Future Events
Andrew Davies London Walk
Wednesday 1st May 2024
This spring we will be happily returning to the City of London once again with Andrew. He calls this walk ‘City Nooks, Crannies, Churches and Samuel Pepys’. Andrew writes ‘no other Square Mile in the world can boast such a long and invigorating history. It is neither square nor a mile but the City of London remains unique with its blend of history and hidden surprises. We will glory in its varied architecture (Wren, Lutyens, Foster) and of course in its splendid cast of characters.
Amongst the gems we will be seeing are the site of Pepys’s house in Seething Lane which is now a garden, the best surviving chunk of Roman Wall, the beautiful ruins of St. Dunstan in the East, a fine Lutyens Memorial, St. Olave’s church where Pepys worshipped and is buried and the sundial which encapsulates London’s 2000 year history.
We will also be visiting the church and museum of All Hallows. This ancient church is considered by some to be the oldest church in the City of London. It survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 but was badly damaged during the Blitz of World War II.
Visit to Hagley Hall & Park
Tuesday 2nd July 2024
We have been given a marvellous opportunity to take a small group to Hagley Hall and Park and be shown around by Lord Cobham who inherited in 2006. Since then he and his wife have carried out major restoration particularly of the magnificent surrounding park. In Lord Cobham’s words, “When I arrived at Hagley I had a modicum of knowledge about the City and business but very little about landscape heritage or land management. I was lucky enough to be helped hugely by Joe Hawkins as regards the first and my brother-in-law as regards the second. The whole exercise has been hugely rewarding”.
Sir John Lyttelton bought the Hagley Estate in 1564. In the mid-18th century George, 1st Lord Lyttelton, began to landscape the grounds and build the ‘last great Palladian house’ designed by architect Sanderson Miller. It was built to enhance the 350 acres of undulating parkland that he and his father landscaped and which is peppered with follies and features.
The 1st Baron was heavily influenced by Italianate design and architecture during his Grand Tour of 1729/30, and so engaged the services of Francesco Vassalli to create the magnificent rococo plasterwork for the Hall. There are many treasures and interesting family connections which we will see during our visit but what sets Hagley apart are the extraordinary views from the park.
Do come equipped for a walk which will include some steep hills.