Our new programme of activities for autumn and winter 2024 is available in the July newsletter for Members and is listed in greater detail in our Events Calendar on this website. This includes coach outings, informal coffee mornings and the first lectures of our winter lecture series in October to December.
Day Visits by coach from Oxford for Members
For more information, see Visits.
Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire – 8 August
An atmospheric moated medieval manor house given to the National Trust in 1980. The history of the house includes tales of how the priests’ holes sheltered Catholic priests in the 15th century.
The bridge over the moat leads via a gatehouse to a pretty courtyard and into the great hall.
In the gardens there are medieval fishponds, a lakeside walk, a walled garden and an orchard.
Beaulieu Abbey, Gardens and Motor Museum – 24 September
The 800 year old Abbey was founded by King John in the 13th Century before being destroyed on the orders of King Henry VIII in 1538. It is now a conserved ruin in a peaceful setting which visitors can enjoy.
The world famous motor museum contains 285 vehicles, and there is a veteran London open-topped bus and a monorail to take you around the grounds.
There is something to suit everyone in this day out!
Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex – 16 October
The garden is a horticultural work of art, formed through centuries of landscape design, with influences of Capability Brown and Humphrey Repton. The vast collection of trees and large shrubs are planted around 4 lakes to create vistas that enhance the feeling of grandeur. The garden was purchased in 1954 by the National Trust but the house passed into private ownership. It took many years to restore the grounds to their former glory.
Sheffield Wood has a mosaic of different habitats: conifer woods, broadleaf woods, coppice hornbeam, open rides and glades, all vital for wildlife.
Winter Lectures
In our winter series, between October and March, there will be 4 lectures at Magdalen College Auditorium, and 2 lectures available to members via Zoom. Non-members are welcome at our lectures at Magdalen Auditorium. For more details, see Lectures.
22 October at Magdalen Auditorium: Sharing stories of caring for our National Trust gardens and plant collections with Pam Smith, Senior National Consultant for Gardens and Parklands at the National Trust
NB This is a change to the lecture published in our Newsletter. Professor Whyte will now be talking to us in March.
19 November at Magdalen Auditorium: Histories of Childhood: uncovering new heritage narratives with historians of modern British history, Dr Gillian Lamb and Professor Siân Pooley
9 – 15 December via Zoom link: Saving Country Houses with speaker Ben Cowell, Director General of Historic Houses