OCNT
Andy Foley, National Trust Area Ranger, will lead a guided walk on White Horse Hill, telling us about the ancient monuments, and about his work as a Ranger. Andy gave Oxford Centre Members an interesting zoom talk in October 2020 about working at White Horse Hill. Members who have expressed interest in joining the Walking […]
Claydon House was built for the 2nd Earl Verney in the 18th century to rival his neighbour, Earl Temple of Stowe. The simple exterior hides a lavish interior decorated with exotic designs and exceptional Rococo carvings. A niece who inherited the building, and a lot of debt, promptly pulled down two thirds of the house, […]
This talk by Mark Lewis celebrates the life and work of William Morris, poet, artist and social reformer, who pioneered a movement against the soulless machine production of the Industrial Revolution and sought to promote joyful labour, fine craftsmanship and simplicity of expression. Mark is a designer-maker specialising in silversmithing, jewellery and product design. He […]
The Walking Group will walk from Ashbury, incorporating a guided visit to Ashdown House by author Nicola Cornick, with an account of the House’s associations with Elizabeth of Bohemia, “the Winter Queen”. The walk is approximately five-and-a-half miles. Members who have expressed interest in joining the Walking Group will be sent further details of when […]
The Vyne is a red brick Tudor mansion built in the 16th century by William Sandys, Henry VIII’s Lord Chamberlain, which later passed into the hands of the Chute family who lived there for 300 years. It has been added to and altered throughout its life and has many historic features including a Pre-Reformation chapel, […]
Extraordinary General Meeting to consider the adoption of a revised Constitution for Oxford Centre of the National Trust. All members are invited to attend. A raffle will be held in support of the National Trust. This meeting will be followed immediately by a lecture on The Water Gypsy: how a thames fishergirl became a Viscountess.
This lecture takes place at Magdalen College Auditorium, 11am, preceded by EGM for members of the Oxford Centre at 10.45am. Speaker Julie Ann Godson tells the story of the marriage of Viscount Ashbrook to Betty Ridge, daughter of a humble Thames fisherman. Betty’s granddaughter became Duchess of Marlborough and chatelaine of Blenheim Palace. Secret marriage, aristocratic […]
What could be nicer than to meet up with friends for a splendid Afternoon Tea, including sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and cakes! The Oxford Spires Hotel is situated in the Abingdon Road, easily accessed by bus. This is one of the programme of events which Members can book using the booking form attached […]
Fleeing from Nazi persecution and in search of wealthy English clients, Ernӧ Goldfinger settled in London in 1934 and married the artist Ursula Blackwell. This talk addresses the design, construction and collections of 2 Willow Road, the couple’s former home in Hampstead, a major landmark of modernist architecture in England. The lecture is given by […]
Taking place at Magdalen College Auditorium, 11am. Non-members welcome! Local historian, guide and author Mark Davies has researched the varied history of Oxford Castle, founded in 1071, which played an immediate role in the struggle for the throne between the Empress Matilda and King Stephen. It is not until the 17th and 18th centuries that […]
A welcome opportunity to start the New Year together in a sociable and relaxed fashion. The Oxford Centre’s President, Dr Nick Brown, Principal of Linacre, hosts a sit-down lunch in Linacre’s dining room. Nick will outline the fascinating history of Linacre and happily answer any questions. Special dietary requirements will be catered for if notice […]
Our speaker is Jenny Mailin, who has researched 5 generations of ancestors who lived in British Raj India. Her talk covers the early introduction of the railways in India, and demonstrates how nowhere other than India has the railway been so indelibly connected with a nation. Jenny is an experienced and engaging speaker, who has […]
Ashdown House has been called “a house built for the love of a woman who never lived to see it”. That woman was Elizabeth of Bohemia, the Winter Queen, sister of King Charles I. In this talk historian Nicola Cornick explores the influences this remarkable woman had over this equally remarkable building and its history. […]
Local historian Liz Wooley is interested in the everyday lives of rural people across Oxfordshire during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Her illustrated talk tells the story of our county’s child workers, many of whom started work part-time at the age of six or seven and, until the compulsory school legislation of the 1870s, left […]
This trip includes a visit to Shakespeare’s birthplace – the house owned and lived in by his father John until his death in 1601, and retained by the Shakespeare family through to 1806. There will then be a walking tour, approx. 2 miles long, led by a Blue Badge Guide, along the ‘historic spine’ of […]
Annual General Meeting at 10.45am. Lecture at 11am. Author and ecologist Hugh Warwick has spent much of his life working on hedgehogs, but he also has a fascination for wider wildlife issues, in particular the fragmentation of our landscape and how that impacts on the ability of wildlife to thrive. Hedgerows, drystone walls, railways and […]
The Vyne is a red brick Tudor mansion built in the 16th century by William Sandys, Henry VIII’s Lord Chamberlain. The Chute family then lived there for 300 years. It retains many historic features including a pre-Reformation chapel, Tudor oak gallery with 16th century woodcarving and neo-Classical hall. The Estate’s tapestries will be back on […]
Two walks on the Sherborne Estate, preceded by an introduction to the estate from the Facilities Manager of the National Trust's Cotswolds Countryside Portfolio. Sherborne is a working estate with an abundance of wildlife. The morning walk will be around 2.5 miles, with a return to Sherborne village tea room for lunch. In the afternoon, […]
In 2019, Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens opened its doors after a closure of 10 years. Nearly lost forever, this magnificent Grade 1 listed garden has seen the largest garden restoration in England, possibly Europe. In April, highlights should include rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias together with magnolias and bluebells. The different colours reflected in the lakes […]
Longer and shorter walks in the vicinity of Nuffield Place, former home of Lord Nuffield, founder of the Morris Motor Company, at a time when the bluebells should be out. Refreshment stops will be included as appropriate. Participants must arrange their own transport, although lifts may be available on enquiry. For information on joining one […]