7th August 2024 – Rodmarton Manor and Corinium Museum

Rodmarton Manor
Rodmarton manor was built using local materials and local
craftsmen, between 1909-1929 by Ernest Barnsley. Barnsley was a
follower of William Morris, who was at the time one of the leaders of
the English Arts and Crafts movement.

At the time it was felt that furniture was being mass produced and
poorly made, and the house went on to be described by the designer
Charles Ashbee as the single best example of the Arts and Crafts
movement. Today, it remains as such, full of beautifully crafted
furniture and hanging tapestries. The gardens consist of a glorious
plot of 8 acre Cotswold garden, beautifully and lovingly tended.

Corinium Museum
The Corinium Museum in Cirencester, houses one of the largest
concentrations of Roman mosaics in the country outside of London.
Its highly significant finds and antiquities result from Corinium
Dobunnorum being the capital of Britannia Prima.

May 15th 2024 – Grimsthorpe Castle, Gardens and Park Tour. The castle was open especially for our visit.

Patricia Weinbren and Lynne Henderson escorted 49 members of our Arts Society to Grimsthorpe Castle and Park. We travelled by coach provided by Catteralls coach company from Royal Leaminton Spa, the journey took  just over an hour and half. On arrival we were greeted with light refreshments in the barn after which we walked (buggies were provided if needed) to the Castle and divided into 3 groups, each group was given a guided tour of the house which was beautiful and well worth the visit. The tour took approx. one hour. The castle has been owned for 500 years by successive generations of the same family united under one ancient title, The Barony of Willoughby de Eresby.

Following the tour we had a ‘tea lunch’ of sandwiches, scones, cream/cake. The newly opened gift shop was available for us to browse in. After lunch there was a guided coach trip round the extensive park land. The members commented on how lovely the house and grounds were and there was great interest in the fact that we were ‘ahead of the game’ by visiting before the new series of ‘Bridgerton’, (which was filmed at Grimsthorpe) was released by Netflix since once that had been launched the castle was expecting many more visitors.  

Wednesday 9th August 2023

Sezincote and Batsford Arboretum

Sezincote is a family run estate, covering over 4,500 acres of rolling countryside and featuring waterfalls and canals. At the heart of the estate stands a 200 year old Mogal style house complete with temples and grottoes and a beautiful orangery.

Following our trip and refreshing morning coffee, we were treated to tours of the house. Lunch was taken nearby at a local establishment in a countryside setting, before we departed for Batsford Arboretum.  Created in the late 1800s by Lord Redesdale and now run by the Batsford Foundation, the Arboretum is heavily influenced by the Far East. It houses a unique collection of beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos.

We had free flow of both the garden, garden centre and garden terrace cafe before departing for home.

The weather was very kind and an enjoyable day was had by all.