Summer Social on Wednesday 8th July

Open to Family and Friends as well!

A talk in the morning by the Chiltern Ssociety at Ewelme's Cress beds

then perhaps lunch at the local pub ?

Followed by an Afternoon talk in Ewelme Church and a tour of the Alms Houses

with Tea and homemade cakes

From £20 per person for a Grand Day Out!

The Details

When: Wednesday 8th July 2026 10.00am – 4.30pm approx.

Where: Ewelme Cress Beds (morning) with tour and film, and Church (afternoon) tour and talk included.

Cost: £20pp  for TASHW members and £25pp for friends & family

Refreshments in morning, and tea/coffee and cake in the afternoon!

Places: 40 places, first come first served

Transport: self-drive, so please car share

Lunch option: The Shepherd’s Hut in Ewelme – needs booking by individuals Tel: 01494 836636

www.shepherdhutewelme.co.uk

To reserve your place: Please first email Michèle & Lucy on tashwvisits@gmail.com letting us know how many people you want to book for and if you are all members of TASHW or not. Your place will be confirmed after payment is made. 

To book - please contact us via tashwvisits@gmail.com 

The Arts Society High Wycombe

Group visit to Petworth House, 22nd April 2026

 Inspired by the Baroque palaces of Europe, the 17th century Petworth House displays one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust. State rooms in the house display a vast collection of paintings and sculpture, including artwork by Van Dyck, Turner, Reynolds and Gainsborough.

A coach will take us from Handy Cross at 9.30am to Petworth and return in the afternoon at 4.00pm.

The group will be 30-35 people maximum. (The Arts Society High Wycombe) TASHW members and guests can book on together.

Petworth House charge people who are not National Trust members £19.50 for entry.

Costs are as follows covering entry to the House, cost of travelling in the coach, and joining a group with a guide:

1.    TASHW and National Trust (NT) member: £35

2.    TASHW and NOT NT member: £54.50 (includes £19.50 NT entry)

3.    Not TASHW member but NT member: £45

4.    Not TASHW member, and not NT member: £64.50 (includes £19.50 NT entry)

If 30-35 people come, we will have two groups for the tours, each with their own guide.

 To express interest joining this visit:

Please email Michèle and Lucy on tashwvisits@gmail.com and state if you and any guests joining you are TASHW members or not, and if you/they are NT members or not. Once total to pay is agreed with Michèle and Lucy, please email again to confirm payment has been made to our account.

Visit to a special Christmas choral concert at Cadogan Hall, London, with return coach travel from High Wycombe.

Date: Wednesday 17th December 7.30pm.

Experience the magic of Christmas with one of the world’s finest choral ensembles. From medieval melodies to modern compositions, this musical journey celebrates the heart of Christmas – a humble birth surrounded by heavenly song. We will hear some traditional carols, some late Renaissance music such as Palestrina, and some modern for instance by Bob Chilcott and Lucy Walker.

We have 30 tickets available, and coach travel has been arranged to take us from Handy Cross High Wycombe and return. The whole cost of concert ticket and coach travel for each member is £55, and we are opening this to members and guests (£65 for guests). It will be booked on a first come, first served for availability.

Most of the seats we’ve been able to purchase are situated in pairs and different places around the hall, so we will allocate as people book. Please therefore let us know if you want to sit with someone else. We will do our best to meet seating requests.

Summary of details:

·      Date: Wed. 17th Dec. 7.30pm concert Cadogan Hall, The Sixteen

·      Cost: £55 per member to include ticket price and coach return to Handy Cross

·      Cost: £65 per guest to include ticket price and coach return to Handy Cross

·      Open to members and guests

·      30 tickets available, first come first served

·      To book: Please email tashwvisits@gmail.com stating number of tickets required and who you are booking for. Please pay our usual bank account promptly to secure your ticket(s) and place(s), and use your surname and XMAS as reference. Bank account: The Arts Society High Wycombe, sort code 30-94-28, Account number: 51819468.

·      You can also book a place by signing up at the next lecture. Find Michèle near the signing in desk.

·      Angel Executive Coach will take us from Handy Cross, Park and Ride at 3.30pm on 17th. Expected arrival time at Cadogan Hall is by 5.30pm to allow time for pre-concert meals and drinks. Expected departure time back to Handy Cross is approximately 10.15-10.30pm after the concert finishes.

·      Ticket seat numbers will be shared once booking is paid for and confirmed. Please email with any request to sit with someone else.

Would you like a Pre-Concert Meal?

A few suggested places to eat near Cadogan Hall offering pre-concert menus include the following:

Hans’ Bar & Grill:http://www.11cadogangardens.com/dining/hans-bar-grill/ Full à la carte available or set menus (2 courses £26, 3 courses £31).

Côte Brasserie: https://www.cote.co.uk/restaurant/sloane-square/ Simple freshly prepared French food.

Kahani: https://www.kahanilondon.com/ Delicious Indian food.

Alternatives are also available.

Booking is strongly recommended, and it is suggested when booking you state that this is pre-concert to ensure timely service.

Please make your own arrangements direct with the restaurant or bar.

Any questions please email us on tashwvisits@gmail.com

Michèle (07724 145887) and Lucy

Garsington Opera Priority Booking

Advance group booking for next seasons Garsington Opera is now open.

The brochure can be found online https://garsingtonopera.org/tour-group-brochure and all bookings MUST BE MADE via Jo Dudley jodudley54@gmail.com who will be happy to try and answer any questions you may have.

The sooner you book the better chance you have of getting your chosen seats and dining options.

This offer is not confined to Art Society members so feel free to bring family and friends.

The Visits Team have organised a guided tour of The Vyne, the National Trust property near Basingstoke.

This will be a self-drive trip, though car sharing can be arranged for those that wish.

We will be in groups of 15 to have a guided tour of this Tudor house , starting at 10.15am. 

The Visit is open to both Members and Guests.

We will handling the entrance fee ( £16.50) for non-National Trust members also. 

Members and NT Member £13.50  ( Member but non-NT £30)

Guests and NT Member £23.50 (Guest but non NT £40)

Booking is now open.

Please follow this link to the Vyne Booking Form

Please complete this form and return to tashwvsists@gmail.com or just email the Visits Team with your request and they will complete the form for you.

Closing date is 31st August 2025

SUMMER SOCIAL – GARDEN VISIT  - Wednesday 2nd July 2025

 Our Summer Social will be in the afternoon on Wednesday 2nd July at Thenford Gardens, near Banbury ( OX17 2BX) – created by Lord and Lady Heseltine. Costs will be £16 per person for entrance, plus a cost for tea/coffee and cake if wished. People will need to either drive themselves or request a space in another member’s car. We are able to book 40 places for this visit.

Michael and Anne Heseltine purchased the house and its surrounding garden in 1976.  Over the next twenty five years their priority consisted of restoring the garden. 

The walled garden was brought back to its former use, the medieval fish ponds – much altered in the 19th c – dredged and the water flow restored. 

The two acre lake had to be cleared of 3 metres of silt and its stone retaining wall rebuilt. 

In order to help with the replanting programme the Heseltines sought advice from some of the best horticultural leaders of the time.

The arboretum, now spread out over seventy acres, contains more than three thousand different trees and shrubs, together with herbaceous borders, water gardens, an alpine trough garden, a sculpture garden, a rose garden and a rill.

Thenford is a must-see for every gardener.  It is one of the epic gardens of modern times, but at the same time very personal.

See https://thenfordarboretum.com/

BOOKING IS NOW OPEN

Please now book your place by:

a) emailing tashwvisits@gmail.com and giving your name and all names of other people you would like to accompany you, and if they are members or not. Guests are very welcome.

b) Paying £16 per person into The Arts Society High Wycombe bank account and letting us know you have paid this when emailing us on tashwvisits@gmail.com

The Arts Society High Wycombe            Sort Code:- 30-94-28  Account # 51819468

N.B. Please reference your payment with your name and Thenford.

c) Alerting us in your email to whether you are ok to drive yourself and who will travel with you, or if you would like to be driven in another member’s car. Please also alert us to whether you have space(s) in your car and are willing to carry someone else who is not able to drive or prefers not to. Please say how many additional passengers you can take.

We are assuming your ICE (emergency) details are the same as we have on record, unless you let us know they have changed.

Thank you.

Michele and Lucy

TASHW Visits team.

The Arts Society High Wycombe

Visit to the British Library - Wednesday, 12th February 2025     

Details and Booking form 

This superb modern purpose-built Library stands next to St Pancras Station on Euston Road, London and is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of largest libraries in the world.

Accessibility and transport:

Public transport serves the Library well with the underground nearby at St Pancras and Kings Cross and also bus stops nearby. The main entrance to the St Pancras site is 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB. Parking bays for Blue Badge holders can be found on Ossulston Street. The Ossulston Street entrance is fully ramped and is approximately 100 metres from the main entrance. There are also public metered bays in this area.

Our Visit

There will be tea or coffee upon arrival at 13.45 - 14.00. 

Members will be split into two groups of 15 with each group experiencing a tour of the general library and then the treasures, or vice versa.  The tours will take approximately 90 minutes in total and will start at 2.00 and 2.15pm.

If you would like to come, complete the form below with your details and return this document to us via email to tashwvisits@gmail.com by 17th January 2025 latest- the deadline for accepting bookings and   payment.

Places will then be confirmed. 

The cost of the tour will be per person £20.00 and £30.00 for guests.

Payment via bank transfer to The Arts Society High Wycombe bank account and please be careful to mark the payment reference with your surname and ‘Library’. Please  email tashwvisits@gmail.com when you have made payment.

Business Account: The Arts Society High Wycombe

Sort Code: 30-94-28             Account Number: 51819468

Priority will be given to members first and it will be on a first come first served basis. Guest places will be allocated once we see what the members uptake is.

There is a terrace restaurant onsite which can be booked for lunch.  The cost of lunch is not included. Please indicate if you would like us to reserve a space for your lunch  at 12.45pm. 

Booking Form

Lunch

• Yes, I would like you to reserve a table for me for …….. people for 12.45pm.

•  No, I do not need a lunch reservation at the British Library

Travelling in to London - Please mark as applicable:

•  I am happy to travel to London under my own steam. 

•  I would be happy to be a buddy and take someone less familiar to London with me

•  I am less familiar with London transport and would like to travel together with someone else or a small group.

Please complete details 

Name(s) …………………………………………………………………………

Email …………………………………………………………………………

The general area where I live is…………………………………………….

Mobile Number ………………………………………………………..

Emergency ‘ICE’ Name and Mobile Number ……………………………………..

Name of Guest/Non-Member where applicable ……………………………………

Please Note 

Bags:

Visitors to the Reading Rooms are required to leave coats and bags in the cloakroom or in a locker. If you're visiting the exhibition galleries you will also need to leave backpacks in the cloakroom. The cloakroom and digital lockers are free to use, located on the Lower Ground Floor. 

Any questions, please contact Michèle & Lucy on tashwvisits@gmail.com or by phone on 07724 145887. 

We are again being offered a priority group booking facility for the 2025 Garsington opera festival.

 Public booking does not open until April 2025 so this is your opportunity to get your chosen tickets whilst they are still available.

We have until the end of February 2025 to submit our requests but the sooner you make your request the more likely you are to get your first choice of tickets.

No monies will be required until final confirmation at the end of February.

The brochure/ programme can be found on the Garsington Opera web-site. 

If you would like tickets please CONTACT JO DUDLEY DIRECTLY on jodudley54@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions - not the opera box office  

a) your name and chosen opera

b) your chosen date

c) how many tickets

d) which price point.

This offer is not confined to Art Society members so feel free to bring family and friends.

THE ARTS SOCIETY CHILTERN HILLS AREA

EVENT DAY 17 October 2024

DISCOVERING AMERSHAM

VISIT THIS HISTORIC TOWN,DISCOVER THE HISTORY BY GUIDED TOUR AND SPEND TIME IN A RATHER SPECIAL MUSEUM.  

Venue:  The Museum, 49 High St, Amersham HP7 0DP    17 October 10.00am – 4.30pm

The nearest car park is just off the Broadway, about 300m from the Museum.  The Metroline comes into top Amersham.

·         Introductory talk and view displays and garden on banks of the Misbourne river. Coffee and biscuits

·         11.30 guided tour leaves museum.  A flat walk, mainly on paved surfaces bar the Barn Meadow recreation ground taking about 90 minutes.

·         Free time for lunch and to explore the cafes, inns and shops. On a fine day the Memorial Gardens are a beautiful spot for a picnic.

·         Return to museum and shop where you are welcome up to 4.30pm.

Cost  £15 . 

Open to both The Arts Society members, Chiltern Hills Area and guests. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOOKING is online with felicitysykes16@gmail.com

  Please email the following details to Felicity Sykes

 I have booked  ………place(s) for the Amersham Event Day 17 October 2024 at £15 per person

Name:   …………………………………….                              Society or contact  ………………………………………………

Email:   …………………………………………    In case of emergency, telephone contact:   ……………………………  

This booking is non-refundable (unless there is a government Covid lockdown on the day).

PAYMENT is online

The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies

RBS  account number 12653972    sort code 16 00 16 

 For further information  contact Felicity Sykes by email  or by  telephone 01296 620830.

Come and enjoy afternoon tea and a chat in the gardens at Dorneywood along with an opportunity for a private visit to rooms in this government grace and favour house currently used as the Chancellor’s country residence.

Tuesday 2nd July 2024 

14.00 - 17.00 hrs

We are fortunate to have been able to arrange an exclusive private visit to the Chancellor’s country residence of Dorneywood near Burnham.

The property is now managed by NT and is open to the public for a few weeks each summer, albeit bookings to view the house are difficult to arrange.

The house is probably Georgian and was converted around the early 1900s by the then owners, the Palmer family at Dorney Court, from a farmhouse to the  “gentleman’s residence” it has become today.

From the 1920s the property was owned by Lord Courtauld-Thomson whose personal art and furniture collection is still on view today.

We will be invited to visit three of the ground floor public rooms where room guides will talk us through the various “objets d’art” and works of art.

The house is not imposing but described as “intimate and homely ” despite its grand connections. 

Dorneywood has a beautiful 1930’s style 6-acre garden with cottage garden planting herbaceous borders, and a lily pond. Afternoon tea will be served in the garden.

This visit will complement our last year’s visit to Dorney Court as the two used to be part of the same estate.

https://www.dorneywood.org/history-of-dorneywood

This will be a self drive visit. There is plenty of free parking within level walking distance of the house and grounds. 

The whole area is mobility/wheelchair friendly.

As this is an exclusive visit it is regretted that there will be no discount for NT members.

The cost will be £35 per member and £45 for guests ( subject to availability) 

Bookings to be made online via tashwvisits@gmail.com or in person at the May and June lectures.

The maximum size of our party is 40 people. Priority will be given to our members until the June lecture when guest places will come available.

Visit to Eton College

Thursday 21st March 2024 9.30am

Self drive

 We have been given the opportunity to visit Eton College to see their current art exhibition, a tour of the historic part of the school and the chapel.

Logistics of the Visit

Registration will be at the Porters Lodge at 9.30 a.m.

Please note that security searches will be in operation before tours begin and no visitor with a large bag can be admitted.

Tea and coffee will be provided at 10 a.m. in the 15th century Lower School. There is good accessibility but in this historic environment there are steps, uneven walkways and narrow passages.

We will then be divided into groups, of no more than 15, for guided tours of:-

* The College Chapel – the pre-Raphaelite Tapestries and Medieval Wall paintings,

* The Verey Gallery – to view the current artwork exhibition

* The Foundation Area – a brief look at some of the most historic buildings of the school

The College Chapel:

The chapel is one of the oldest buildings at Eton with Henry VI laying the foundation stone in1441. Within the chapel are wall paintings completed between 1487-87 and renaissance tapestries. Many of the stained glass windows were destroyed by a second world war bomb but replaced by contemporary designs created by Evie Hone in 1952 and John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens.

The Verey Gallery - ‘An Etonian Collector exhibition’

Richard Amis built a collection of artwork though his life which he then bequeathed to his old school in 2018. The collection is made up of over 50 works of art, 28 of which comprise this exhibition. Many have not been seen in living memory so this is a rare opportunity for us. There are watercolours by JMW Turner, JR Cozens, David Cox (Sir), William Callow and Peter de Wint.

Please click here for more information on the current exhibition..

 The Historic part of the school:

Depending on the school curriculum the tour will be of some of the most historic buildings including the bronze statue of Henry VI created in 1719 and Lupton’s Tower with its clock (1517-1520).

 Timing

The introduction and tours will take around 3hrs, finishing at approximately 12.15pm

Parking

There is a very small car park available on-site so where possible please car share, spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so please book early. Otherwise, there is street parking available close to the college, details of which will be provided. Afterwards we will have the opportunity for lunch at a local restaurant if we have enough interest.

 Booking

We will be taking bookings for this Visit at our lectures in February and March.

Tickets will be £25 for members and, from the 1st March, also available to non-members for £35.

If you are interested in booking a place, or have any questions, please contact Anne Bolton via tashwvisits@gmail.com

Please make payment to the Society's account by way of confirmation of your place(s).
£25 pp to the usual account…  using *your surname, ETON* as the reference.
The Arts Society High Wycombe            Sort Code:- 30-94-28  Account # 51819468

Please also confirm how you propose to drive there and who you might be taking with you. 
We are limited to 10 free parking places at the college so would like to maximise car share.

Please also confirm if you would like to join a self pay group lunch in Eton afterwards - probably at Cote,.

Thank you.

Visit to the Getty Library at the Wormsley Estate

Thursday 5th October 2023

(to be confirmed)

The Arts Societies are very privileged to be permitted another visit to the Getty Library at the Wormsley estate on the afternoon of Thursday 5th October 2023.  This a self-drive visit. The visits will be at 14.00 and 15.00 and last approximately one hour.

Sir Paul Getty spent 25 years assembling one of the finest private collections of books and manuscripts in the world. When he moved to Wormsley, he commissioned the building of the castellated Library, as an extension of the main house. The Estate continues to invest in this outstanding collection – which features the first edition of Caxton’s printing of The Canterbury Tales, Anne Boleyn’s Psalter and the first folio of Shakespeare’s “Comedies, Histories and Tragedies”. Other highlights include highly illuminate manuscripts dating from the 12th to the 15th Century, important Bibles and extraordinary modern bindings. Paul Getty’s original emphasis was on the Art of the Book and that continues today including books with bindings designed by famous artists (often used to illustrate the cover of the Garsington Opera programme) inc Picasso and Miro and some of Repton’s famous “Red Books”.

It is anticipated that the 1911 Sangorski and Sutcliffe binding of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khan referred to in Dominic Riley’s lecture will be on view.

After a short introduction to the history of The Library and its amazing contents we are free to wander and admire the works on show. The Librarians circulate around the room talking to small groups about the various books and manuscripts.  

As this is a repeat visit, we will be happy to take members who have visited before but would like another chance to see the library - and guests will be invited to join a wait list once members have had an opportunity to sign up. It is not anticipated that this list will be repeated in the near future.

This will be self-drive to the Wormsley estate just off M40 junction 5. There is a walk of a few hundred meters on the flat but slightly up hill, to the library from the car park. 

Regrettably the cost of this visit has risen somewhat since last time we visited, so the cost to members will be £33 and £35 for guests.

Numbers are limited to 56 so do not delay signing up if you are interested. The visit is yet to be confirmed by the estate but due to the summer break, bookings will be taken now.

Please email the Visits Secretary Jo Dudley on tashwvisits@gmail.com for more information or to book your place.

Rare opportunity for a private guided tour of Dorney Court

Tuesday 19th September 2023 10.30 am

Self drive

Dorney Court is an architecturally important Grade 1 listed Tudor building that has been the home of the Palmer family for hundreds of years…not to be confused with Dorney Wood the country residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer which is elsewhere on the estate ( and may be a venue for a future visit). 

The house has always been the Manor House of Dorney Village near Windsor and is full of artistic gems and quirky features….which you might recognise from the odd movie or TV show !  https://dorneycourt.co.uk/about/

Our visit will be self drive (we will endeavour to arrange lifts/car share if necessary). You should have good mobility to join this visit as there is quite a bit of walking from the car park to the house and the house has narrow passageways and uneven steps.

 We will be greeted by Anna Palmer the current lady of the house. She will provide us tea or coffee on arrival…and her own home made cakes and biscuits…. in the very impressive main hall.

 We will then divide into groups of no more than 15 for guided tours of the house and adjacent Dorney church. The tour will take around 2 hrs and at the end Anna will offer us her home made sloe gin ! The cost will be £25 pp. Non Art Society guests will be welcome to join a wait list .

 The Crocus garden centre is close by on the site (where we will park) and we will have the opportunity of an optional group sandwich or salad lunch in the cafe after the tour probably at a cost of £17 - £20 pp

 We are advertising and selling this trip now so that you can pop it in your diaries ahead of the summer break…although some of the operational details still have to be finalised, so please bear with us.

If you are interested in booking a place or have any questions please contact Jo Dudley via tashwvisits@gmail.com

Trip to Oxford for Botanic Gardens tour and free time

Wednesday 6th September 2023

Self drive and Park & Ride

This trip will be self drive using Oxford Park & Ride given the difficulty of getting coaches into Oxford.

We will meet at about 9.30 at Thornhill park & ride hub, which is easily accessible from A40.

Parking currently costs £2.00 for the day.

Return bus fare is currently £2.80 pp or reduced if booked as a couple - or free with a bus pass.

The park and ride bus will drop us in the High Street from where we will walk the 200+ yds distance to the Botanic Gardens, the oldest in the UK having celebrated their 400th anniversary in 2021. Hopefully we can have coffee on arrival.

 We will then split into groups of around 12 and have an approximately 90 minute guided tour by a trained volunteer, of the Oxford Botanic Gardens.

This will tie in with previous Timothy Walker lectures on the History of the Gardens.  

https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk

 Following the tour there will be free time to continue wandering in the garden or spend time in Oxford at your leisure.

If people want it should possible to organise a group lunch in a local restaurant

The cost will be £15 pp + self pay park & ride charges.

Car share to Oxford Park and Ride will be facilitated if need be.       

Booking and enquiries to Jo Dudley on tashwvisits@gmail.com

Summer Social for The Arts Society High Wycombe

Wednesday 12th July 2023 2.00-4.00 pm

Venue: Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe, HP13 6PX

( Just a short walk from The Hub)

2.00 to 2.15pm - Registration & Arts Society Stickers handed out.

2.15 - 3.00 - In the Old Stables at the Museum : Short Introduction about the Museum & TASHW Information board - then a 30 minutes lecture on The Blue Chair painting given by local artist, Cally Trench.

3.00-3.45 - Tea/Coffee and cake refreshments served (outside or inside - dependent on weather) and time to look around the grounds, TASHW Info board and exhibits.

3.45 - 4.00 depart/ Museum closes.

Price £15 per person - Members and guests are very welcome

Some disabled parking is available on site.

Details on how to book:

Please email expressions of interest to info@theartssocietyhighwycombe.org.uk

Payment by BACS (Bank transfer) to our usual TASHW account (with the reference of your name and ‘Summer Social’ please) or by cheque. Please bring cheques to the lecture on Monday.

A Summer Picnic in the stunning location of the Wormsley Estate near Stokenchurch

with Garsington opera with back stage tour in conjunction with The Arts Society West Wycombe

Thursday 22nd June 2023, 11.00 - 15.30 hrs

Sadly, there is no catering on site on non-performance days so it is necessary for you to bring your own food & drinks.

The Executive director of Garsington opera, Nicky Creed will meet us at the new rehearsal hub now called the Garsington Studio (still not fully completed…)

After a tour of the studio, lasting approximately 45 minutes, we will pop back into our cars and drive the two miles or so through the Wormsley estate to the opera house parking.

We will then receive a guided tour back stage

The Company will be preparing for a dress rehearsal of, what I believe will be, The Barber of Seville, so we must be careful not to intrude

After the tours you will be free to meet with friends and wander around the opera grounds, lake and opera gardens (please note this is not the walled garden.) and enjoy the picnic lunch that you will bring.

There is plenty of seating, including under cover in the picnic tents, should the weather be inclement.

It is hoped that in the afternoon we will be invited to sit in on the days dress rehearsal if we wish.

This will be dependent of the company on the day and may be no more than a singer ( or two..) and pianist.

This visit will finish around 15.00/15.30 hrs

We can take up to 40 people.

The cost will be £15  - which will be a charitable donation to the opera.

Art Society members will be given preference. Guests may be included if space permits.

Please car share, if possible, to aid with parking.

To book  - please contact Jo Dudley, our Visits Secretary on tashwvisits@gmail.com

Booking opens on Monday 15th May

Visit to Henry Moore studio and gardens

Much Hadham, Hertfordshire

Thursday 25th May 2023

This will be a joint trip of the High Wycombe and West Wycombe Arts Societies

We will take a coach from the Park and Ride/Handy Cross Hub in High Wycombe - where there is plentiful & currently free parking. We will aim to leave just after 09.30 hrs.

The coach journey will take approximately 1hr 15 mins allowing for the vagaries of the M25. There will be no planned stops.
We aim to arrive at the studio and gardens in time for their opening at 11.00 hrs. 
On arrival coffee or tea will be provided.

There are over 70 acres of gardens with over 20 of Moore’s monumental sculptures on view. There are six studios preserved as they were in his lifetime, giving a fascinating insight into his ways of working - the drawing, etching, carving and model making.
In the Aisled Barn there a large tapestries depicting some of Moore’s drawings.

After coffee ( & comfort breaks ) we will split into (four) groups and have a private guided tour around the site. This is partially outside and on grassed areas so please come prepared for the weather and wear suitable footwear.
In general the whole site and amenities are accessibility friendly.

The tour will last until approximately 13.00hrs when an included buffet quiche & salad lunch with fruit and soft drinks, will be provided.  Any “extras” will be at your own expense.

You are then free to revisit areas of the site at your leisure until we leave at around 15.30hrs.  We aim to be back at the Park and Ride / Handy Cross Hub by 17.00 hrs.

The cost, including entrance, tour, initial beverages, lunch and coach will be £45 per person, payable by BACS.

Booking is open now.

To book  - please contact Jo Dudley, our Visits Secretary on tashwvisits@gmail.com

https://henry-moore.org/studios-and-gardens/plan-your-visit-studios-gardens/#accessibility

Any queries or questions please contact Jo Dudley on tashwvisits@gmail.com 

Pop-up visit to Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury

in connection with Faberge lecture

Friday 28th April

From 10.30 am to include lunch

Following our lecture by Cynthia Coleman Sparks on Faberge we would like to offer members the opportunity of a private guided tour of the collection at Waddesdon to include the relatively newly opened treasury (it opened just before Covid) where there are three pieces of the Rothschild’s Faberge collection currently on display

 This will be a self drive trip.

Lifts can be arranged if required

We need to arrive at Waddesdon for 10.30 am to allow time to get the shuttle bus from the car park to the house for our 11.00 am meet, coffee and cake!

We will have a guided tour before the house is open to the general public, in groups of no more than 15, which will take in the treasury (not normally included on the tour) where the Rothschild’s Faberge is currently on display along with over 300 other prized objects from their collection.

The treasury is accessed by a couple of stairs-cases  (although I believe there is a chair lift).

 After the guided tour of the treasury and the house a light lunch will reserved in the Manor Resturant. The afternoon will be free for you to explore the house further or wander in the grounds… and enjoy the hundreds of daffodils which should still be in bloom.

 The cost is £67 pp or £45 for NT members.

We need a minimum 15 people run run this trip.

 To book or if you have any queries or question please contact

Jo Dudley on tashwvisits@gmail.com

Penn House near Amersham dates back to 1760s and has been the private family home of the Curzon family for centuries, currently to Lord & Lady Howe. 

Earl Frederick Howe is currently the Conservative Deputy leader of the House of Lords and Countess Elizabeth Howe is the Lord Lieutenant of Bucks.

The Howe's will personally guide us round their home with it's many historic, esp naval and royal, connections. 

www.pennhouse.org.uk 

Light refreshments are included. You are free to wander the grounds after the tour.

Members £15.00pp Guest welcome - charge £17.50pp

All proceeds will be donated to the Howe's preferred charity Heart of Bucks a local community group.
https://heartofbucks.org/

Please contact Jo our visits secretary to sign up tashwvisits@gmail.com

The Art Society is very privileged to be permitted a visit to the Getty Library at the Wormsley estate on the afternoon of Thursday 20th October 2022.  Time to be confirmed. This will be self drive to the estate just off M40 junction 5. There is a walk of a few hundred meters on the flat but slightly up hill, to the library from the car park.  Cost £22 to members ( & £25 to guests if space permits) 

The librarians put out a selected display of the very special books in the library where Paul Getty’s original emphasis was on the Art of the Book. Included in the library are parts of  the Gutenberg bible, original Chaucer, first folio Shakespeare, Anne Boleyn’s psalter, numerous illuminated bibles, book of hours and psalters. Included are books with covers by famous artists inc Picasso and some of Repton’s famous “Red Books”. After a short introduction to the history of The Library and its amazing contents we are free to wander and admire the works on show. The Librarians circulate around the room talking to small groups about the various books and manuscripts.  

This visit is a rare privilege. The numbers are limited, so initially this visit will only be available to members (those who are members at the time of booking and on the date of the visit). A wait list will be taken for members guests who will be offered a place if these are still available after the first month. If initial interest is over-whelming places will be balloted.  

Please email our visits secretary jo dudley on tashwvisits@gmail.com for more information or to book your place

Summer Social

Wednesday 6th July 2.30 pm

Private visit to Lords Wood, Marlow Common SL7 2QS 

Sculpture Garden and Gallery by kind invitation of Millie Messum who will provide afternoon tea.

Many of you will no doubt be familiar with the 5 acre formal grounds at Lord's Wood from previous occasions. 

During our visit we are invited to visit the Messum gallery in the grounds not normally open to the public - renown for impressionist works from the Newlyn School.

Lords Wood is steeped in history having been an outpost of the infamous London Bloomsbury group and a location for Stanley Spencers tuition. 

The Lutyen's style family house built by artist Mary Sargeant Florence in 1899 will not be open during our visits.

This will be an informal social occasion for Art Society members - all the more welcome after the last two years.

You will be free to wander around the formal gardens, ponds, parterre garden, productive kitchen garden and greenhouse, orchard with bees & chickens, woodland walk and wild flower meadow

Sculpture are dotted throughout . There are seats to relax and take in the views. The gallery will be open for the duration of our visit.

Millie Messum with treat us to her homemade afternoon tea.

The cost will be £20 per Art Society member and £25 for guests. All profits from the charge will be donated to our Community Arts Projects.  

There is ample parking on the common. If anyone would like a lift this can be arranged.

Whilst the majority of the garden and the gallery are accessible there are areas with steps and slopes that could present problems for members with limited mobility. 

However this should not detract from the enjoyment of the afternoon. 

Please contact Jo, our Visits Secretary, on tashwvisits@gmail.com to book your places.

Guided tour of Rousham House & access to Gardens
to link with the Patrick Conner April lecture on  Great Gardens of the 18th Century; Landscape Gardening from Ha-Has to Hermits  

Tuesday 11.00am - 14th June 2022
Self drive. Near Bicester - approx 50 mins from High Wycombe

Rousham house, built in 1635 and still the ownership of the same family today had wings designed by William Kent who furnished and decorated much of the interior. It has one of England’s most important gardens also designed by Kent, representing the first phase of English landscape design and remaining almost as he left it.  Many of the features that delighted its 18th century visitors are still there for 21st century visitors to enjoy. The visit will include a fascinating guided tour of the house ( not normally open to the public) and free time to enjoy the gardens and estate with its walled garden, long borders, parterre, cascades, and follies. 

There are no catering facilities ( or gift shop !) but we are welcome to take picnics to enjoy own their grounds. 

The cost will be £16 pp for members and £20 pp for guests
If anyone is interested please contact Jo on tashwvisits@gmail.com

Private Guided tour of Sandham Memorial Chapel  

Hart Lane Burghclere, Newbury RG20 9JT

Tuesday 12th April 

Self-drive Meet 11.30 

This 1920s church, now owned by the National Trust, contains elaborate murals painted by Stanley Spencer.

This visit will complete our Stanley Spencer "journey" after Val Woodgate's lecture and the group visit to Cookham.

We will have a private guided tour of the chapel and paintings, lasting about 40 minutes, then time for self exploration. 

Stanley Spencer stipulated no electric lighting in the chapel hence we will aim to visit around midday to maximise the day light.

You are advised to take binoculars. 

The cost of the trip will be £16 per AS member. Discounted by £9 for NT members.

Non-members are welcome to join us for £20 pp Discounted by £9 for NT members.

It is proposed that the group share lunch in a local hostelry afterwards.

It is possible to take a self guided 4k walking tour around Stanley Spencer's Burghclere too should you wish

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sandham-memorial-chapel

There are other NT sites in the area if people would like to "make a day" of it.

We are aware that the Society has visited the chapel previously but feel there are members who would like to complement their Stanley Spencer experience.

If anyone would like to join but does not want to drive lifts can be arranged. 

Please contact Jo, our Visits Secretary,  on tashwvisits@gmail.com, to book your place

Garsington Opera Priority booking

The Art Society High Wycombe is privileged to be permitted priority booking for all performances of the Garsington Opera season 2022

Public booking opens on 29th March 2022 and many performances will already be sold out by then. This priority booking facility gives TASHW members and friends the opportunity to book seats before that date. All booking must be done and paid for via The Art Society.

Details of the full programme can be found

https://brochure.garsingtonopera.org/#/page/0

You can scroll left and right through the pages. The performance diary is on page 23.

Choose your opera, the date/night you would like ( note Saturdays are popular) and the seating type you would like (all seats in the auditorium have a good view in my opinion). There is no limitation on the number of tickets a member can book.

There is a £20 per ticket priority booking fee applied to the listed ticket price but note that listed prices include a £70 per ticket voluntary donation to Garsington.

All booking must be done via The Art Society and whilst the box office is very accommodating about ticket allocation it is helpful if you can give more than one choice. The sooner choices are submitted the more likely it is that seat choices will be confirmed.

Confirmation will not come until at least March. Payment is not due until confirmation has been received.

For anyone not familiar with Garsington Opera; it is one of the UK’s premiere summer opera seasons now well established on the Wormsley Estate in Stokenchurch, just off J5 M40. It is a black tie event. It is essentially an open air event although the auditorium is fully enclosed. The auditorium is a glorious steel, wood and glass 600 seater structure giving excellent views of the stage, the opera garden and deer park. Grounds open at 15.30 and performances usually commence around 17.30 and finish just after 22.00 with a long dining interval when supper can be taken in the Boundary restaurant or picnics enjoyed in (or outside) the provided tents around the grounds. The Wormsley walled garden is open to guests before the performance.

If anyone is interested or wants more information please contact Jo on tashwvisits@gmail.com

Walk and talk tour at the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham 
...to link with Valerie Woodgate's lecture on 10th January "A Personal Heaven; the Paintings of Stanley Spencer" .

Friday 11th February 2022 
We will aim for a 10.00/10.15 start for (non-inclusive) coffee at the local cafe ready for an 11.00am start at the gallery. This will be a self drive trip. 

The gallery tour will cover the current Mind and Morality exhibition as well as personal time to view exhibited works from the permanent collection - and browse the ( small) gift & book shop.  Details can be found  https://stanleyspencer.org.uk/exhibition21/    

The walking tour takes in the sites of Spencer’s Cookham that inspired him. 
Fingers crossed for the weather - they are hardy folk at the gallery & the walk goes ahead in all weathers !! Both tours will last approximately 1hr each.

There will be the option to join for a (non-inclusive) pub lunch locally afterwards.

The cost is £15.00 pp for AS members. £17.00 guests.
The tour is limited to a maximum of 24 persons and is already over half full ( 6/1/22) so do not delay if you think you would like to join. 

Contact Jo, our Visits Secretary,  on tashwvisits@gmail.com

Visit to Grinling Gibbons “Centuries in the Making” exhibition 

Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park

Warwickshire CV35 9HZ

Thursday 16th December 2021     -   10.30 am for 11.00 am tour

To tie in with our lecture “The loose and airy lightness of flowers - Grinling Gibbons his carvings in wood” on Monday 13th December we are organising a (self drive) visit to Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park on Thursday 16th December (whilst the lecture is still fresh in your mind) where they have an exhibition “Grinling Gibbons - Centuries in the Making“ to coincide with his Tercentenary year.

https://grinling-gibbons.org/event/exhibition-comptonverney/

The exhibition explores his influences and the stylistic and cultural influences that he brought to this country from his native Holland. Examples of his work gathered from historic houses, national museums, regional collections and including the famous “Horace Walpole cravat” normally in the V&A will be on display, along with sketches, drawing, paintings, documents, and contemporary examples complimenting his work.

https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/thing-to-do/grinling-gibbons-centuries-in-the-making/

There is also a John Nash exhibition - “The Landscape of Love & Solace” - on at the same time which would be included in the entry ticket price. Compton Verney has an extensive excellent permanent collection and extensive grounds for walking should you wish.

https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/thing-to-do/john-nash-the-landscape-of-love-and-solace/

Compton Verney is about a 1 hr drive up the M40 from High Wycombe. There is plenty of free parking with mini-bus access up to the house if you prefer not to enjoy the walk. We are proposing a self drive trip ( directions can be provided ) …unless there is sufficient interest to make a coach trip viable. The additional cost of a coach is likely to be about £15 pp if we have at least 30 people.

The cost of self drive will be £25 pp to include coffee on arrival plus 2 guided tours - of the Grinling Gibbons and the John Nash exhibitions. The group will benefit from a discount in the shop. Art Fund members get a £4 reduction. Lunch can be pre-booked if required.

Expressions of interest by email to Jo Dudley at tashwvisits@gmail.com

WE HOPE TO REARRANGE THIS DAY VISIT FOR SUMMER 2021

This trip will be self drive using Oxford Park and Ride or by Train given the difficulty of getting coaches into Oxford. We will meet at about 9.30 at Thornhill Park & Ride hub, which is easily accessible from the A40. 

The trip  will probably be  limited to a total of 24 people.

The day will be divided into two halves, both groups meeting for an included light salad buffet lunch at Corpus Christie College.Included coffee will be availble to both groups on arrival in Oxford.

One group of 12 will be given a guided tour by a trained volunteer, of the Oxford Botanic Gardens

https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk  

whilst the other group will have an approximately 90 minute  guided tour of the College Silver at Corpus Christie College ( to include a  unique and very special handling session).

This is to be led by Helen Clifford who lectured to TASHW on Contemporary Silver in November 2018 and  600 years of Oxford College Silver in February 2020.She will include a brief history of the Collegeand explain about all the symbolism relating to Richard Fox whch was the founder in 1515, and then take us through their silver pieces. It is a lovely small college tucked away at the back of Christ Church.

The groups will meet for a sandwich lunch together in the main hall of Corpus Christie College ( a rare treat)  and swap  over after lunch. There is a largely flat approximately half a mile walk between the two locations.

 Following the afternoon session, which will probably finish about 16.00 , you will be at leisure to return home when you wish. 

Members might like to pop along to the Ashmolean Museum whikst in Oxford , which is free to visit and open 10.00 -17.00, to continue the silver theme and visit the pre- Reformation silver from Corpus Christie which is on display in the Farrar Gallery ( No. 55 on the Second Floor), as well as a fabulous collection of Huguenot silver. 

To tie in with the October 2019 lecture by Julian Richards 'Inspired by Stonehenge', we have arranged a coach day trip to Stonehenge, stopping at the newly renovated  Whitchurch Silk Mill for a tour and lunch enroute.

This coach trip will depart the High Wycombe coach hub/ Handicross at about 9.15. We will aim to arrive at Whitchurch Silk Mill around 10.30 in time for the included coffee.https://whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

There will be an hours guided tour of the waterwheel and Victorian machinery and an opportunity to wander the beautiful garden on the banks of the River Test..... & time to shop!!.

Lunch can be bought in the cafe in the Silk Mill

https://whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12winter-menu-jpeg.jpg

The mill has a platform lift to permit access to the upper floors without using stairs. Full access details can be found on the website.

https://whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/wp-contents/uploads/2019/07/Website-Accessibilty-Guide-2019.pdf

We will leave Whitchurch at about 13.15 and travel onward to Stonehenge arriving around 14.00. There we are able to wander at leisure with their free hearing aid compatible audio guide ( which can also be downloaded to personal devices beforehand if desired).

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/history-and-stories/history/

It is an approximately 1.5 mile level walk / 10 minute free mobility impaired friendly shuttle bus ride , from the visitor centre where our coach will drop us ( and where the audio visual and archaeological exhibitions are) to the stone site. This trip will not include an opportunity to wander amongst the stones themselves, only to get close to them .

There is an on-site cafe at Stonehenge to purchase refreshments.

Special access details can be found on the Stonehenge web-site

http so://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/access/visitors-with-disabilities/

We will aim to leave Stonehenge at around 16.00 and hope to be back in High Wycombe by 18.00. This is likely to be quite a long day in view of the travel distance.

The trip will cost £42  unless you are a member of English Heritage or The National Trust in which case entry to Stonehenge is free, reducing the cost by £17pp to £25

Booking and all enquires to      tashwvisits@gmail.com

On a misty 22nd January Wednesday morning, 38 members of the Society and their guests , plus four members of The Marlow Arts Society, left High Wycombe by coach bound for Dulwich Art Gallery. The perils of London Suburb roadworks resulted in our later arrival at the gallery but the staff and guides were fantastic in rearranging and accommodating us.

We split into three smaller groups to facilitate entry into the temporary 'Rembrandt's Light 'exhibition and the two excellent guided permanent collection tours.The guides were very enthusiastic and members commented on how it contributed to the enjoyment of their visit.

The Rembrandt exhibition was self guided supported by the gallery's audio guides. It related to the mid 1600s when Rembrandt lived and had his studio in Breerstaat in Amsterdam, now the Rembrandt House Museum. The exhibits focused on Rembrandt's skilled use of natural light in his studio and included several rooms of sketches, as well as portraits from the gallery's collection along with loans from other galleries inc. Her Majesty the Queen's.

There was time for lunch and some all -important shopping before heading back into the afternoon traffic for our homeward journey. Dulwich is a lovely little gallery, its just a pity it is so difficult to and and from High Wycombe.

We visited  Chichester Cathedral in the morning and Pallant House Gallery in the afternoon. 

We  arrived in Chichester  in time for refreshments at the Cathedral. Chris had arranged a guided tour of the Cathedral. The choir was rehearsing their Christmas repertoire while we were there, which added to the occasion. The tour  finished about Noon, whcih left us time for lunch or to explore   the  town centre. 

At 1.30pm we regrouped at the Pallant House Gallery. There was  a new exhibition at the time of our visit: Radical Women: Jessica Dorimorr and her Contemporaries, which was included in our entrance. We  had a lecture of the  Gallery's collection , then free time to explore the Gallery.

The Cathedral itself is a work of art, but it is also unique in its collection of 20th Century paintings , sculpture and glass. These include a window by Marc Chagall, a tapestry by John Piper and an alterpiece by Graham Sutherland.

However, the Cathedral also contains some wonderful early objects such as the Chichester Reliefs, two carved stone panels depicting the raising of Lazarus. Dating from the early 12th Century, there are outstanding examples of pre-Gothic sculpture, unique in English architecture. The choir stalls embody 38 misericords dating from 1330. In the transepts are two Tudor paintings by Lambert Barnard and portraits of past bishops and kings and queens of England.

Among the many interesting monuments is the 14th Century table tomb of the Earl of Arundel and his wife, which inspired Philip Larkin to write the beautiful poem "An Arundel Tomb'.

On Tuesday June 11th, 46 members and guests headed by coach to Kew Gardens to enjoy the gardens and see the Dale Chihuly Glass Exhibition. The weather was kind to us. About twenty large fantastic glass pieces were installed amongst the plants and in the glass houses, particularly the newly refurbished Temperate House.Our favourite probably being the Ethereal White Persians in the Water Lily House.

In the Shirley Wood Gallery about 80 smaller pieces were on display reflecting Chihuly's work over the years, along with a video loop explaining how pieces were made and Chihuly's thinking behind some of them.It was even possible to purchase one's own piece of glass history ... if you had a spare £5300!!!

Some members joined a free informative guided tour of the larger installations, whilst others hopped on and off the Kew Explore bus to see them.The gardens were full of colour and glorious as ever. A number of our members had never been to Kew before but assured us they would be back.

We had  an exciting and stimulating day at the American Museum, Calverton Manor, Bath.

We took a journey through the history of America, from the early settlers to the twentieth century. With its remarkable collection of folk decorative arts, the museum showed us  the diverse and complex nature of American traditions. The only museum of Americana outside the United States; it was founded to bring American history and cultures to the people of Britain and Europe.

We saw :                             The Folk Art Gallery

                                          The famous Quilt collection

                                          Period rooms, displayed as they would have been in the United States

                                          The New Mount  Vernon Garden

                                          Two Exhibitions planned for 2019

                                          Thomas Kellner's America ( Photo Artist), and 

                                          Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in America

THE GORDON RUSSELL DESIGN MUSEUM

GORDON RUSSELL is renowned as having been one of the first modern designers of the twentieth century, with his early designs influenced by the Arts and Crafts style. His lasting legacy has shaped Britain's vibrant design industry. He created well-designed affordable furniture with the skilled use of both hand and machine.

Our visit to the Museum included:

- an introduction to Gordon Russell and his company's work 

- a highlight tour of the collection of furniture and an opportunity to examine the work 

- access to some of the thousand Gordon Russell design sketches held in the archive

- an opportunity to ask ex-Gordon Russell employees about their designing and manufacturing experiences.

The visit lasted around and hour, with some time for us to look around on our own.

The Museum was small but very comfortable to explore elements of the twentieth century design, from Arts and Crafts to Post-Modernism.

THE BROADWAY MUSEUM and ART GALLERY

The exhibition at the time of our visit was 'The Art of World War 11-A personal collection'

The Broadway Museum and Art Gallery is a community museum that aims to tell the story of the village through the ages and display important works of art.

An enjoyable day was had by all in this beautiful Cotswold town.

Most will remember Ian's recent lecture when he inspired and informed us about STREET ART IN LONDON.   He agreed to lead two walks for us, one at 11am and one at 2pm, on Saturday, 13th October, starting in The City.

Ian Pointed out important works of art which included amazing new architecture, monuments, statues, art works and some famous graffiti too. His lecture was received with great enthusiasm and this was a memorable outing.  Each walk lasted  an hour and half.  

A guided tour and lunch at Royal Holloway College.

18th June 2018

Over 150 years of historic discoveries, notable alumni, and academic innovation, Royal Holloway was founded by two social pioneers; Elizabeth Jesser Reid founded Bedford College in 1849 and Thomas Holloway, inspired by his wife Jane, founded Royal Holloway College. He built the stunning Founder's building, which was opened in 1886 by Queen Victoria, and is still at the heart of our campus today.  It is modelled on the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley. Its flamboyant architecture makes it one of the most impressive university buildings in the world.

Their vision lives on today with teachers and researchers expanding minds and making discoveries that change the world.

Both colleges were among the very first institutions in the UK to give women access to higher education. In 1900, the colleges were admitted to the University of London and merged in 1985 to form what is today known as Royal Holloway, University of London. 

Royal Holloway, University of London, is a spectacular Grade I-listed Founder’s Building, Picture Gallery, Chapel and extensive grounds, situated in Egham, Surrey.

Royal Holloway's world famous collection of Victorian paintings gives an insight into scenes of contemporary Victorian life and romanticised mythology.

The College’s Art Collections contain world-class paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and watercolours including works by William Powell Frith, John Everett Millais and Edward Burne-Jones.

The tour consisted of the following:

• A guided tour of the Chapel, North Quad, Founder’s Dining Hall, South Quad and Victorian Corridor
• Lunch in the beautiful Picture Gallery
• A talk on the paintings

SOLD OUT

GUIDED TOUR OF

HAMPTON COURT PALACE and THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF NEEDLEWORK

When we announced the possibility of this trip at the June lecture there was a large response with lots of members putting their names down despite very few details.  We knew we would be restricted on numbers because of the permitted size of the guided tours.  The details were subsequently confirmed and the trip took place on Thursday, 17th May. 

.

We visited Sandham  Memorial Chapel, Burghclere, in Hampshire, with its evocative first world war paintings by Stanley Spencer.  There was a talk about the paintings and a guided tour. We stopped on the way home for a visit to The Reading Museum for a guided talk on the Bayeux tapestry.

Sandham Memorial Chapel is a grade I listed 1920s decorated chapel, designed by Lionel Godfrey Pearson. The chapel was built to accommodate a series of paintings by the artist Stanley Spencer. It was commissioned by Mary and Louis Behrend as a memorial to Mary's brother, Lieutenant Henry Willoughby Sandham who died at the end of the First World War. The chapel is surrounded by lawns and orchards, with views of Watership Down. 

On the return journey we visited Reading museum which contains galleries describing the history of Reading and its related industries, a gallery of artefacts discovered during the excavations of Calleva Atrebatum, finds relating to Reading Abbey, an art collection and a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry!

In response to requests from so many members we felt we had to organise a trip to Coventry as soon as possible:

Saturday, 10th March 2018

We arrived at the Cathedral by 11.00am and had time for a coffee before we joined a guided tour at 11.45am.

The informative tour lasted about an hour  and we saw some amazing glass and stained glass as well as pieces of sculpture.

We had time to have lunch and a wander around the Cathedral before we left or some chose to  walk to The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum just a couple of minutes away and learn about historical Coventry. 

A Guided Tour of the museum with its over half a million incredible artworks.  The Fitzwilliam Museum and Art Gallery in Cambridge is one of the most impressive regional museums in England, presenting world history and art from as far back as 2500 BC.

The day included time for usto have a look at a special Degas exhibition that was on at the time.

There  was also   time for a wander around the Christmas market!

The cost for the day, included the guided tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum was £22.

DAY VISIT TO CHARLESTON, EAST SUSSEX

HOME OF THE BLOOMSBURY GROUP

WEDNESDAY 21st JUNE 2017

Our visit to Charleston, the home of The Bloomsbury Group which was bought by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and became the meeting place for writers, artists and intellectuals known as The Bloomsbury Group.  Clive Bell, David Garnet and Maynard Keynes also lived there. Virginia and Leonard Woolf were frequent visitors, along with E.M. Forster, Lytton Strachey and Roger Fry. 

Inspired by Italian frescos and Post-Impressionists, the artists decorated the walls, doors and furniture at Charleston.  The garden was redesigned in a style reminiscent of Southern Europe, with mosaics, boxed hedges, gravel pathways and ponds but with a touch of humour in the placings of the statuary.

We were greeted at Charleston with refreshments before a guided tour of the house, giving an insight into the unconventional lifestyle of the group.      

In the afternoon we visited Berwick Church, a very short distance away, for a guided talk about the amazing art work there and discover how the group decorated this beautiful church.

The cost of the day was  £43 to include tea/coffee on arrival .

Day Visit to The Barber Institute and The Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum

28th March 2017

Thirty-three members and friends travelled to Birmingham for a guided tour at The Barber Institute, part of Birmingham University. The Barber Institute was founded in 1932 by Lady Barber for the University of Birmingham.  It is considered to be one of the finest small public art galleries in the UK and we had a very informed tour of the eclectic collection.  Some would have liked a little more time to revisit some of the paintings and art work.

We then travelled on to Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum with free time to explore the Victorian paintings and the large collection of Pre-Raphaelites.  There was time to look at the famous Hoard which is beautifully exhibited with very clear explanations and state of the art technology.  While there was just time for tea for some, others took a short walk to Birmingham Cathedral to see the stunning stained glass windows designed and manufactured by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. The windows portray Christian themes of The Nativity, The Ascension, The Crucifixion and The Last Judgement. They are known for their beauty and show Burne-Jones’ work at its best in the church in which he was baptised.  With the sun shining through we were able to appreciate the amazing colour,s as was intended. 

All in all, a long day, but a worthwhile one.

Thirty five of us enjoyed a great day in Northampton, visiting both 78 Derngate, and the Northampton Gallery and Museum. We split into two groups, alternating between the Gallery and Museum and 78 Derngate, to allow easy access to the house.

78 Derngate is the only example of this quality of work by Charles Rennie Mackintosh that can be seen outside of Scotland.   The house is a small terraced property in the centre of Nottingham, which belonged to his client Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke, given as a wedding present by his father on his marriage in 1917.  Bassett-Lowke heard of the architect Mackintosh from a friend and through Mackintosh’s ideas, made the reconstruction, and later in 1917-19, asked Mackintosh to redesign the now stunning hall-lounge and guest bedroom.

Each room is surprising, not only because of the amazing designs but also for the clever use of space.  Our guides were exceptional, and were generous with their knowledge about both Mackintosh and Bassett-Lowke.  Mackintosh would have been given a brief by his client, but Bassett-Lowke wanted the house to be impressive, so installed all the up to the minute technology.  It is thought that Mackintosh may never have visited the house or seen the finished interior, though opinions differ on this,  even though there are no recordings of him having been there.

Northampton Museums and Art Gallery  houses a vast and interesting shoe collection, explaining the importance of the shoe industry for the area, and the fashion in footwear throughout the ages.   Some exciting exhibits have even found their way into other showcases throughout the galleries, not to be missed.  Unfortunately, the lighting in some of the show cases in the shoe gallery is rather poor, which did not do their amazing collection justice.  The Museum is due some improvements shortly.

The Gallery has some very important art works, some of which are on display in different rooms throughout and in juxtaposition with other exhibits, creating intrigue.  There is also the story of Northampton, a new children’s display with natural history exhibits, and a current photography exhibition.  Certainly there was plenty to see and take our time.

Nearby to Derngate, the Guildhall has been beautifully restored, but lunch called and time didn’t allow us much of an opportunity to explore.    A few of us felt more time to look around the area is a must for the future.   

Following Toby’s lecture on Renaissance Armour, two special visits to the Wallace Collection have been arranged for the afternoons of Tuesday 14th June and Thursday 16th June.
We are running the same visit twice given the number of members who indicated their interest.  We need a minimum number of 12 people per visit for it to be financially viable, and ideally the maximum should be no more than 20, both to fit into the Armour Gallery, and to be able to see and hear Toby clearly.
If you would like to go on either visit, please could you let Lisa know on lisagbha@gmail.com or 01494 521750, before the end of April, indicating which of the two dates suit you.  If you can manage either date, please let her know as juggling numbers may be necessary to ensure the minimum number of  12 for both visits. The places will be allocated by the time of our 8th May lecture and confirmation will be by email.
As coach travel to London is expensive and time consuming, we will meet inside the entrance hall of the Wallace Collection just before 2.30pm and the tour will take just under the hour.  A member of the committee will be there to welcome you.
The Wallace Restaurant in the Central Courtyard serves coffee and pastries from 10am and “brasserie-style” lunches from 12.30pm. Booking for lunch is strongly recommended on 0207 3005913 or by emailing wallacegb@peytonandbyrne.co.uk
If you have not been to the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square before, have a look on their website for how to get there; it is a 10 -15 minute walk from Oxford Circus.

Bookings open in person at the 11th Jan 2016 lecture. For bookings after this date please email Chris at chris.feldon@cookham.com.

Witness the awakening beauty of Kew in spring.  Several varieties of camellias bring intense colour to the Gardens from winter and all through spring. Enjoy the last of the daffodils and visit the Davies Alpine house, which has changing displays of unusual and exotic bulbs from March to May. 

You will have the opportunity to visit The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, which is the first gallery in the world dedicated solely to botanical art.  Alongside you will find a separate gallery housing the work of the Victorian biologist and botanical artist, Marianne North.   She devoted her life to  travelling the world painting flowers.  On her return in 1878 she offered her collection to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, and to erect a gallery to house them.  Kew Gardens claims that the North Gallery is the only permanent solo exhibition by a female artist in Britain.

Also included is the opportunity to enjoy a tour on Kew’s land train with fascinating commentary about the Gardens and Kew’s work.  Hop on and off all day at any of the landmarks you want to see.

We will meet the coach at 9.30am and expect to return to High Wycombe at approximately 5pm. Meeting place and full details to follow shortly.

Our day visit to Spitalfields attracted a lot of members following our lecture by Sue Jackson. After an early start, we made it to London in good time for our guided walk.  Spitalfields market was just opening and we managed to find coffee and much to distract us before we started!  Sue took us into the Nicholas Hawksmoor designed Christ Church at Spitalfields for a talk, explaining the history of the area and the many changes the Anglian Church has undergone and how it served the community then and now.  The Church now holds many concerts because of the amazing acoustics and organ.   Our walk was confined to the streets in quite a small area of Spitalfields, where the Huguenot Weavers came to live and work after leaving France because of religious persecution.  Sue brought the small houses and streets to life, explaining the life and trade of the silk weavers in the 18th Century, and how hard they had to work to make a living, their change in fortune, and and how their lives deteriorated when they were no more in demand.  This was emphasised in the afternoon, when we split into two groups to visit the Dennis Severs House which took us back in time, demonstrating how the silk weavers lived in times of wealth and poverty.  It was a sensory experience, giving us the impression the family could still be living there. We managed to fit in another shorter walk in between the visits, and see more of the remaining shops and houses that are tucked away in an ever changing part of London.  We left a little tired but full of enthusiasm to know more and maybe visit the area again.   

Twenty seven members and guests went to the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden on the 8th September.  After a week of miserable and wet weather, the sun shone for us and we had a lovely early autumn day for our visit.    We were greeted with a cup of coffee on arrival and Hannah gave an introductory talk about her famous garden.

Hannah Peschar has been presenting and selling sculpture in her beautiful and unique environment for over thirty years.  The contemporary art is displayed throughout its magical garden setting of ten acres, with a large water and rock garden.  Over the past 35 years the garden has been redesigned and replanted by award winning landscape designer, Anthony Paul, who has introduced many large leaved plants in bold groups, tall grasses and created three new ponds.  Its planned but informal setting holds a surprise at every turn.  

The garden is only open from May to October, so it was an opportunity not to be missed for both art and garden lovers.  Hannah explained the sculpture should blend in harmony with the natural environment, and this did not disappoint.  The sculptures are generally changed annually, although there are some permanent pieces as well.  We spent around three and a half hours there, wandering around the garden, and at almost every turn we came across another surprising sculpture.

We ended our day at Denbies Vineyard, stopping for the obligatory cup of tea and cake!

A very special and wonderful opportunity …

High Wycombe DFAS 2015 Summer Lunch and Visit

with Marlow DFAS

Fawley Hill Railway & Museum, nr Henley RG9 6JA

Thursday 9 July 2015 12.30 – 4.00pm

By very kind permission of Sir William & Lady McAlpine

The Thursday prior to our last lecture of the year, we shall be having a picnic lunch with afternoon visit to Fawley Hill Railway and Museum near Henley, the country estate of Sir William & Lady McAlpine. The railway and museum are private, not normally open to the general public and strictly by invitation only. We are most grateful to Bob Hatfield, a  Marlow DFAS member and past Honorary Chairman of the FawleyRailway Museum Society Ltd, who has helped us gain access.

Fawley Hill Railway comprises of a standard gauge steam train, running approx every half hour through a deer park with exotic animals and birds. A full size station and signal box are open to visitors and various static coaches and artefacts can be viewed at leisure. The museumcontains a very large collection of railway relics and memorabilia and two working 0 Gauge model railways. It’s expected that Sir William’s 100yr old “Gallopers’ Carousel” will also be operating for rides.

Members and up to one guest each, will make their own way to Fawley Hill, approx 7 miles from Marlow. Directions will be given.

Parking is in a field, followed by a short downhill walk on a concrete road to the station.

Yummy individual picnics, including drinks, will be available for collection from 12.30pm. There are various seating areas … grass, the station waiting room, platform benches and portable tables and chairs. In the case of rain, undercover seating in the museum area is available. 

Toilet facilities are available but none are suitable for disabled access.

Members may bring one guest each, with a total limit for HWDFAS of 150 tickets, but there’ll be a waiting list for additional tickets.

No dogs are allowed on site and any children must be under the guidance of an adult at all times.

The whole afternoon including parking, sandwich lunch with Pimms, an “Elsie’s” homemade ice cream, afternoon cup of tea, train and carousel rides and museum visit is £25.

Booking is at the 11 May & 8 June lectures.  

Bring your cheque books please.

We had two very successful day visits on the 8th and 21st May, to both The John Lewis Archives and The Stanley Spencer Gallery.   

The days started with the John Lewis Archives, and a brief history was given by one of the Archivists, who included a guided tour and an explanation of the exhibits of the history of John Lewis and their fabulous collection of Stead McAlpin fabrics.  We learnt about methods used in the printing of the fabrics and saw their wonderful designs spanning over a hundred years.  We were amazed to learn that Stead McAlpin was still using block printing until 1977. 

The afternoon was spent at The Stanley Spencer Gallery.  Carolyn Leder,  who is one of the main experts on Spencer,  explained the latest Gallery exhibition and shared her in-depth knowledge of why Spencer incorporated religious stories in his paintings of the village life of Cookham. She also spoke of his time at The Slade and how his complex personal life was sometimes expressed in his paintings.  This was followed by a guided walk of Cookham village where Stanley Spencer lived and worked.  Altogether, it proved a very enjoyable visit to Cookham

We are making two trips to the John Lewis Archives and The Stanley Spencer Gallery on the 8th and 21st as numbers are limited to 22 on each visit. The John Lewis Archives house a wonderful collection of materials and wallpapers, and we shall have an opportunity to see these as well as an explanation about the collection.  Following on from this we will visit The Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham High Street, where we will have a guided walk and talk about Spencer and his paintings. Stanley Spencer is one of the most influential artists of the Twentieth Century and we will identify some of the viewpoints that inspired Spencer and hopefully learn more about his style and choices he made in his representational work.

We are organising a repeat visit, by coach, to the internationally-renowned William Morris Gallery on Friday, 17th April. The Gallery was re-opened in 2012 following major refurbishment, and is the only public gallery devoted to William Morris. 

The gallery has a significant collection of arts and crafts material that offers a comprehensive view of the varied aspects of Morris's career as a designer, craftsman, retailer and social activist.  Morris's closest collaborators include Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Phillip Webb are also represented. 

The Gallery, a Georgian Mansion, is the former home of Morris from 1848-1856. It is situated in the beautiful grounds of Lloyd Park, which is well worth a walk around, weather permitting. There is a moated island and also a contemporary garden just behind the House. Many of the plants which feature in Morris's designs can be found here. 

The pick-up point by Heyfordian Coaches will be the Park and Ride in High Wycombe at 9.30am. We will arrive in time to have coffee, and will then split into two groups for a guided tour of the Collection, which will run consecutively, lasting approximately 50 minutes.  There will be some time for questions.   There is a comfortable cafeteria at the Gallery for those wishing to buy a light lunch, but as the seating arrangements are limited, there could be a bit of a wait, so you may want to take a pack lunch, which can be eaten on the coach.

We will regroup at 2pm and the coach will then take us on to The Geffrye Museum at Shoreditch, (approximately 20 minutes away).   

The Geffrye Museum houses a collection of objects, furniture and images in order to explain the history of English Homes from the 1600’s to the present day.  The displays are in eleven period rooms that show how different generations have lived over the last four centruries. 

There is a cafeteria at the museum, and there should be time for refreshments before we leave at 4pm. We hope to be back at the Park and Ride soon after 5pm.

The cost for the day will be £25, to include tea/coffee on arrival at The William Morris Gallery.