This visit has been cancelled

5 day tour departing 30th April 2026.  Click HERE to view the brochure

We will have a guided tour of Dr Johnson's House.  Tickets will be on sale at the December lecture and will cost £14.00.

We will have a guided tour around the very best bits of London Museum Docklands. It is home to nine galleries with each one exploring a different theme of London's river, port and people.  This Highlights tour will discuss the history of London’s docks, the East End and the people who have lived and worked here for over two centuries

Our guide will take us through the grim details of working on the docks, and the heroic efforts of those defending them during the war.  We will visit the recreation of ‘Sailortown’, showing us the dark, winding streets of Victorian Wapping.  The tour will last 75 minutes.

The nearest stations (Tube and DLR) are Canary Wharf (7 minute walk) or West India Quay (3 minute walk)

TICKETS £12.50

We are pleased to be able to offer our latest Tour which is to Cardiff  - part of the country we as a Society haven't visited for some time. The tour leaves on Monday 8th September 2025 and we return on the 12th. The brochure can be viewed HERE.   
Cardiff is home to a deep and diverse cultural history and I hope you will agree that Tailored Travel have put together an appealing selection of venues to fill our five days in the Welsh capital City, on three of which we will be accompanied by a Blue Badge guide. 

Andrew Watt, our Tour Manager, is considering tryng to arrange for attendees to attend a concert by a male voice choir.  If you are going on the tour and are interested in this, please contact him direct - details are on your membership card.   If there is enough support  we would explore the possibility of arranging an early evening meal for the concert-goers. Please be assured that this is a very tentative suggestion and you would not be committing yourself in any way by expressing an interest.

14th century Manor House and magnificent gardens

I am delighted to include a link HERE to the itinerary and booking forms for our Tour to Lille and Nord Pas de Calais departing on 24th April 2025.

Many of you will be familiar with this part of France and will know that Lille and the surrounding area boast a fascinating blend of French and Flemish influences, that are reflected in its stunning architecture, museums and historic sites such as the Palais des Beaux-Arts which houses works by masters like Rubens, Goya and Van Dyck and which promises to be the highlight on day 3. 

With the events in the early part of this year commemorating the D-Day landings which eventually brought an end to WW2 still fresh in our minds it is entirely appropriate that our tour begins with a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which does such sterling work in maintaining a world-wide network of cemeteries. This will be followed by visits to two memorials marking the sites of battles of WW1 and commemorating those who died there.

The tour ends on a high note with a visit to the Louvre gallery in Lens which brings into the area world-class art normally only on view in Paris. 

Please contact Andrew Watt (contact details are on your membership card)  if you have any queries which are not dealt with in the brochure.

Morning and Afternoon private Tour of Fishmongers' Hall..

Fishmongers’ Hall is a grade 2 listed livery hall situated on the north bank of the Thames. Its magnificent rooms contain many treasures including the 1955 portrait of the Queen by Piero Annigoni, an impressive collection of 17th and 18th century silver, and a 15th century embroidered funeral pall. The tours, which last one and a half hours, are led by an experienced guide.  

Tours at 10.30am and 2pm.  Tickets £15 includes private tour and tea, coffee and biscuits.

This is a wonderful opportunity to have a private Musical and Historical Tour of Westminster Abbey in the quiet of the evening.  We will have an executive coach from Beckenham to take us to the Abbey.  Our tour will commence at 6.45pm when we will take our seats in the nave where the first piece of sacred music will be sung.

Our guide will take us around the Abbey describing the history and architecture, moving from one location of interest to the next, including the Quire, Sacrarium, High Altar, the Cosmati Pavement (unique in this country), St Edward the Confessor’s Shrine, Henry VII Chapel and Poets’ Corner.  At various points there is a pause for members of the Purcell Club  (who are mostly ex-choresters) to sing suitable musical items ranging from the 16th to 21st centuries.  

On returning to the Nave for the final part of the tour, a short piece is played by one of the Abbey organists to demonstrate the Abbey’s magnificent organ. The tour ends with the choir singing a piece of suitable solemnity, such as ‘The Kontakion for the Departed’, around the Unknown Warrior’s Grave as the lights dim.  The evening concludes at approximately 9.15pm and we will then take the coach back to Beckenham. 

We will be able to sit at various points on the tour but some standing will be necessary. It is advisable that sensible shoes should be worn.
Mobility Restrictions
 Visitors to the Abbey need to be aware that much of the Abbey floor and steps are uneven and that some areas may be dimly lit. There are several places on the tour where there are several flights of steps (some without bannisters). that need to be negotiated.

TICKET £65 includes executive coach to Westminster Abbey and private Purcell Club Tour.  The coach will leave Beckenham at 4.45pm. 

THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT, THERE IS A WAITING LIST FOR TICKETS

Take a private guided tour of the National Theatre and discover the secrets of one of the most iconic buildings on the South Bank.

Led by an expert guide, the 75-minute tour will take us on a journey behind the scenes to see what’s being made in the on-site carpentry, props and scenic painting workshops, and discover how the National Theatre creates their world-class productions.

We will also explore the design and unique features of this renowned building, including the auditoriums.

We have 2 tours booked at 11.00 and 11.15am

Tickets £18

Dear Fellow Members

I am delighted to launch the brochure for our Tour to Scotland from the 6th-10th September 2024 during which you are guaranteed to see a goodly amount of the beauty of my home country both by land and loch.

Glasgow was once known as the ‘second city of the Empire’ and we will see some reflections of that grandeur during our coach tour on the morning of the second day of our visit. In addition, a display showing Glasgow’s connection with the Empire is to be seen in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery which also houses its most famous work of art – Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross.

The worlds of art, architecture and design are inextricably entwined with the name of Charles Rennie Mackintosh many examples of whose work we will thankfully see during our visit. Unfortunately the ‘faithful reinstatement’ of the Glasgow School of Art, which he designed and which was devasted by fire in 2018, is still in progress and is not expected to be completed until 2030.

This is the third tour with which I have been associated in which the tour operators  have incorporated a visit to a location closely associated with our Royal Family. On this occasion it’s Dumfries House which is a part of the King’s Foundation the aim of which is to help young people to develop a variety of skills. Many of you may remember an episode of the Repair Shop on BBC 1 to which the then Prince Charles sent an apparently irreparable  clock from the House for restoration. He in turn appeared on the show and in a later episode one of the blacksmiths trained at the House applied his skills to reviving someone’s  family treasure.

A highlight of our visit is sure to be the cruise on Loch Lomond the starting point for which is the village of Tarbet which we reach  by a short coach - ride from our hotel along the ‘Bonnie Banks’. The tale behind the song is of two brothers taken prisoner during the Jacobite rebellion – the elder taking the ‘high road’ to freedom, the other, having sacrificed his life for his brother, the ‘low road’ to his execution.

Copies of  the brochure for those who are unable to print it for themselves will be available at our next meeting or by direct application to me. 

I do hope you will feel encouraged to book your place as soon as possible and arrangements for train travel will be made known in due course.

You can view the brochure HERE
 
Best wishes
 
Andrew Watt
contact details on your membership card

While the Isle of Sheppey may not be renowned for its picturesque landscapes, it holds a distinct charm with its array of fascinating medieval churches . The island's historical significance shines through the architecture of these ancient churches, offering a glimpse into its rich cultural heritage. Exploring these medieval treasures promises a unique and enriching experience, showcasing the enduring legacy of Sheppey's past amidst its unassuming backdrop.

On this tour we will visit four contrasting churches accompanied by our expert guide.  These range from the Church of St Thomas the Apostle at Harty, a quaint church with no electricity which dates back to the 11th or 12th century, to the enormous parish church of Minster Abbey with it’s magnificent 12th century arcading and 15th century stalls with misericords. 
We will also visit Holy Trinity in Queenborough which dates from 1366 and All Saints in Eastchurch, which was rebuilt in the 15th century and has a magnificent rood screen.  Eastchurch was the home of early aviation in England and there is a memorial window to commemorate one of the first flying fatalities.  

We will have morning coffee and a buffet lunch included in our tour. The coach will leave Beckenham at 8.45am and return around 6.00/6.30pm.

Cost £65.00 includes executive coach, services of our Guide, morning coffee and buffet lunch and contributions to the Churches.  

We will firstly visit Great Dixter with it’s House and Garden.  Great Dixter  was built by architect Edwin Lutyens, who combined an existing mid-15th century house on the site to create a much larger house in a romantic recreation of a mediaeval Manor house.  The beautiful garden was made famous by Christopher Lloyd,  a well known garden writer,  and is in the arts and crafts style.   It’s widely known for its continuous tradition of sophisticated plantsmanship and is Grade I listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens

You can have lunch in the café at Great Dixter before we move on to the wonderful garden at Pashley Manor Gardens.  Here you will discover 11 acres of beautiful borders and vistas in this family owned and maintained garden which often has sculptures dotted around.  There are sweeping herbaceous borders,  an historic walled garden and rose walk and the gardens are a haven for wildlife.  There is a cafe and terrace where you could have a late lunch or tea before we depart.  Please note that there is no house here so if the weather is poor you might get wet!
Coach departs Beckenham at 9.00am and returns about 6.30pm.
Tickets cost £52.50 (£23.00 for HHA members), which includes the executive coach from Beckenham and entry to Great Dixter and Pashley Manor Gardens.

Dear Fellow Member,

In preparing for this tour I read an unattributed quote from a former resident of Liverpool who said ‘I can say wholeheartedly that it’s one of the warmest, most exhilarating locations in Northern England’ So I am delighted that you have picked up a brochure at our recent meeting or you have received it by email and having done so and studied it you will feel moved to make a booking.  
 
A comment often made after our tours is that too much is packed into four days and some time free would be welcome. You will see that some such time has been built into Thursday afternoon when you might consider visiting the Museum of Liverpool which introduces visitors to interactive exploration of the city’s cultural and historical milestones. Or the World Museum where the themes are natural history, science and technology and which is regarded as one of the best free things to do in Liverpool. Finally I suspect that the teenage years of many of our members were hugely influenced by the Fab Four for whom the award winning museum - The Beatles Story - will be a must.

 I should say that I am always happy to consider suggestions as to where we might go next. So with the  autumn tour of 2024 in mind please don your thinking caps and contact me by email me at andrewswatt@hotmail.com or by phone on the number below with any suggestions as to where we might go in the UK or even northern Europe.

If you have any questions please contact me by email or by phone on 07770221051

I look forward to meeting many of you on the tour if not before.

Kind regards

Andrew Watt
Tours Organiser
4th October 2023

Click HERE to view the brochure 

Click HERE for the Booking form

Click HERE for the Booking conditions

A visit to the refurbished Leighton House in Holland Park.

Tickets £27 include morning coffee and pastries in the new cafe and a Guided Tour of the collection.

Tickets can be purchased at the Ticket Desk at lectures or direct from lesleytasb@outlook.com

Specialist Guided Tourt with Jo Rhymer

We have added a second tour at 2pm on February 22nd.  Tickets cost £14.  Please email lesleytasb@outlook.com for tickets

WALK – CITY CHURCHES WITH SUE JACKSON
THURSDAY OCTOBER 19TH 10.45AM

This will be a walk around some of the City Churches with Sue Jackson, TAS Lecturer and Blue Badge Guide.

The  Great Fire of London destroyed 87 of the 107 churches in the City but from the ashes Wren rebuilt 51 - experimentally, imaginatively, the interiors reflecting Protestant architectural emphases and Wren’s love of geometry, light and baroque detail and frivolity, but the true glory lies in multitude of unique spires and towers.  We will visit some of the most beautiful of the churches, including St Mary Abchurch, St Stephen Walbrook and St Nicholas Garlickhythe and end at the masterpiece of St Paul’s Cathedral. 

We will meet outside Monument station in Fish Street Hill at 10.45 and finish outside St Paul’s

Tickets will be on sale at the September meeting

You will make your own way to the Fan Museum for 1pm.

Open to the public since 1991, The Fan Museum is the only organisation of its kind devoted entirely to the history, culture and craft of the fan, situated in a pair of beautifully restored Grade II Listed early Georgian period townhouses.  

Gathered from across the world and encompassing more than 1,000 years of fan history and culture, the collections exceed 7,000 objects.  Highlights include works by fine artists such as Paul Gauguin, a rare Elizabethan-period fan, Japanese Court fans & a spectacular Fabergé fan incorporating gold work and enamelling. The collections are further enriched with examples of period costume, fan making tools & materials, catalogues and rare books.

We will have a Tour of the museum and an afternoon light lunch (scones, sandwiches and cake).  It is likely that we will be split into two groups and one group will have lunch after their tour.  There is a lift.

Travel:
The Museum is at the bottom end of Crooms Hill, near the St Mary’s Gate entrance to Greenwich Park.  7 minute walk from Greenwich Station, 5 minutes walk from Cutty Sark DLR station.  There may be a problem with the escalators at Cutty Sark – check before travelling if you cannot manage the stairs.

TICKETS £25 including Tour and Afternoon Lunch

We are delighted to announce our Autumn UK Tour.  This will be an opportunity to visit Durham Cathedral the building of which began in 1093. The Cathedral houses many religious relics which survived its sacking by Henry Vlll, the tombs of three saints and several copies of the Magna Carta. As well as art galleries, museums, mansions and gardens we will visit, in the company of a Blue Badge guide, some of the remains of Hadrian’s Wall and a military garrison - a World Heritage site dating back to 120 AD. 

You can view the brochure HERE

If you have any questions please contact the Tours Organiser Andrew Watt, contact details are on your Membership Card, or email info@tasbeckenham.org.uk

....................................................................

NON MEMBERS MAY NOW BUY TICKETS

Barnards Farm has 22 acres of garden and woodland.  Dotted around the site are 83 sculptures, including such names as Heatherwick and Frink.  The farm is also home to the national collection of crab apple trees.  The owner has a large collection of vintage and veteran cars and motorcycles, which will be open for us to view.
Accessibility:  this is a large open site and you will be walking on grassland which could be muddy.  A six seater buggy will be available for our use. The café is in a tent structure.

After our visit we will go to a nearby Pub for a light pub lunch (included) and then we will visit the wonderful Church of St Mary the Virgin at Great Warley.  The church is Grade 1 listed with a beautiful Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau interior.  We will be shown round the church and then have tea in the adjoining Rectory Hall

Ticket £57 includes executive coach, donation to Barnards Farm, morning coffee/tea and cake, pub lunch, tour of the Church and tea.  
The coach will leave Beckenham at 9.00am and should return about 6pm.

VISIT TO COBHAM ALMS-HOUSES AND CHURCH AND SPECIALIST TOUR OF ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL
WEDNESDAY JUNE 21st

NON MEMBERS MAY NOW BUY TICKETS

After refreshments, our visit will start at the 13th century church of St Mary Magdalene, Cobham. We will be given a guided tour of the church with particular emphasis on the unique pavement of 21 medieval monumental brasses on the floor of the nave.
 We will also be given a tour of the Elizabethan alms-houses which are adjacent to the church. The layout of the alms-houses, with  Court, Master’s Lodgings and Hall, shows them to be a prototype of the style adopted by later Oxbridge colleges.

 Many of you will already know Rochester Cathedral so we have arranged a specialised tour for the afternoon. This will include the cathedral’s medieval grafitti, the library and the “Textus Roffensis”. This is a manuscript written in the 1120’s. It is a  unique collection of laws from the reigns of early English kings , and the abbey charters it contains give us a glimpse of life in a medieval religious community.

Coffee will be provided on arrival at Cobham and there will be free time for lunch in Rochester.

The coach departs from Oakwood Avenue (near the junction with Perth Road) at 9.00am and should return about 6.00pm.

Tickets £41

Chatham Dockyard Thursday May 18th 2023

Set in an 80 acre complex , The Historic Dockyard Chatham is packed with historic buildings and ships and galleries full of fascinating artefacts and stories to discover.   After our morning tea coffee and biscuits we will have a 45 minute coach tour around the dockyard. You can then explore the many attractions on the site which include The Ropery,  3 historic warships , a submarine tour (which has to be booked on arrival), the RNLI historic lifeboat collection with many galleries to explore.  

Accessibility:  This is a large site.  Manual wheelchairs can be requested in advance.  There are no individual buggies.

Tickets £40.00 (concessions)  includes executive coach, entrance to the site and morning coffee/tea and biscuits and 45minute coach tour around the site.
The coach will depart from Oakwood Avenue at 9.00am and return about 6.00pm

UK Tour "NORFOLK EXPLORER"

Monday April 24th - Friday April 28th 2023

We are delighted to launch the brochure for our tour to Norfolk from 24th to 28th April 2023.  The Brochire and Booking Forms are on the website under Our Society/Documents or you can access them on the links below.  We hope there will be much to whet your appetite and to encourage you to make an early booking. We are in no doubt that the highlight of the week will be our visit to Sandringham House the country home of our new King Charles111. If you have any queries regarding the booking process please contact -
Chloe Cockram
Heritage Group Travel
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 466620
Email: chloe@grouptravel.co.uk
www.grouptravel.co.uk
And  if there is anything at all which you think we can help you with please do not hesitate to contact the Tours Organiser Andrew Watt.

For the Brochure click HERE

For the Booking form click HERE

For the Booking T&Cs click HERE

Andrew Watt

andrewswatt@hotmail.com
Mob: 07770221051
Tel: 02086500421

VISIT TO STATIONERS’ HALL OCTOBER 12TH AT 11.00AM

The Stationers’ Company started as a Guild for manuscript writers and illuminators and expanded to include the printing trade.  Their original Hall was purchased in 1554 and moved to the present site in 1606, but the Hall was destroyed in the fire of 1666, although much of their archive survived.  The current Hall was completed in 1673, with major embellishments around 1800. 

The Hall today is  regarded as one of the most beautiful in London in spite of serious damage caused by enemy action in 1940. The Court Room was partially destroyed but was restored by 1957, and the ceiling of the Livery Hall had to be re-erected to a design of 1800.

We will have a tour of the Hall and tea/coffee and biscuits.

The Hall is at Ave Maria Lane, EC4M 7DD, nearest stations City Thameslink and St Paul’s.

Tickets £10.50 will be on sale at the September lecture

We are pleased to announce our new UK Tour to Shropshire and Borders, from September 11-15th 2022.  

The Tour includes 
* 4 nights' dinner, bed and breakfast in the 4 star Prince Rupert Hotel in the centre of the county town  Shrewsbury
* a trip by steam train on the Severn Valley Railway

* guided tours of 5 of the locations on the itinerary,  one of the highlights of which is sure to be the Ironbridge Gorge - heart of this country's  industrial revolution

If you are interested or need more information please contact Heritage Group Travel on 01225 466620 or emily@grouptravel.co.uk. Or contact the Tours Manager at  andrewswatt@hotmail.com.

To view the brochure please click HERE

To view the Booking form click HERE

To view the Booking Conditions click HERE

This visit has been cancelled due to the proposed rail strike

The original Chiddingstone Castle was built in Tudor times. It was remodelled in the 19th century to resemble a medieval castle. In 1955 Denys Eyre Bower - an art dealer and collector bought the castle and filled it with an eclectic mix of artworks and artefacts from across the world, including rare Japanese masterpieces, statues of Buddha from Tibet, objects from ancient Egypt and items relating to the 17th Century Jacobite rebellion.

 Other rooms on display include the Victorian servants’ hall and kitchen. In the grounds there is a lake, a rose garden and orangery.

 We will have tea and coffee (included) on arrival, followed by a guided tour of the house lasting about 45 minutes. Afterwards you can purchase lunch in the tea room or take a short walk across the bridge to the NT village of Chiddingstone where you can eat in the Tudor Tea Room or Castle Inn. You can also picnic in the grounds of the castle.

The coach will leave Oakwood Avenue (near the junction with Perth Road BR3 6PJ) at 10.00am and should return about 5.30pm.

Tickets  (for members only) are £35.00 includes executive coach, morning coffee, entrance and guided tour.

Sussex has many fine historic medieval churches, some little changed since they were built.  This Tour will visit 4 churches with our Guide John Vigar, a TAS Lecturer and Church historian,  who will guide us round each church.  We plan to visit Clayton which has significant medieval frescos, the Church of the Transfiguration at Pyecombe, built around 1170, the Poynings late 14th century church and St Peters at Preston Park with 14th century wall paintings. 

Our Tour includes:

·       Executive Coach from Beckenham

·       Morning Coffee

·       Buffet Lunch

·       Afternoon Tea

·       Services of our Tour Guide

·       Donations to the Churches

Tickets £56.00

The coach will depart Beckenham at 8.45am and should return about 7.00/7.30pm

There is a waiting list for this visit

Leeds Castle Thursday May 19th

Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous.   In the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain.

Built on islands in a lake and with 500 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland, there is lots to see and do.  As well as visiting the State Rooms there is an extensive Gatehouse exhibition and in the lovely gardens there are daily falconry displays. 

We will depart Beckenham at 9.15am and return about 6.00pm

Tickets will be on sale at the Lecture on 3rd March and cost £43.00 including executive coach, entrance and morning coffee/tea and cake.

Please click HERE to view the Brochure for our Tour of the Cultural Capitals of the Baltics, arranged with Heritage Group Travel.  Places on the Tour are limited and you can call HTG on 01225 466620 to make a provisional booking.

If you have queries about the Tour please contact the Tours Manager Andrew Watt, details are on your membership card.
 

A walk with a TAS Lecturer looking at some of the sculptures, gardens, courtyards and alleyways that lie in the shadows of the powerful establishments of the City.  The walk will meet outside St Paul's Cathedral and start at 11.00am, and will last about 2 hours.  If the morning walk is oversubscribed we will repeat it in the afternoon.

Tickets £14.00

Tickets for members only from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Crossness Pumping Station is a Victorian masterpiece of engineering and architecture, built by Sir Joseph Bazalgette to deal with London's sewage. The pumping station opened in 1865 and was operational until the 1950s. This extraordinary 19th-century complex of buildings has now been restored by enthusiastic volunteers.  The buildings include the beam engine house, a stunning example of Victorian ironwork and style. The interior of the building has been called a 'cathedral of Victorian ironwork', every surface gleaming with bright paint, every column capped with a Romanesque capital, every floor made of semi-circles of painted iron.  Other buildings include the Valve House and Fitting House which contain an exhibition and several steam engines, and the Fitting Shop.   Our guided tour will include an introductory talk and a tour of the buildings and engines, exploring the history, engineering and architecture of the site, which we hope will include a ride on the narrow gauge railway. 

This leisurely visit includes coffee/tea on arrival and a light lunch.  The coach will depart at 10am and return at about 4.30pm. 

Tickets are now available to members and cost £49.00.

You can purchase tickets from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com.   Please email to check availability.

A visit to the Weald and Downland Museum set in a beautiful landscape in the South Downs National Park. The collection tells the stories of the people who lived and worked in rural South East England over 1,000 years.

We will have all day to visit the collection of historic buildings .  You can see more than 50 buildings, spanning more than 950 years, from sites across southern England. The collection includes workers’ cottages, shops, farmhouses, barns, a watermill, smithy , a replica Anglo Saxon hall house and an Edwardian Tin Church.   Most are open for you to go inside, explore and get a real feel for what it was like to live and work in them.

Please note that the Barn used as a film set for The Repair Shop is not normally open to the public, although you can view it from the outside.

Accessibility

The centre of the Museum site is flat with parts set on sloping ground, which is steep in places. Access around the site is on rural surfaces; mainly rolled or loose chippings, which are in keeping with the nature of the site and buildings. Some paths are cobbled and their surfaces may cause difficulty for visitors who use a wheelchair or have impaired mobility.  There is an accessible route.  There are no buggies.

Covid  requirements

There may be social distancing in place and you will be required to wear a face covering on the coach and in inside spaces.  We respectfully request that you do not attend unless you have been vaccinated.

Tickets are now available to members.  Cost £37.50 includes executive coach and entrance to the site.  Email Lesley Godwin for tickets, details are on your membership card.

A Visit to Devon

Our 2020 visit to Devon has been rescheduled to 13th-17th September 2021.  The tour will be offered at the same basis and price and Heritage will attempt to replicate the programme.  Members are welcome to book for the revised dates. 

You can view the Brochure HERE, Booking Form HERE and Booking Conditions HERE.  Please contact Andrew Watt with any queries on  andrewswatt@hotmail.com

A visit to a number of interesting churches in East Sussex with a Guide.

A visit to the Weald and Downland Museum set in a beautiful landscape in the South Downs National Park. The collection tells the stories of the people who lived and worked in rural South East England over 1,000 years.

We will have all day to visit the collection of historic buildings – there are more than 50 to explore from a replica Anglo-Saxon hall house to an Edwardian tin church.

This Tour has been cancelled.  Heritage Travel will be contacting all participants and full refunds will be paid.

One of the most ancient of the City Guilds, we will have a tour of this restored buiding with it’s Grade I listed Hall. 

This visit has now been cancelled as the Hall have suspended all Tours

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Benjamin Franklin House

A guided visit to the only remaining house lived in by Benjamin Franklin.  The Historical Experience Tour uses the eighteenth century spaces to serve as a stage for a drama that seamlessly blends live interpretation and cutting edge sound, lighting and visual projection to tell the rich story of Franklin in London.

Tours at 12pm (sold out), 1pm and 2pm.

The house is just behind Charing Cross Station.  Please note there are 38 stairs and no lift.

TICKETS:  £7 standard: £6 concession (over 65) , £4 National Trust/Art Fund,  £3 Art Fund over 65, will be available from the Novermber lecture

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

KENSINGTON WALK

We are sorry but this event has been cancelled.

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Originally built as an archbishops palace, and once home to Vita Sackville-West, Knole offers something for everyone.   Following an enormous conservation project, Knole’s 16 magnificent  showrooms have now re-opened.   For the first time in years visitors can once again view all of the newly-conserved historic rooms in their entirety, containing a world class collection of portraits, royal furniture and silver.  Highlights include the newly conserved Spangle Bedroom with its state bed and magnificent textiles embellished with hundreds of silver gilt sequins, rivalled only by the James II bed in the Venetian Bedroom.  Inside the showrooms, art lovers will find Reynolds, Gainsborough and Van Dyck to admire. Textiles enthusiasts can marvel at the seventeenth century tapestries and furniture that make the collection internationally significant.

As well as exploring the house, there is much to see on the estate with its grand courtyards, Orangery and deer park.  If it’s peace and tranquillity you’re after, Lord Sackville’s private garden will be open, with its formal gardens, orchards and winding paths of wild flowers.

In the afternoon we will go the short distance to All Saints’ Church Tudeley, with its 12 windows decorated by the great Russian artist Marc Chagall.  We will have time to look at the church and have afternoon tea there before leaving for home.

The coach will depart Beckenham at 9.15am and return about 6pm.

Tickets will be on sale from the July lecture.   Standard price £37.25, National Trust Members £24.50, includes coach, entry to Knole, donation to the Church and afternoon Tea and Cake at the Church.

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Arts and Crafts in the Cotswolds

Sunday 1st September to Thursday 5th September

We hope there is something for everyone in the itinerary for our new Tour.  Some of the highlights will be:

• Gloucester Cathedral and its magnificent tennis court - sized stained glass East Window constructed around 1350.
• Chavenage House – a ‘must’ for Poldark fans
• Highgrove Royal Gardens which should still be looking their best when we visit.
• Hidcote Manor Garden
• the SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge
• Berkeley Castle

The Tour price incudes:

• dinner, bed and breakfast for 4 nights
• lunch in the Orchard Restaurant at Highgrove and Chavenage House
• all entrance charges and visits (excl. National Trust properties)

You can view the Brochure and Booking Form HERE

If you have any comments or queries please email the Tour Organiser Andrew Watt on  andrewswatt@hotmail.com or call on 07770221051.

Main Illustration:  Highgrove House

Banner Illustration Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua

This visit has sold out - waiting list only

Built in the 17th century, Frogmore became royal property when it was purchased for George III's wife, Queen Charlotte.   It's no longer an occupied royal residence, but is frequently used by the Royal Family for private entertaining.

The interests and talents of several generations of the royal family influenced Frogmore's interior. In particular, Queen Charlotte's passion for botany is reflected in the decoration of the house. She commissioned Mary Mosser, the renowned 18th-century flower painter, to decorate one of Frogmore's principal rooms to resemble an arbour open to the skies. Frogmore was home to Victoria, Duchess of Kent for almost 20 years, and works by her and her daughter Queen Victoria are on display in the house.

Our Guided Tour ends in the Britannia Room, where, following the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht in 1997, The Duke of Edinburgh arranged a selection of items to reflect the interior of the much-loved vessel.

We will then go to the Savill Garden a short drive away.  The Garden was created in the 1930s and is one of Britain’s greatest ornamental gardens,   a natural haven of 35 acres of beautifully designed interconnecting gardens and woodland.  There is a large café and restaurant and time for lunch and to explore the gardens, before leaving at about 4pm to drive back to Beckenham.

Tickets £46 includes coach, entrance and guided tour of Frogmore and morning coffee in the Savill Gardens restaurant.  Tickets will be on sale at the June lecture and ticket sales close on July 1st.

You can also purchase tickets from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

This visit has sold out - waiting list only

Charleston was the home and country meeting place for the writers, painters and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury group. The interior was painted by the artists Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, and together their collection forms a unique example of their decorative style.  Today the house appears as it was in the 1950s, representing a way of life in which beautiful surroundings and harmonious objects and paintings were of more importance than creature comforts. We will have morning coffee and then a private Guided Tour of the Houseoutside of public opening hours, with time to explore the lovely gardens.

 We will then go on to visit Ditching for a late lunch.  This pretty village houses the Ditching Museum of Arts and Crafts (free with Art Pass).   The museum holds an internationally important collection of work by the artists and craftspeople who were drawn to the village, including Eric Gill, the calligrapher Edward Johnston, the painter David Jones, the printer Hilary Pepler and the weaver Ethel Mairet. There is also a lovely 12th century church.

The coach will depart Beckenham at 8.30am and return approx. 6.30pm.

Tickets £35 includes executive coach, morning coffee and private tour of Charleston House.

This visit has sold out - waiting list only

You can purchase tickets at the Lecture or direct from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

Non members may now buy tickets

Enjoy exclusive access to the iconic Sissinghurst Gardens with a guided visit before the Garden opens to the public.  Set within the ruins of a great Elizabeth house, framed by the rich Kentish landscape of woods, farmland, lakes and streams, the famous garden with its pink brick tower is the result of creative tension between the formal design of Harold Nicolson and the abundant planting of his wife, Vita Sackville-West. 

We will have morning coffee and then a private visit from 10 am to 11 am, after which you can stay on to enjoy the garden at your own pace, take a picnic or have lunch in the Restaurant. 

There is a buggy available to take visitors from the car park to the house and garden but not for the tour.  If you have mobility issues or need a wheelchair please tell us when you book.

After lunch we will drive on to Ightham Mote, another picturesque National Trust property with an interesting medieval moated house and peaceful gardens, where you will have time to explore and have tea in the Café.

As this is an early bird tour it will be an early start – 7.45am departure from Oaklands Avenue.  We will return about 6.30pm.

Tickets will go on sale on April 4th at the lecture and will cost £35.50 for National Trust members, £49.50 for non NT members.  This covers executive coach, morning coffee and Sissinghurst entry and early bird tour.  Ticket price does not include entry to Ightham Mote:  if you are not an NT member and wish to enter the house or gardens you will need to pay a further £11.50 (you can enter the café without paying.)

You can purchase tickets at the Lecture or direct from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

We will drive to the village of Lavenham, a wonderful example of a medieval Suffolk Wool Town.  There are many interesting places for you to visit:  the timber framed Guildhall (NT), the Little Hall and the 15th century Parish Church or you can just wander around the well preserved streets of half timbered medieval cottages and sample the many cafes and tea shops.  We will spend the morning here with time for an early lunch, before driving on to The Munnings Art Gallery for our 2pm private visit. 

Alfred Munnings is considered to be a major figure in the great tradition of British horse painting and is celebrated for his depiction of English rural life and landscapes. His house in Dedham, Essex, is an elegant Tudor and Georgian building in beautiful countryside.  The house is filled with his work from various stages of his life:  from early poster designs and art school studies, his work painting outdoors representing the English idyll and rural life and his time in Cornwall with the Newlyn artists.  His work then moved on to his more famous equestrian portraits and there are representations of his outspoken opinions on Modern Art.  These works are set amongst the furniture , objects and personal items of the family which remain in situ, in a lovely, welcoming family home.  You can also visit his studio with its displays of painting materials, sculpture and scenes of hunting. 

A special exhibition is also running, from his time as a war artist in France in 1918 with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Tickets £36.00 includes coach and private visit to the Munnings Gallery.

Coach departs 8.30am and returns approx. 6.30/7pm

You can purchase tickets at the Lecture or direct from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

Sunday 28 April - Thursday 02 May 2019

We are pleased to announce details of our Spring 2019 tour which we are undertaking together with the Bromley Society.

This will be a 5 day tour, with an overnight stay in Ypres followed by a 3 night stay in Antwerp.

The rich art and architecture in the cities of Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges reflect their historic trading wealth and prestige. Numerous churches, splendid decorative and fine arts museums and an astonishing array of civic buildings are a testament to the country’s role as the great meeting place of Western Europe. These beautiful and largely unspoilt cities also conceal an astonishingly rich collection of works of art and the Flemish school of painting is well represented through a wealth of masterpieces by van Eyck, van der Weyden, Brueghel and Rubens. Our 5-day tour will also include an overnight stay in Ypres, affording us the opportunity to listen to the poignant playing of the Last Post at the Menin Gate.

In planning this tour, we have tried to address some of the issues identified in the questionnaire which many of you completed earlier this year such as-

* The size of the single room supplement

* Joining with other Societies

* Not being confined to one city

* Overall cost

We hope that you will find the tour appealing. These details are being issued simultaneously to both Societies and bookings will be dealt with on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

Please Click HERE to view the Brochure, and Click HERE to view the Booking form.

If you have any queries, please contact the Tour Organiser, Andrew Watt, at andrewswatt@hotmail.com

Main illustration:  Antwerp Grote Market, Wikimedia Commons

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

Armourers Hall is a striking Georgian Building in the Palladian style in the heart of the City – the Hall for the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers.   It contains a host of beautiful and fascinating artefacts.  It is not open to the general public but we have organised a guided tour which will include the Gold Drawing Room, Library, Court Room and the Livery Hall.  Our tour will be followed by a light lunch with wine. 

Tickets are now available and cost £30. You can purchase them at the Lecture or direct from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

Monday January 14th and Tuesday January 15th, at 3.00pm

 Christie's, the world's oldest fine art auctioneer, has sold fine art, furniture, jewellery and wine since James Christie conducted the first sale in London on 5 December 1766. Ever since Christie's has continued to provide the perfect backdrop for the sales of the world's finest collections and greatest works of art before their auction.

We have arranged 2 “Inside Christie’s” Tours centred around their INTERIORS sale.  These sales offer a broad range of pieces for the home,  from antique furniture to modern design classics.  These curated sales are designed to appeal to both new and seasoned collectors with estimates starting at £800.

 The tours run for about one and a half hours which will include a 45 min tour around the galleries with our host, a 15 minute talk by a specialist, and a 30 min meeting in one of the boardrooms where the introduction to Christie’s continues – this will include tea, coffee, and biscuits.

 Numbers are limited, and tickets cost £28.00.  The tours will be at 3.00pm on Monday January 14th and Tuesday January 15th, at Christie’s King Street, St James’s (nearest Tune Green Park or Piccadilly Circus).

Tickets will be available at the October lecture and after October 3rd direct from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

This walk is now open to non members

This guided walk with TAS Lecturer Barbara Askew, will follow the path of the Fire, from its starting point in Pudding Lane to Pie Corner where it was eventually checked.  The Monument to the Great Fire, old drinking houses hidden in narrow lanes, delightful churches built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Fire, the Guildhall and St. Paul’s Cathedral are some of the features along the route.  The walk will last 2 1/2 hours with a stop for coffee.

We have a walk at 11am which is almost sold out and another walk at 2.15pm. 

Tickets cost £9.00, from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

Archive Open Day at Tate Britain on Saturday 6th October 2018 11.00-4.00

To show appreciation of NADFAS/The Arts Society volunteer work over forty years in the Archives, Derek Rice and Nicola Roberts,  Library and Archive Co-ordinators,  wish to invite members of the societies who have members volunteering there (Beckenham, Bromley, North Kent, Westminster and Wimbledon) plus staff at The Arts Society Head Office and GLA volunteer staff to the above event.

This will be a fascinating experience which you can combine with your own pursuits in London on that day.   Unfortunately, due to accommodation of numbers, the invitation cannot be extended to friends and family.

There will be a display laid out in the Library and Archive Reading Rooms, which are situated on the lower floor very near to the cafeteria and cloakroom, access via Manton Street Entrance.  The display will have highlights of the Archive and Library, including press cuttings relating to Millbank Penitentiary and the founding of Tate Britain, as well as artists’ books and artists’ journals and letters.  You can look at these whilst awaiting your tour.  

The behind-the-scenes tours will be held at 11am, 11.45am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.15pm.   Each tour will be limited to 15 people.  You will see historical images and artefacts, including Turner material.  A highlight of this tour is seeing the NADFAS/Arts Society volunteer contribution to the press cuttings collection.

NB. The painting collection is stored elsewhere.

In conjunction with this you might wish to join one of the regular Archive Explorer free public tours which are at 1pm and 2.30pm from the top of the Manton Staircase (the stairs to the left when entering the ticket hall from Atterbury Street).

There will be no charge for this event but you will need to apply to Glenys Crane (020 8650 0617 or glenyscrane@btinternet.com) stating which tour you prefer and giving your contact details and name of society.   Tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis and you will need to send Glenys a sae for the ticket.   Tickets are necessary to monitor numbers on tours.

In the event of tours becoming full you will be contacted requesting you change your tour time if you can and it is possible that all tours will soon become filled.

We have a few tickets left for this visit and members are welcome to bring guests

A Visit to this Museum and Art Gallery including morning coffee and a light Lunch, with a stop at Paycockes merchant’s house (NT)

Christchurch Mansion is a red brick Tudor house set amid lovely parkland close to the centre of Ipswich. The mansion houses a museum showcasing fine art and period furniture:  a wide ranging, eclectic and interesting collection of artefacts, including Jacobean painted panelling, furniture and household furnishings, pottery and porcelain, especially Lowestoft porcelain produced locally,  a Tudor kitchen, costumes and much more. There is also a modern art gallery which houses a fine collection of art from Suffolk artists including the biggest collection of Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable paintings outside of London, as well as work from Alfred Munnings, Camille Pissaro, and other Suffolk artists. 

We will have an introductory talk giving us an overview of the Mansion and its collections and in particular the Wolsey Gallery. Morning coffee and a light sandwich lunch are included.

On our return we will stop at Coggeshall in the afternoon where you might choose to visit Paycocke’s House and garden (NT), a lovely Tudor merchant’s house with elaborate panelling and an interesting history (although some of the staircases are steep and narrow).  Coggeshall is a pretty village with many cafes and pubs for afternoon tea.

Tickets £38.00 includes executive coach, introductory talk at Christchurch Mansion, morning coffee and light lunch.  Entrance to Paycockes (NT) is not included. Tickets are available at the Lecture or from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

The Arts Society Beckenham
Tour:  The History and Heritage of West Riding
September 3rd to 7th 2018 

We are very pleased to announce our UK Tour this year will be a 5 day cultural visit to the West Riding of Yorkshire.

We have an exciting itinerary covering galleries, cathedrals, castle, gardens and historic houses, including two UNESCO World Heritage sites. With travel by comfortable executive coach from Beckenham and 4* accommodation in Harrogate, we think this is a tour full of interest and beauty.

On the journey up we will stop to visit Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, home of Bess of Hardwick,  before continuing to Yorkshire and checking in at the 4* Cedar Court Hotel for 4 nights’ accommodation which includes breakfast and dinner.

We will start with a visit to the beautiful Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens, a World Heritage site and one of the most historic and picturesque sites in England.  The following day we will visit Harewood House in Leeds;  a house renown for its Adam interiors and magnificent art collections.  We will then travel to Salts Mill in the World Heritage site of Saltaire, where we will be able to visit the 1853 Gallery and its famous collection of David Hockney’s work, and we will have time to explore Saltaire Village with its shops.
A visit to Ripon will give us guided tours of Ripon Cathedral and Ripon Castle, and then a visit to the timber framed medieval manor house of Norton Conyers and its lovely garden.  On our final day, we will be visiting the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, where we can see stunning contemporary works by artists such as Henry Moore, Antony Gormley and Barbara Hepworth set in a beautiful natural setting.  Finally we will visit Nostell Priory, a Palladian house with Adam-designed State Rooms and a Chippendale doll’s house and many other Chippendale pieces.

The full Brochure and Itinerary and Booking Forms can be found here along with optional insurance forms.  Bookings go direct to Heritage Travel, details are on the Booking Form.  If any members wish to pay the deposit by bank transfer, they are welcome to do so but need to call Heritage Travel for the relevant details.

If you would like any more information, you can contact Andrew Watt on 07770221051 or 02086500421 or andrewswatt@hotmail.com
 

Walk : Art in Canary Wharf with a TAS Guide and Lecturer

Saturday August 18th   

Over the last 25 years, the Docklands area of London has been transformed. Here are not only some of the great Georgian industrial warehouses and dock buildings, but state-of-the-art office buildings by the great architects of today. Canary Wharf is also a dramatic and witty sculpture park. On this walk we will be looking at both the historical context but also the art installations and sculptures which help make the area so vibrant!

 The walk will last about 2 hours, and our Guide will be Sue Jackson, a TAS Lecturer and Blue Badge Guide.

 We are offering a morning walk starting at 11.00 am and an afternoon walk at 2.00 pm.

Tickets cost £10, available at the Lecture or direct from lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Main illustration: Lynn Chadwick, Couple on Seat

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

BOOKINGS CLOSE ON JUNE 14TH.  MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO BUY TICKETS FOR NON MEMBERS FOR THIS VISIT.

Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle is the home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and is situated near Newbury in extensive parkland designed by Capability Brown.    The Castle, famous as the setting for the television series Downton Abbey, and the association of the 5th Earl with Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen, contains many magnificently decorated and richly furnished state rooms. The castle visit also provides an opportunity to view the Egyptian exhibition.   The surrounding parkland gives breathtaking views of the Hampshire countryside ampshireHamand the flower gardens should be at their best.   There are two tea rooms where light lunches and refreshments can be obtained.

Departure by coach at 7 a.m.   Arrival back approximately 6.30 – 7 p.m.

Tickets will be on sale from the May lecture and will cost £39.50 or £28 for HHA members (includes coach, entry to the Castle, Egyptian Exhibition and Gardens).

Unless otherwise stated, tickets for Visits and Study Days are only available to members of The Arts Society Beckenham and are available at lectures 3 months before the event.  They can also be bought direct from the Ticket Seller, contact details are shown on your membership and admission card or email lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO BUY TICKETS FOR NON MEMBERS FOR THIS VISIT

Arundel Castle & Gardens - Ancient Castle, Stately Home & Gardens

There are nearly 1,000 years of history at this great castle, situated in extensive grounds overlooking the River Arun in West Sussex and built at the end of the 11th century. The family home of the Dukes of Norfolk, the Castle is set high on a hill in West Sussex with stunning views across the South Downs.

There is a lot to see, with magnificent State Rooms and beautiful gardens.  The State rooms are open after 12pm and include the Gallery with tapestries and a rare collection of paintings including Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Canaletto;  Drawing Room, Library, Armoury, and Bedrooms.  Some may also want to climb the 131 steps to the top of the Keep!  There are a lot of stairs in the castle but there are lifts for each floor. The Fitzalan Chapel is in the grounds, a lovely example of Gothic architecture with fine carved stone tombs.  

You can take lunch in the self service restaurant or the snack bar, take a picnic in the gardens, or go to one of the cafes in the High Street. You will have lots of time to explore the beautiful gardens which extend up the hillside. It is a hilly site, but a buggy is available for those who need it and it can be summoned from various points in the gardens.

The High Street is nearby and for those who can manage a steep hill, the Cathedral is a short walk.   

The coach will depart from Beckenham at 9.00am and return about 6pm

Tickets £42 include coach, morning coffee and biscuits and entry to the Castle.

Unless otherwise stated, tickets for Visits and Study Days are only available to members of The Arts Society Beckenham and are available at lectures 3 months before the event.  They can also be bought direct from the Ticket Seller, contact details are shown on your membership and admission card or email lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

The Higgins Museum and Art Gallery, Bedford

Thursday May 24th 2018

The Higgins Museum was founded by the philanthropic brewer, Cecil Higgins to house his collection of ceramics, glass, watercolours, prints and decorative arts.  The art gallery and museum inhabit a number of historic buildings, including The Higgins House. The displays here introduce the family and explore Cecil Higgins’ collection in terms of how the objects might have originally been used and what they said about the people that owned them. As well as the Higgins family home and the Higgins Brewery buildings, there is the Hexagonal Gallery which is the oldest part of the site, and Bedford Gallery, a Grade II listed building. 

Our visit will commence with a one hour guided tour of The Cecil Higgins Collection, after which you will have free time to view the collections at your leisure and have lunch.   There is a gallery dedicated to the artist designer Edward Bawden;  one of the most influential artists of his generation, including murals, prints, illustrations, wallpapers, textiles and watercolours which made up the contents of his studio.    Also in its own gallery is the work of William Burges, one of the most imaginative architects of the 19th Century, who filled his buildings with richly-painted furniture, metalwork, ceramics and stained glass, all with his unique take on medieval style.  There is also a Design Gallery, highlighting some of Britain’s most important stylistic movements from Rococo to Gothic Revival and Neo-Classical to Arts and Crafts the focus will be on manufacturing techniques and influences.

 There is a lot to see on the site, but close to the Gallery is the John Bunyan Museum which you may choose to visit while you are in Bedford. This modern museum depicts John Bunyan's life and times, including his imprisonment in Bedford. Visitors can wander through the displays and experience life as it was in the 17th century.

The coach will depart Beckenham at 8.30 and return at approx. 6.30pm

Tickets will be on sale from the 1st March and will cost £30, which includes coach, guided tour of The Higgins and morning coffee/tea and biscuit.

Please note that this visit is no longer going to include a visit to Ascott House, as originally advertised.

Unless otherwise stated, tickets for Visits and Study Days are only available to members of The Arts Society Beckenham and are available at lectures 3 months before the event.  They can also be bought direct from the Ticket Seller, contact details are shown on your membership and admission card or email lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

Frances Hughes is a TAS accredited lecturer who specialises in Art and Theatre History.   She regularly leads tours of the Garrick Club which was founded in 1831 and which moved to its present premises in Garrick Street, Covent Garden, in1864.   The club houses the largest and most significant collection of British theatrical works of art and there are over 1000 paintings, drawings and pieces of sculpture on display.   Artists whose work is represented are Johan Zoffany, Thomas Lawrence and John Everett Millais and there are paintings of every notable British actor including David Garrick and John Gielgud.   Notable members have included Charles Dickens, WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, Henry Irving and William Makepeace Thackery and it is still a ‘gentlemen only’ private club.

All tickets sold - waiting list only

Unless otherwise stated, tickets for Visits and Study Days are only available to members of The Arts Society Beckenham and are available at lectures 3 months before the event.  They can also be bought direct from the Ticket Seller, contact details are shown on your membership and admission card or email lesley.tasb@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

The Charterhouse in Smithfield was built in 1371 and is a hidden architectural gem in the heart of London.  It started as a Carthusian monastery which flourished throughout the later medieval and early Tudor period.  It became a mansion for wealthy nobles, was used by royalty, became a Boy’s school and then an almshouse.  In 1611 the foundation was established which provides accommodation to a community of residents, known as Brothers.

We will discover more about the Charterhouse with a behind the scenes tour led by one of the resident Brothers.  These tours are given from the perspective of each individual Brother and therefore no two tours are the same. They provide an in-depth look at the long history of the site and the lifestyle of the Brothers through the centuries and are a unique opportunity to learn more about the nuances of this fascinating building.  The tour lasts approximately 2 hours. 

The Charterhouse is a few minutes walk from Barbican and Farringdon Stations.

January 25th 2018 at 14.15 p.m.

Tickets £15.00 

TICKET SALES FOR THIS EVENT WILL CLOSE ON DECEMBER 14

Unless otherwise stated, tickets for Visits and Study Days are only available to members of The Arts Society Beckenham and are available at lectures 3 months before the event.  They can also be bought direct from the Ticket Seller, contact details are shown on your membership and admission card or email lesley.bdfas1@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington 

The Globe Theatre on Southbank was founded by Sam Wanamaker as a faithful reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan Playhouse.  We will have a Guided Tour of the Theatre and entry to the Globe Exhibition, which explores the story of the theatre as it was in the centre of London’s notorious entertainment district.  The Exhibition brings Shakespeare’s world to life using a range of interactive displays and live demonstrations, with a handheld audioguide.  

We will also have a guided tour of the archaeological site of the Rose Theatre, after a short walking tour along Bankside, highlighting the interesting historical landmarks along the way.

Tickets cost £18.

Tickets

Unless otherwise stated, tickets for Visits and Study Days are only available to members of The Arts Society Beckenham and are available at lectures 3 months before the event.  They can also be bought direct from the Ticket Seller, contact details are shown on your membership and admission card or email lesley.bdfas1@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Opened in March 2012, the award-winning Jerwood Gallery sits next to the fishing beach in Hastings’ historic Old Town.  At the heart of the collection are paintings, works on paper, prints and sculpture by British artists working principally between the First World War and the 1960s, most notably:  Barbara Hepworth, Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson, John Piper, L. S. Lowry, Walter Sickert and Christopher Wood.  

While we are there, the temporary exhibitions will include one by Quentin Blake, with his biggest and most ambitious show to date investigating topical themes, and Stephen Turner’s Exbury Egg.  There will be time to walk around the Old Town, or visit the newly-opened Pier.

In the afternoon we will visit Bateman’s, the Jacobean home of Rudyard Kipling.  Surrounded by the wooded landscape of the Sussex Weald, this 17th century house, with its mullioned windows and oak beams, provided a much needed sanctuary to this world-famous writer.  The rooms remain much as he left them, with oriental rugs and artifacts reflecting his strong association with the East.

The coach will depart Beckenham at 9.00 am and return about 6.30 pm.

Ticket prices depend on whether you are a National Trust or Art Fund member and range from £28 to £39 and includes coach, morning coffee and entry fees, if applicable.

Tickets

Unless otherwise stated, tickets for Visits and Study Days are only available to members of The Arts Society Beckenham and are available at lectures 3 months before the event.  They can also be bought direct from the Ticket Seller, contact details are shown on your membership and admission card or email lesley.bdfas1@virginmedia.com

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Monday 4 to Friday 8 September 2017

This 5 day cultural tour of the West Midlands will include some of the wonderful houses, museums, churches and cathedrals of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia.

Travelling to our base in Leamington Spa by way of Bletchley Park, we will visit the iconic Coventry Cathedral, the Elizabethan Arbury Hall with it’s wonderful fan vaulted ceilings and parkland, and Birmingham’s Barber Institute of Fine Art, which has the finest small European art collection in the country and is housed in a listed Art Deco building.  We will also visit the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Back to Backs Museum.  

Our tour will also take us to the historic town of Warwick with it’s 14th century timber framed buildings and associations with Robert Dudley, where we will see the tomb of the Earl of Warwick in the Collegiate Church of St Mary.  The National Trust properties of the 16th century Charlecote Park and Coughton Court with their lovely gardens and collections of art and antiques are on the itinerary.

We return home via Stratford on Avon with time for a walking tour of this lovely medieval market town.

Bookings for this tour have closed.

Banner Illustration:  Canaletto The Porta Portello Padua, Open access image Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

There will be a guided tour of the Cathedral and in the Close Arundels (Edward Heath’ house), Mompesson House (NT), the Salisbury Museum and the Rifles Museum can be visited.

Tickets cost £30