To view reports about some of these visits click here
Visits November 2016 – September 2017
Thursday 17 and Wednesday 23 November 2016 Walking Tour of Oxford College Libraries
with Alastair Lack
We will visit the Fellows’ Library at Jesus College, a glorious galleried room, built in 1676-77, where the librarian will give a short talk. Followed by St Edmund Hall’s Old Library and college chapel where there will also be a short talk. The tour continues to Merton College Library which was established in 1373, and is the oldest academic library in the world still in continual use. The visit ends with tea in the Dining Hall at Christ Church.
Sunday 2nd April to Wednesday 5th April 2017, Liverpool.
The city of Liverpool boasts UNESCO World Heritage status thanks to its impressive waterfront and commercial port. Brimming with iconic sights and world famous arts and culture, it’s no surprise that Liverpool is becoming increasingly popular. Our tour also incorporates the nearby Port Sunlight Village and Lady Lever Art Gallery.
Tuesday 9 May – Walpole’s House at Strawberry Hill
Walpole’s 18th century Gothic castle is regarded as Britain’s finest example of Georgian Gothic revival architecture. His designs for the exterior and the interior of the house were based on the great Gothic cathedrals and abbeys. The house contains a unique collection of renaissance glass which is displayed in the windows.
After extensive renovations, the house was reopened in 2015, with more rooms open to the public, and including the restoration of the magnificent gold and crimson gallery. Travel by coach
Thursday 22 June – Lydiard House, Park and Church
In the morning we will visit historic Lydiard House for a guided tour of the Palladian mansion which was owned by the St John family for over 500 years. The house contains original panelling, fine furnishings and portraits of the family dating back to Elizabethan times and is set in beautiful parkland. The afternoon visit will be to St Mary’s Lydiard Tregoze, one of England’s finest small churches, with 15th century wall paintings, impressive stained glass windows (attributed to Abraham van Linge) and exquisite monuments. Our guided tour will include the beautiful St John Polyptich and the statue of the Golden Cavalier. Travel by coach
Tuesday 4 July – Samuel Palmer and related works in the Ashmolean
Following on from the June lecture there will be a visit to the Print Room to view some of Samuel Palmer’s work at close range, together with related artists, in the company of Cassy O’Brien. This will be a combined visit with a guided tour of the Pre-Raphaelite and 19th century galleries.
Wednesday 20 September – Kingston Bagpuize House
A private visit to Kingston Bagpuize House, a beautiful small manor house dating from the 1660’s and later remodelled. The house boasts a cantilevered staircase, well-proportioned rooms and some good furniture and pictures. We will have a guided tour of the house followed by tea. There will be a chance to walk round the mature parkland and delightful gardens which contain notable collections of unusual trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs.
Travel by own transport. The number 66 bus departs Oxford bus and train stations twice-hourly.
Booking opens early July