Stately Home visits
2022 VISIT
Hampton Court Palace
Thursday 8th September 2022
On 8th September 2022, the Stately Homes members had their first visit to a royal palace in recognition of Queen Elizabeth 11's platinum anniversary to Hampton Court Palace.
After a late start, and missing our coffee break, we journeyed down to south London to the outstanding Hampton Court Palace
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I had forgotten just how vast this palace was, and indeed personally only managed to see half of the spectacular rooms available, to say nothing of the beautiful palace gardens. So I think it just may require another visit, maybe next year.
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Everybody had a good, but totally exhausting day.
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Feet aching, but slept well !!
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However poignant our trip for the Queen's jubilee, it was on this day 8th September 2022 that our beloved queen passed away and into Phillip's care.
Long Live the King
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I would like to take you to some royal palaces past and present, in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubliee. The first of these would be Hampton Court Palace on Thursday 8th September 2022. The cost of this trip would be £30.00. However if you are a member of ‘Historic Royal Palaces’ you will have free entry, then just pay £10.00 for the coach.
Membership for HRP is hrp.org.uk. This will give you free entry to 4 of the venues we are visiting over the next 12-15 months
This will be on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested please contact the Stately Homes Visits Organiser by clicking on their name to access a message form, or contact them at the Speakers Meeting in the Methodist Church Hall.
LAST VISIT
Althorp House, 19th July 2022
(with photos from Frances)
Despite the extreme heat being in the very high 30's, I am happy to say that more than half of the 61 due members managed to join me on a visit to Althorp House.
Althorp is the family home of the Spencer family, who have been residents here for the past 500 years; with the most wonderful collection of art; said to be the largest is Europe.
This lovely, and very homely, house was of course the home where the late Princess Diana grew up with her siblings; and where she is laid to rest on an island in the middle of a lake.
Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, is a historian and author. 
We were lucky enough to be at Althorp on the first day that he and his family happened to be there this year. On being informed that our coach was due to visit, the Earl went to the gift shop and signed books purchased by our members, and was more than happy to pose for photos, which was a delight.
PREVIOUS VISIT
On May 31st Witney U3A enjoyed their first visit to a Stately Home since lockdown.
It was a visit to Chartwell House in Kent. Chartwell was the family home of Winston and Lady Clementine Churchill, and was filled with photos and memorabilia from their lives there over a 40 year period, where they enjoyed a loving family life with their 5 children.
We must never forget the part that Winston Churchill played with England during the Second World War; rallying the British people from
the brink of defeat.
FUTURE PROGRAMME
We hope to re-arrange our Stately Home visits that were cancelled in 2020 in due course
If possible we are looking to visit:-
Highclere Castle - South of Newbury
Tyntesfield (NT) - Somerset
If you are interested please contact the Stately Homes Visits Organiser by clicking on their name to access a message form
Please click the following link for full details of our proposed Stately Homes Future programme
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FOR DETAILS OF PREVIOUS VISITS CLICK ON THE LINK(S) BELOW
Baddesley and Packwood Visit Report
Snowshill Manor Visit Report
Stourhead Visit Report
Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum & Villag