Home James

Offering a privileged look at some of Shropshire’s less well-known historic houses Following the modest success of our tours devoted to some of the lesser known gems in Shropshire in 2007, Home James is offering an enlarged programme for 2008/2009. Our aim is to introduce connoisseurs of historic houses to some that are not wide open to the public, especially those whose owners still live in them as their homes. Indeed, one or two of them are not normally open to the public at all, others do so on very limited basis. We rarely take more than 15 on each tour, which makes them very personal and friendly. Owners, who quite often take the tours round, comment favourably on this since it helps them to relate closely with the party. Our programme for 2008/2009 is:- Wednesday 17th September OAKLY PARK, LUDLOW and STOKESAY COURT We meet at the Secret Hills Centre in Craven Arms at 10.30 am for briefing over a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Oakly Park, our first destination, is lived in by Viscount Windsor and is very much a family home. Remodelled by Charles Robert Cockerell in 1825, Oakly is a rarity, in that Cockerell normally confined his building activities to more public edifices, notably the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. Oakly must be one of the most underrated houses of its period. All being well, Viscount Windsor will himself take us round. Should he be away for any reason his place will be taken by Michael Tebbutt, who started a 30 year career in the management of historic houses as Comptroller of Knebworth House, Hertfordshire in 1969. Lunch will be served at The Clive Arms, only a short distance from Oakly, after which we go on to Stokesay Court, the home of Mrs Magnus Allcroft. Built in 1889 the Court is a more than valiant attempt to re-invoke the Elizabethan period, and is located only a short distance away from the better-known Stokesay Castle. We expect to disperse around 4.15 pm Wednesday 22nd October HAWKSTONE HALL and GARDENS Aptly described as the “secret jewel of Shropshire”, Hawkstone Hall was the ancestral home of the famous Shropshire family, the Hills, from 1556 to 1906. The present house is a Georgian overlay on the older house, and now serves as an International Pastoral Centre. It has about it an air of tranquillity that is utterly compelling, and a day spent there is a refreshing experience. The house is being opened especially for us and we shall have it to ourselves for the whole day. We meet at the Hall at 10.30 am, where coffee will be served. We shall then be given a comprehensive tour of the Hall by a member of the staff, before leaving to go to the Hawkstone Hotel for lunch. After lunch we shall return for a tour of the grounds and, if time and weather permits, the neighbouring Hawkstone Historic Follies. Expect to be back on the road by 4 pm. Wednesday 26th September CRONKHILL AND BERWICK HOUSE Cronkhill was built as a home for the Agent and friend of the 2nd Lord Berwick, Francis Walford. The architect was none other than John Nash, and Cronkhill became extremely well known as the first of the Italianate designs for which he became so famous. The Berwicks lived at nearby Attingham, and both properties were acquired by The National Trust when the late Lady Berwick died. Cronkhill is now let to a tenant, who we hope will be at home to show us round. If not, please welcome Michael Tebbutt. Cronkhill has a special place in our affections as the first historic home that Home James visited in 2005. We meet at the nearby Mytton and Mermaid Hotel for coffee and briefing at 10.30 am. NT/NTS members please bring membership cards. After the visit we head for Shrewsbury where an excellent pub, The Coach and Horses, tucked away in the narrow streets of this old medieval town, will serve us lunch. Their legendary Sunday carvery is well known and we are expecting something similar. Later we go on to Berwick Hall, built for the Powys family in 1731. A suggestion, no more, of Smith of Warwick hangs in the air. Berwick is only open by very special arrangement, and we are indeed fortunate that Henry Angell-James and his mother have agreed to this special visit. We expect to leave Berwick around 4.15 pm. All Tours can be booked now, cost of £55 per person all inclusive of entrance, transportation and refreshments. Bookings close 10 days before the date of the visit. Please make cheques payable to Home James. Acceptance of your booking will be confirmed. Please give email addresses where possible. BOOKING FORM HOME JAMES                                                                                                                                           HISTORIC HOUSE TOURS Address: Station Approach Shrewsbury SY1 2AA  Telephone: 0870 957 6408 james.gollins@btconnect.com                  www.homejames.uk.com No. of People                  Amount (  ) OAKLY PARK, LUDLOW & STOKESAY COURT Wednesday 17th September HAWKSTONE HALL & GARDENS Wednesday 22nd October CRONKHILL & BERWICK HOUSE Wednesday 26th September TOTAL TO PAY Cost of £55 per person all inclusive. Bookings close 10 days before the date of the visit. Please make cheques payable to Home James. Acceptance of your booking will be confirmed. Please give email addresses where possible.