Wednesday 11^th May 2022 – Chatsworth

Chatsworth, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549. It is a beautiful grade 1 listed English Baroque house in Derbyshire.  The house is set in expansive parkland and contains an important collection of paintings, furniture, old master drawings, neoclassical sculptures, books and other artefacts.

Following our excellent study day on Chatsworth, and by popular demand, we will revisit the house.

After our coach journey, there will be time to wander round the grounds before a special treat of lunch in a private dining room.  Lunch will be a 2 course hot meal with tea or coffee.

In the afternoon we will have a full tour of the house in small groups to learn more about the wonderful treasures to be found there.

Chatsworth has been selected several times as the nation’s favourite Country House.

This event is now sold out.

Click here for Chatsworth House website

Wednesday 19^th May 2021

“Curtain Up! The Story of London’s Theatreland”

We joined actor and London Blue Badge Guide Simon Whitehouse on this virtual tour exploring 350 years of London’s West End Theatre heritage.

From plays and musicals to opera and ballet, we remembered the star studded first nights (and the odd spectacular flop!)

Highlights included:

– The story of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane: the birthplace of West End theatre & the world’s oldest theatre site in continuous use since 1662. 

– The Agatha Christie Memorial and the story behind the longest running play in the world; “The Mousetrap”

– The Actors’ Church where two actresses are laid to rest & where we uncover the somewhat darker origins of Shaw’s “Pygmalion” – and much more….

This virtual tour was streamed online on Wednesday 19^th May 2021 at 11:00am.

This was a replacement for the postponed Dornywood House & Dorney Court visit which has been rearranged for May 2023.

 

Tuesday 11^th August 2020

“The Old East End of London”

In place of our postponed visit to Weston Park in August 2020, we enjoyed an excellent virtual tour by award winning Pepe Martinez, a London Blue Badge Guide and tutor, on one of London’s most fascinating districts.

This told us the story of wave after wave of people coming to London to seek refuge, looking for a better life. Using powerful images, video and google street views we saw the arrival of French Huguenots and the 1680’s through to the more than 10.000 Jewish Kindertransport children who arrived at Liverpool Street station in 1939.