FRIENDS OF LEAMINGTON SPA ART GALLERY & MUSEUM
EXCURSIONS 2025
All excursions leave from Newbold Comyn with a pick up in Newbold Terrace, opposite the Spa Centre, about 5 minutes later. Please bring relevant membership cards as we are required to show them. Without them entrance fees will be charged.
Please familiarise yourself with the Information Sheet on the FLAG website before submitting your booking.
Phone numbers for day of excursion are: Judy 07580388659 Lyn 07795085756
We are only giving details of our day and a brief introduction to the venues as they all have their own websites for you to consult to get more detailed information.
BOUGHTON HOUSE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL – DEPART 8.45am
Travelling straight to Boughton House where there will be coffee/tea and biscuits (included in the price) followed by a tour of several of the rooms on the ground and first floors. We will then have lunch (soup and variety of sandwiches inc. fish & vegetarian, also included in the price). Free time then to have a leisurely wander in the gardens. An afternoon drink/cake will be available to purchase at 3.15pm if required.
Boughton House contains pictures by El Greco, Van Dyck and Gainsborough among many others, as well as Sevres porcelain, Boulle furniture, Mortlake tapestries and 16th century rugs from the Middle East. In 1683 the 1st Duke of Montagu inherited a Tudor house and extended it. His son, the 2nd Duke planted large parts of the garden. The house is now owned by their descendant the Duke of Buccleuch.
Leaving at 4.15 pm. Organiser – Judy Ross 01926 423033
AMERSHAM & CHENIES MANOR, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
TUESDAY 13 MAY – DEPART 8.30 am
Travelling straight to Amersham where there are several pubs and cafes to purchase coffee and lunch, or bring your own picnic. A free morning to discover Amersham which has 150 listed buildings, you may have seen it featured in Midsomer Murders, Poirot or Four Weddings and a Funeral! St Mary's church was built in the 13th Century and extended in the 14th & 15th Centuries. It was restored in the 1890's. There are unusual “body stones” graves in the churchyard. The Amersham Society has a useful old town map on their website at www.amershamsociety.com.
We leave Amersham at 1.45pm to travel to Chenies Manor for a private tour of part of the house. Old Chenies Manor House was built in 1460 by Sir John Cheyne and, for a time, became the seat of the Dukes of Bedford. The house still retains its Tudor architecture. Free time then to walk around the award winning garden and take tea/coffee and cake which is included in the price.
Leaving at 4.15 pm. Organiser – Judy Ross 01926 423033
SHREWSBURY & WOLLERTON OLD HALL GARDEN, SHROPSHIRE
WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE – DEPART 8.30am
Travelling straight to Shrewsbury for the morning to explore the town at your own pace. Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, is in the centre of the town, housed behind a grand Georgian facade and is free to visit. The Visitor Information Centre can be found there. Shrewsbury is home to 660 listed buildings and is most famous for being the birthplace of Charles Darwin. Shrewsbury Cathedral is central and is famous for its stained glass by the acclaimed artist Margaret Rope (1882-1953). There are also other churches within walking distance, Shrewsbury Abbey is a bit further out of the centre. There are plenty of options for purchasing coffee and lunch or bring your own picnic.
We leave Shrewsbury at 1.45pm for the short journey to Wollerton Old Hall Garden. This award winning garden has recently featured on Monty Don's British Gardens and is 'A world class example of an English Garden'. Set in 3 acres surrounding a 16th century Hall, we will have exclusive enjoyment of these gardens for the afternoon with tea/cake included in the price.
Leaving at 5.00pm. Organiser - Lyn Buckle 01926 339499
ARLEY HALL & GARDENS, CHESHIRE
MONDAY 14 JULY – DEPART 8.30am
We shall have a comfort break en route and arrive, hopefully, between 11.00 – 11.30am. Arley Hall is a Grade II* listed building with adjacent chapel. We are visiting on one of the few days a month the Hall is open, guided tours are not available, visitors self guide round the two floors of the hall, knowledgeable volunteers are available for information. The gardens are amongst the finest in Europe, having been created over the last 270 years by successive generations of the same family. There are 8 acres of formal gardens and 7 acres of Woodland Garden. The Double Herbaceous Border is the best-known feature of the gardens and is thought to be the first planted in England. Lunch can be purchased at The Gardener's Kitchen Cafe or there are picnic benches in the Play Zone.
Leaving at 5.00pm Organiser – Lyn Buckle 01926 339499
ROYAL HOLLOWAY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON EGHAM, SURREY
THURSDAY 7 AUGUST – DEPART 8.00 am
An early start for this excursion but we will have a coffee stop at Oxford Services for about 30 minutes then straight on to Royal Holloway College. This is a private tour starting at 11.00am with a tour of the Founders Building, including the quads, the Chapel, Lecture Theatre, Reading Room and other rooms subject to availability. At 12.30pm we will have lunch (a variety of sandwiches including meat, fish & vegetarian, fruit platter and tea/coffee/mineral water) which will be served in the Picture Gallery followed by a talk about the pictures at 1.15pm. There will then be free time to look at the paintings. Tea/coffee and cake will be served again in the Picture Gallery at 3.00pm. Lunch and tea are both included in the price.
Thomas and Jane Holloway were a wealthy couple who decided to put their money into building a college for women's education. Sadly, neither lived to see the opening of the building in 1886 by Queen Victoria. Thomas went on a spending spree for the University and bought paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and watercolours including works by William Powell Frith, John Everett Millais and Edward Burne-Jones. Recent additions to the collection include works by Augustus John and Graham Sutherland.
Leaving at 3.45pm Organiser – Judy Ross 01926 423033
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