The 16th- century manor situated on the banks of the river Severn near Tewkesbury is surrounded by extensive private  histofic gardens.  Featuring a 2.5 acre Vicorian walled kitchen ,garden, magnificant herbaceous borders and a topiary dragon they are occasionaly opened to small groups.

We have an invitation for an afternoon tour including tea.  

Tickets price £24 for this event which include refreshments are now on sale at our monthly meetings for memebers and guests.

Rodmarton Manor is a large country house, in Rodmarton, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, built for the Biddulph family. It is a Grade I listed building. It was constructed in the early 20th century in an Arts and Crafts style, to a design by Ernest Barnsley. After Ernest's death in 1925, it was completed by Sidney Barnsley, his brother, and then by Norman Jewson, Ernest's son-in-law. All the construction materials were obtained locally, and hand worked by local craftsmen.

Thursday 17th October 2024 at 1200. The guided tour lasts 80 minutes, first around the exterior, then the interior of the building.

Tickets will be on sale at meetings price £7.

If not attending a meeting and you are interested in this visit, please apply to Clare Church – clarechurch8@gmail.com.  A form will be emailed for completion.

The Abbey has a fine tearoom for refreshments or lunch, plus, Tewkesbury has many lovely cafes and pubs! 

Tewkesbury Abbey was founded in 1102, and until its dissolution in 1539, it was one of the wealthiest monasteries in the region, with aristocratic patrons who wanted to display their wealth and piety by embellishing it with beautiful architecture, stained glass and chantry chapels. After the monastery was closed, it was bought by the town council and since then has been Tewkesbury's parish church. It underwent a major restoration from 1875 to 1901, following plans laid down by George Gilbert Scott, which so incensed William Morris that it led to his formation of the Society to Protect Ancient Buildings! There is also contemporary art to be seen within the church, including two windows by the stained-glass artist Thomas Denny. 

Stained Glass at Tewkesbury Abbey

Tewkesbury Abbey is famous for the medieval stained glass in its seven quire windows. However, it is less well known that the Abbey also possesses a fine collection of Victorian stained glass, as well as some excellent modern examples.

On entering the nave it is difficult to be unimpressed by the scale of the west window, constructed in 1686 to replace one blown in by the wind in 1661. The stained glass, however, was not installed until 1886, commissioned by the Revd C.W. Grove as a memorial to his late wife. The scenes depicted follow the journey of Christ from his birth to his ascension.

Set into the walls of the north and south aisles is a series of Victorian stained glass windows chronicling the life and deeds of Jesus. In one window we see the Feeding of the Five Thousand, in others the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ descent from the cross.

The seven medieval windows in the quire clerestory are among the outstanding survivors of 14th century glass in Europe. Clockwise from the left, they show Robert Fitzroy, Gilbert de Clare, Hugh Despenser II and Robert Fitzhamon; King David and four prophets; King Solomon and four prophets; The Last Judgement; King Rehoboam and four prophets; King Abijah and four prophets; William de la Zouche and three de Clare earls.

The most recent stained glass to be seen consists of two spectacular and very different windows in the chapel of St Catherine and St John the Baptist.  They were created by Tom Denny to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the monks’ arrival at the Abbey, the theme being the Benedictine motto ‘to work is to pray’. These windows were generously funded by the Friends of Tewkesbury Abbey.

The Society's guided visit to Tewkesbury Abbey will now take place in October rather than June, as we have an invitation for then to go behind closed doors at Bromesberrow Place, a classical house in extensive parkland, recently extended, in the foothills of the Malverns, near Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1RZ.

Engraving showing Bromsberrow Place as remodelled in 1768-72

Tickets £23 pp and full details for this afternoon visit were available at our March meeting.  There are 30 places and only a handfull remain available.

There will be refreshments on arrival followed by an introductory talk “The English Country house – Grandeur and Decline” then a tour of the ground floor, main staircase and one bedroom. This is followed by the garden tour which includes the vineyard in the walled garden and the 19th-century camelia house. The garden covers five acres.
Tickets and full details for this afternoon visit will be available at our March meeting.

The house contains Frances, Lady Daresbury’s collection of sporting art. Almost all the contents of the house date from 1770 to 1845. Some influence of the Arts & Crafts movement remains and there are family portraits by the Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais.

Self-drive visit to

The MUSEUM OF ROYAL WORCESTER, 

Severn Street, Worcester, WR1 2ND

 10.30 to 13.30

Discover 250 years of colourful stories through the largest  collection of Worcester porcelain in the world and unique  archive, in the place where it was made.   

*      The visit complements the lecture;

18th Century English Porcelain - Chelsea, Worcester, Bow and Derby, on 12th October 2023

Learn more about the museum by clicking here.

 *      Tea/coffee on arrival

 *      We will be divided into 2 groups       

Group A: 11.00-12.00 – Flower making demonstration.

                 12.30-13.30 – Self guided tour with audio guide

Group B:  11.00-12.00 - Self guided tour with audio guide

                  12.30-13.30 – Flower making demonstration.  (to be seated in the Hall at 12.20)

Tickets on sale: £15.00 pp. at the society meetings on 11 May, 8 June, 13 July, 14 September.

Cash, debit/credit card or bank transfer accepted.

Lloyds TASWG Sort Code 30-93-48.  Account No. 00062323.  Ref: Royal Worcester + your surname

 If not attending these meetings and you are interested in this visit, please apply to Clare Church – by email to clarechurch8@gmail.com.                                    and  booking form will be emailed for completion.

Or by post to Clare Church at 3 Hudson Walk, Newent, GL18 1UG. Tel: 01531 826038

Self drive visit to KELMSCOTT MANOR, Kelmscott, Lechlade GL7 3HJ

On Wednesday 21st June 2023

On the day we will be shown round in small groups by experienced guides while enjoying exclusive access to the Manor and grounds.

2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

2.00 p.m.

• Introductory talk
• House tour
• Followed by tea and buscuits 
• Browse in gift shop

Please note that all 35 places for this visit sold before the end of March and there is now a waiting list for returned tickets.

Cost: £21.50 pp. payable at the society meetings on

9 March, 13 April & 11 May 2023. 

Cash, debit/credit card or Bank Transfer accepted.

Lloyds TASWG Sort Code 30-93-48.  Account No. 00062323. 

Ref: Kelmscott + your surname

Kelmscott Manor is located 3 miles from Lechlade. Signposted from both the A417 and the A4095. Follow the brown heritage signs to the car park.  Free Parking is situated next to St George’s Church in Kelmscott. For Sat Nav, the postcode for the car park is GL7 3HF. what3words location for car park – reforming.cheering.person

There is a short walk from the car park to the Manor (approximately 10 to 12 minutes).

Brown heritage signs will direct you to the manor. Please respect the privacy of our neighbours.  A free shuttle minibus will take visitors who are unable to make the walk to the Manor.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

Experience

• William Morris’s own ceramics, textiles, metalwork and books
• Furnishings from each of Morris’s London homes
• Furnishings chosen by Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti
• Examples of Jane and May Morris’s beautiful and expert needlework
• 17th and 18th century furniture and decorations owned by the Turner family, who built the Manor in around 1600.

Walk

• Stroll around the Manor’s enchanting gardens, a landscape that was a constant source of inspiration for William Morris
• Visit St George’s Church, where a gravestone designed by Philip Webb marks the burial place of William Morris and his family.

Shop

• Located in an historic barn

Centre of Heritage, Art and Industry.

Once a thriving carpet factory, the Stour Vale Mill is now home to the only Museum of Carpet in the country. A centre of heritage, art and industry the Museum of Carpet has four galleries that celebrate the history of carpet design, the evolution of carpet manufacture and the heritage of those who worked in local industry.

Click Here to visit the museum's website for fuller information. 

Tickets price £8.50 will be on sale at our meetings on 14 July and September 8.

The visit will include

• Tea/coffee on arrival
• An introduction to the museum and talk from a retired designer on Design and Pattern
• Demonstrations of the machinery and the processes used to transfer designs into carpet
• A look through designs from the museum’s archive
• An oppurtunity to browse in the shop

     “The jewel in the crown of Herefordshire Homes” 

       COUNTRY HOMES

We will have a guided tour of this beautiful historic house in Much Marcle, Herefordshire, a living monument to much of England’s history. It remains a living home, and not a museum, although it contains a wealth of period furnishings, artifacts, paintings and decorations.

One of the oldest dwellings in England, primarily composed of Tudor, Jacobean, and Georgian architecture, but the foundations date from the 12th century, with some elements older still.

During our visit thre will be time to visit the gardens designed along Tudor and Jacobean lines to reflect the house’s history, and include a yew labyrinth, a rare octagonal dovecote, a physic garden, a knot garden and wonderful views to the Malvern Hills. The grounds cover 150 acres of ancient SSSI woodland and wild flower meadows, with trees ranging from Wellingtonias and Blue Atlas Cedars to many rare varieties of fruit trees. 

Tickets price £15 incuding tea and cake will be on sale at our April meeting.

For over 100 years the Morgan Motor Company have been making exciting sports cars in the beautiful spa town of Malvern. 

Morgan cars are famous the world over for their unique blend of charisma, quality materials, craftsmanship and performance.

Equally at home on the race track or the open road, there is nothing quite like a Morgan. 

Experience the passion for yourself with a factory tour, trip to the on-site museum.

The Pickersleigh Road site from where Morgans have been built since 1914, is itself built into the foothills of the Malverns. The staggered floor layout sends each car down the natural slope of the hill as it passes through each stage of the manufacturing process.

Every Morgan is expertly crafted using three core elements: ash, aluminium and leather. Designed to work in harmony with its construction materials, natural properties are respected to deliver a higher quality of vehicle. By pushing the boundaries of how long-established techniques can be applied, each Morgan car celebrates traditional manufacture while embracing modern design.

Morgan Design and Engineering

Morgan’s in-house Research and Design department develop new vehicles from conception to production. Designed for efficient manufacture, the charms of a hand made car are retained.

Global standards and approval requirements impose great challenges upon the design of new vehicles. Coach-building vehicles is by nature a meticulous and time-consuming practice. Design efficiency is enhanced with industry-standard technology and software. Each new vehicle is exposed to rigorous digital simulation and extensive physical testing. These practices are also applied to the evolution of our existing models.

The engineers and designers at Morgan work closely with our dealers and customers. Close contact with the ‘front line’ allows the development team to receive first hand owner feedback. This inspires relevant and exciting design solutions.

Chassis Shop

Morgan production starts in the chassis shop. Each platform is carefully hand-assembled by our expert technicians.Engine, gearbox and package configurations are defined around a lightweight, high-performance structure. Each rolling chassis then undergoes a rigorous series of electrical, engine and quality tests before the addition of bodywork.

Woodshop

Hand-crafted from lightweight ash wood, the frame acts as the structure from which the exterior aluminium body panels and interior leather work are hung. Traditional techniques passed down through many generations ensure the precision of each tenon joint and laminated curve. The framework is then dipped in preservative to protect it from the elements, ensuring it remains durable for decades to come.

Ash has always been used in Morgan cars: but its continued use is not simply nostalgic. Ash is lightweight and durable, and incredibly flexible to work with. Not only is this use of natural materials of obvious environmental benefit, our preference for softwood also yields effective vibration dampening.

Tin Shop

Working with lightweight aluminium the highly-skilled craftsmen in the tin shop fuse traditional techniques with ultra-modern processes. This achieves the free-flowing panels that adorn the body of each Morgan. Rolled edges and hand-stamped louvres meet superformed wings and laser-cut panels in a charming marriage of craft and technology.

Once complete, the ‘body in white’ is metal-finished and rolled into the paint-preparation shop. Surface specialists then undertake a multistage process to further refine the hand-beaten metal panels. Prepared to immaculate standards we ensure the highest quality of finish.

Paint Shop

The latest methods of automotive painting are used to ensure that the finish of every Morgan car is as stunning as the design itself. A vibrant array of painted wings and body panels adorn the walls of the paint shop, each one selected by a customer from a choice of 40,000. After preparation, each car is hand sprayed in an air tight booth to ensure that paintwork is free of imperfections and consistent throughout each of the panels.

Trim Shop

The cockpit of a Morgan offers a delight for the senses. Each of our cars requires at least four hides of the finest leather to trim, a task that takes our craftsmen over 30 hours to complete. We offer a full spectrum of leather colours and a wide variety of finishing touches. Natural aniline leathers exude the texture and quality needed to align with the highest standards of British craftsmanship.

PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection)

Following a rigorous road testing process each car is brought into the final stage of production – PDI (pre delivery inspection). Nestled within the light booth, a team of experts inspect every panel under natural light evaluation strips. The vehicle goes through a 3 stage polishing process resulting in a flawless finish. Interior is cleaned and all finishings polished to ensure the final product is delivered in immaculate condition.

Corsham is in Wiltshire located 4.5 miles west of Chippenham.

Tickets price £15 per member, which include entrances and guided tours, can be purchased at our forthcoming lectures.

Corsham Court is one of England's finest stately homes. 

Since the existing Elizabethan manor was bought by Paul Methuen in the mid-eighteenth-century Corsham Court was intended to be both a residence and art gallery.

Paul Methuen began transforming the house into a setting for his collection of Italian and Flemish paintings. The interiors were laid out as a suite of magnificent Georgian staterooms and Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown was commissioned to design a picture gallery. The unique triple cube picture gallery would go on to display the famous Methuen/Sanford art collection featuring Old Masters by Van Dyck, Carlo Dolci and Lippi.

The formal gardens feature long herbaceous borders, a lily pond, box hedging, rose garden and stone bath house. There are a number of mature magnolias which provide a spectacle early in the year, when a succession of flowering bulbs carpet the informal glades.

The Almshouse and Schoolroom is a charming and unique site comprising of several buildings dating back to the seventeenth century. The schoolroom is largely unchanged and contains many original features and furnishings.

The Almshouse was founded by Lady Margaret Hungerford, who lived with her husband Sir Edward Hungerford in nearby Corsham House (now known as Corsham Court). Sir Edward commanded Oliver Cromwell's Wiltshire forces during the English Civil War. The Hungerford family Arms still hang above the main entrance to the building, although are somewhat dwarfed by the Halliday Arms belonging to Lady Margaret’s family . Lady Margaret was widowed and childless when she built the Almshouse and Schoolroom in 1668. Ever mindful of Puritan conduct she wrote 45 ordinances for her beneficiaries to live by.

Though steeped in the 17th century the complex is very much alive today. Trustees continue to manage the property whilst volunteer guides welcome visitors from all over the world. Beneficiaries still live in the original six almshouses and a conversion to the stable block has created four further dwellings.

'the most interesting and attractive village in the Vale of Berkeley' Nikolaus Pevsner

Frampton on Severn is a truly historic place and the history of the village, the Estate and the Clifford family have always been closely entwined. The village lies close to the east bank of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds, and is well known for its traditional rural scene and its bustling village life, summer cricket on the Green and Frampton Country Fair in the autumn.The Clifford family have diversified from farming in recent years and now offer a host of wonderful places to stay and visit on the Estate.

Visitors to Frampton Court enjoy the splendour of this stunning Grade 1 listed 18th century house, which has been lived in by the Clifford family since it was built in 1730. Until recently the magnificent Frampton Court was lived in by Rollo Clifford's mother Henriette, and visitors love the homely, 'lived-in' feel of the house and its beautiful interiors.. 

Frampton Court was built between 1730 and 1733 by Richard Clutterbuck, possibly to designs by the Bristol architect John Strahan who was a pupil of Sir John Vanbrugh. Richard, who had made his fortune as Head of the Customs House in Bristol, had inherited Frampton from his father William Clutterbuck who had been given the Estate by his grandfather John Clifford in 1684.

The house displays a magnificent mixture of Baroque and Palladian architectural styles and is built of fine Bath stone. The principal rooms are at first floor level, no doubt testament to Frampton's very high water table as well as the architectural fashion of the time. The interiors are described by Pevsner as, 'lavish... with joinery of the highest quality'. The Hall, Dining Room and Drawing Room are fitted with exquisitely worked oak and pine panelling, and the magnificent oak and holly staircase is accompanied by a very unusual matching dog-gate.

The architectural splendour of Frampton Court is complimented by an outstanding collection of contemporary 18th century furniture and furnishings. The exquisite Frampton Flora watercolours are on display throughout the house. Painted by Clifford aunts and nieces in the mid-19th century, they are a fantastic record of the local flora in and around Frampton, and the artistic talent of the Clifford ladies.

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter: a tour of a preserved factory, a copy of the brand new guidebook and refreshments. 10.30 to 12.30

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is built around a perfectly preserved jewellery workshop offering a unique glimpse of working life in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter.

When the proprietors of the Smith & Pepper jewellery manufacturing firm retired in 1981 they simply ceased trading and locked the door, unaware they would be leaving a time capsule for future generations.

Today the factory is a remarkable museum, which tells the story of the Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham’s renowned jewellery and metalworking heritage

Birmingham Assay Office: See behind the scenes. 2.00 to 4.00

A talk “Boulton would be proud” delivered by Marion Wilson, Academy Director.

 The talk provides an overview of the long history and success of Assay Office Birmingham since it was founded as a result of Matthew Bolton’s efforts in 1773. The talk will take a glimpse back into the early history of the Office, the reasons Boulton fought so hard for it and the factors which have driven its growth and survival over the past 243 years.  

This will be followed by a visit to the Silver Collection with some items from the Library and archives on display.

A guided tour of the Cathedral (1 & quarter hrs)

+

Visit the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library (1hr)