Wednesday 9 September 2015
Badminton House
Guided tour of the private home of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, followed by a visit to Worcester Lodge which is on the Badmington Estate.
Wednesday 14 October 2015
The Eton Collection
We looked round the school and also saw some of its magnificent art collection. In the morning: College Chapel (wall paintings, Piper and Hone windows, 15th century Pieta, Watts Sir Galahad), Lower School and School Yard. In the afternoon: Election Hall (Fialetti, Library glass) and Election Chamber (Leavers’ Portraits and a selection of watercolours).
Tuesday 12 November 2015
College of Arms
An evening visit to the College of Arms which creates and maintains the registers of Coats of Arms, pedigrees, genealogies, Royal Licences, changes of name and flags.
Thursday 14 January 2016
Foundling Museum and Dickens House
A day in London WC1. Morning at the Foundling Museum, Brunswick Square and afternoon at Charles Dickens House, Doughty Street.
Friday 5 February 2016
The Waddesdon Bequest at the British Museum
The bequest consists of medieval and Renaissance pieces and some 19th century fakes! Together they paint a fascinating picture of the development of the art market in the late 19th century.
Tuesday 8 March 2016
Jewish London walk
Blue Badge Guide, Mark King, revealed the stories behind Jewish East London.
Thursday 7 April 2016
Westminster School and Westminster Abbey Library
The tour of the School, founded in the early 14th century, included the key historic buildings: Ashburnham House, School and Busby Library. The tour of the Library showed us some of the 14,000 pre-1801 printed books and some of their 60 mainly medieval manuscripts.
Thursday 26 May 2016
Shaw’s House and St Paul’s Walden
Shaw’s Corner, home of George Bernard Shaw for 40 years and St Paul’s Walden Bury, home of Bowes Lyon Family and the Queen Mother, with Grade 1 listed landscape garden.
Thursday 16 June 2016
Chevening House Garden and Tudeley Church
Chevening House Garden was opened to the public in 2016 and we were the very first group ever to visit it. Chevening House is the country home of the Foreign Secretary. We also visited Tudeley Church to see the 12 famous stained glass windows designed by Chagall.
Tuesday 23 August 2016
Frogmore House and Savill Garden, both in Windsor Great Park
Built in the 17th century, Frogmore House became a royal property when it was purchased for George III’s wife, Queen Charlotte, in 1792. It is no longer occupied but it is frequently used by the Royal Family for private entertaining. Savill Garden was created by Sir Eric Savill in the 1930s and is managed by the Crown Estate. The garden includes woodland, ornamental areas and a pond. Attractions include the New Zealand Garden, the Queen Elizabeth Temperate House and trees planted by members of the Royal Family.