OCNT
Coleshill House, its secrets, trials and tribulations A talk by Liza Dibble, NT Community Learning Officer for the Buscot & Coleshill Estates Buscot and Coleshill Estates came together in 1956 on the death of Ernest Cook, bequeathed to the National Trust. Coleshill House, built in 1660 and occupied by Auxiliary Units during WW2, burned down […]
This talk is given by Ian Wright, Consultancy Manager (Gardens), NT South West Region Ian promises an overview of the diverse range of gardens managed by the National Trust, the challenges they face, and discusses the future for historic gardens.
Photo source: Mister Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers Mike Heaney is an authority on Morris dancing and a musician for the Eynsham Morris Where does Morris dancing come from? What’s the significance of wearing bells on legs, waving handkerchiefs and clashing sticks? This talk disentangles myth from history.
Speaker Amy Lim holds a Collaborative Doctoral Award at the University of Oxford and Tate, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Her talk focuses on 17th and 18th century portraits in National Trust houses, and explores how and why they were displayed. Amy will explain how to “decode” portraits by looking at clothes, […]
The speaker is from the team at Cliveden’s Talks Service An in-depth look at Cliveden’s stories, from devilish dukes to scandalous headlines and boundary-breaking garden design to political notoreity. A journey through Cliveden’s 350-year history, starting with the Duke of Buckingham who built the first house in 1666.
On Tuesday, 20 April at 11am: our Zoom lecture will be Ham House, the finest 17C house in Europe to be given by Roseanne Williams, a member of the National Trust Monitoring Group, a keen volunteer for many years, and a former member of Council. It is the story of how a father and daughter, William and Elizabeth Murray, developed […]
From Monday 17th until Sunday 23rd May the Zoom lecture will be Jewish Country Houses, Collections and National Memory, a joint presentation by Abigail Green, Professor of Modern European History, University of Oxford, and Tom Stammers, Associate Professor in Modern European History, University of Durham. Abigail is working with the National Trust on a Knowledge Exchange Fellowship at Oxford helping to […]
Oxford Centre is planning our first outing of the year to visit Coleshill Park on May 27th 2021. It will be a half-day visit to Coleshill Model Farm, via Middleleaze Paddock, the site where up to 500 native broadleaf saplings will be planted next winter, sponsored by members of the Oxford Centre. Numbers on the […]
From Monday 14th to Sunday 20th June, the presentation on Reroofing The Vyne by George Roberts, National Trust Curator of The Vyne, will be available via a Zoom link for members. Following damage from a severe storm in 2013, The Vyne’s entire roof needed to be repaired. In September 2018, this former Tudor palace, visited by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, reopened […]
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 […]