelled due to the coronavirus situation. We have rearranged for Wednesday 11th May 2022.

More details nearer the time.

Image – Chatsworth © By Tookapic, Used under Licence: Pexels

Wednesday 19^th August 2020 – Weston Park

Unfortunately, this day visit has been cancelled due to the coronavirus situation. We have rearranged for Wednesday 17th August 2022.

More details of our visit nearer the time.

Weston Park is a country house in Staffordshire, set in more than 1,000 acres of park landscaped by Capability Brown. The 17th-century Hall is a Grade I listed building and several other features of the estate, such as the Orangery and the Stable block, are separately listed as Grade II.

Weston Park House and the surrounding parkland were given to the nation in 1986 by the 7th Earl of Bradford, with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund. It is now in the care of the Trustees of the Weston Park Foundation. The house retains its art collection with over 30,000 objects.

Click here for Weston Park website