Category: National Trust

Visit to the Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire on Wednesday 23rd September

It was the usual 8.30 am departure time from Hucknall Market place for one of the shorter journeys of the year to the Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire. Driven by one of Vallances newly recruited drivers, Steve, we were safely at the destination by 10.00 am. However, as we were ready to leave the coach we were met by the sound of the fire alarm going off in one of the main buildings which delayed us very briefly and was certainly a new experience for the group!!

The Estate is vast and with the weather turning increasingly sunny we began our day. Once described as “A Staffordshire paradise, a rich blend of landscape monuments and architecture” Shugborough is indeed a very impressive estate. The House is a Georgian mansion of global treasures, complete with servant’s quarters and the apartments of Patrick Lichfield the fifth Earl and fashion photographer. The gardens and pleasure grounds feature a walled garden, arboretum and terraces all along side Europe’s widest yew tree. The Park Farm is home to to a tea room and a working model farm with Longhorn cattle and Southdown sheep. Added to the beautiful walks, gift and book shops and Mansion restaurant there was much to explore over the day.

Departing promptly at 4.00 pm we were back in Hucknall for 6.00 pm after a very enjoyable day out.

October takes us to Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire.                                                                 

Sue and Barrie                                                             

Visit to Chirk Castle on Tuesday 25th August

One of the longest journeys in this year’s programme took the group to the stunning Chirk Castle across in Wales. Arriving safely after a two and a half hour journey, our driver dropped us off at the entrance to the castle to avoid the need to make the long and uphill journey from the coach park.

Even before arriving we were treated to a beautiful view of the castle with a narrow boat crossing an aqueduct which runs near to the castle. As families made the most of the castle during the summer holidays there was a very busy feel to the day. The tours of the castle began at midday so many members chose to start the day by  viewing the extensive and beautifully kept gardens or walk around the extensive estate.

Inside, the castle demonstrated over 700 years of history. The castle is the last one covering this period still lived in today. Lavish tapestries, paintings and furniture are found throughout the castle. The many rooms include a long gallery, kitchens, dining and drawing rooms and a grand staircase, a truly splendid building. A large café, gift shop, book shop and plant shop were also to be found on site.

With the weather being kind to us we all enjoyed a great day in a truly lovely setting. The return journey saw us back in Hucknall for 7.00 pm.

September sees us visit the Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire before our final visit of the year to Fountain’s Abbey in October.                                                                               

Barrie

Visit to Dudmaston Estate on Monday 20th July.

After having to postpone last month’s visit to Ickworth because of the extreme weather it was lovely to set off to visit Dudmaston in near perfect weather. After a smooth two hour journey we  arrived safely at the venue. Membership cards were checked and a short talk on the bus by NT staff then saw us going on to the estate grounds to begin our day.

The venue had a lovely cafe area which included plenty of seating in  an adjacent apple orchard. The school holidays had begun in the West Midlands and it meant that a larger number of families were visiting than would normally be the case.

The House was unusual in that the present owners still occupy parts of it today, while the exhibitions included a large display of modern artwork. Outside the gardens were quite spectacular and the walk around the lake area proved to be very popular. Unusually, there was no gift shop on the estate, it had closed during Covid times and never been reopened.

Members agreed that it was one of the best sites that we had ever visited. 

The sun was still shining as we returned to the coach for our journey back to Hucknall to end a very enjoyable day.

Our August visit takes us across to Chirk Castle on one of our longer journeys for this year.

Barrie                                                        

Visit to The Croome Estate on Wednesday 27th May

After the hottest recorded May day ever  the group travelled to the Croome Estate in Worcestershire for our first ever visit to the venue. Arriving at around 10.30 in bright sunshine we were soon enjoying the beautiful estate.

The heart of the Estate is the House which was the brainchild of the 6th Earl of Coventry, an 18th century trendsetter who worked closely with the best talent of the time, Robert Adam and Lancelot (Capability) Brown to plan the House and Estate.

The House is not a typical National Trust property, with eighty percent of the  collections missing and replaced by temporary exhibitions.

The Estate, with its specular views of the Malvern Hills, was only acquired by the National Trust in 1996, a move that saved it from being totally lost to visitors. On the Estate lies a serpentine river, a tree lined lake, and elegant garden buildings, a perfect place to spend a summers day.

As you walk one of the four marked walks you can view kestrels, herons, swans and Canada geese.

In previous times the Estate has housed a Catholic School and during the Second World War a secret RAF camp employing over two thousand staff.

All this with a large cafe, walled gardens, a shuttle coach around the Estate and plant and book shop meant that there was plenty to occupy the group.

Leaving promptly at 4.00 pm we were safely back in Hucknall just after 6.30 pm.

Next month we travel to Ickworth Estate in Suffolk.

Barrie and Sue

National Trust Group visit to Upton House near Banbury on Tuesday 21st April.  

On a sunny if slightly chilly morning, the group left Hucknall Market Place for our journey down to Upton House.

Arriving just after 10.30 we had a brief talk given by the volunteers at Upton before collecting our timed entry tickets to the House.

The House was used as a country retreat for Viscount Bearsted’s family in the 1930’s before being gifted to the National Trust some years later. The House is now home to some of the best collections of paintings and porcelain in Britain with a total of over three thousand items on display.

The terraced gardens on the Estate were very colourful and proved very popular.

A number of lovely walks were available in the grounds along with a large restaurant, gift shop and second hand book shop and plant shop.

All in all a lovely venue.

In May we visit Croome on our third visit of the year.

Barrie