Treasure Houses of England

Mother's Day at Chatsworth

2012-03-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

This year seesChatsworth, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire set in the heart of thePeak District, reveal its gleaming new facades following an extensiverestoration as it re-opens for a new season on March 11 2012, just in time forMother’s Day.

With more than30 rooms and a wealth of fascinating stories to discover in the house; waterfeatures, giant sculptures and a puzzling maze in the stunning 105 acre gardenand the chance to come face to face with animals in the working farmyard andenjoy adventurous fun in the playground, Chatsworth offers a great day forevery generation this Mother’s Day.

In the garden,all children will be given a daffodil to present to their mum and the populardedication board will appear again in Flora’s Temple for family members toleave their special messages to their mothers.

In the farmyard,mums can put their feet up and take advantage of a complimentary nail bar andfree tea and coffee as the younger members of the family let off steam in theadventure playground.

A new Chatsworthticket has been introduced to give unlimited entry to the house, garden andfarmyard throughout the day, plus a half price voucher valid for one use withinsix months.

For moreinformation and ticketing options including a 10 percent discount for onlinebooking, visit www.chatsworth.org

Chatsworth is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the mostmagnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England. www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Hare off to Beaulieu for an Easter Egg-stravaganza 31st March – 15th April 2012

2012-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

During the Easter holidays, 31st March – 15th April, young visitors to Beaulieu can join in a Hare-Brained Easter Trail. Look for the hares, find the answers to the clues and collect a sweet treat at the end of the trail.

See exciting new exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, showcasing 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films – including some that have never been seen on display before – and incredible vehicle action clips. It features some of the best loved and most iconic vehicles from the world famous film series, including the Lotus Esprit S1 ‘Wet Nellie’ from The Spy Who Loved Me, the Bede Acrostar Jet famously flown in Octopussy, and the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish with adaptive camouflage from Die Another Day.

Also new for 2012 is the On Screen Cars exhibition, where you can spot a number of TV and film favourites. Admire Del Boy’s Reliant Regal as featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, Mr Bean’s lime green Mini, and the De Lorean as featured in Back to the Future. Also on display is the flying Ford Anglia, used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Take a look around the National Motor Museum’s stunning collection of over 250 vehicles, from world land speed record breakers to F1 racers, plus quirky motoring oddities such as a giant orange on wheels. Journey through 100 years of motoring in the museum’s pod-ride ‘Wheels’ and visit Jack Tucker’s Garage, which recreates the sights, sounds and smells of a typical country garage from the 1930s.

In World of Top Gear see actual vehicles created by presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May for some of their most ambitious challenges on the TV show over the years, including the four cars from the India Christmas Special 2011 which have recently joined the display.

Fans of the show will experience the Top Gear ‘Enormodrome’ which recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio. As well as regular features from the programme including the Cool Wall and Celebrity ‘Lap Time’ boards, visitors can watch an exclusive video presentation from behind-the-scenes at the Top Gear HQ with Jeremy, Richard and James plus clips from the show featuring the cars on display.

Stroll through the beautifully kept gardens, where in April there is a colourful mass of crocuses and daffodils that surround Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. Over fifteen species of daffodils bloom at various times during the flowering season, ensuring a spectacular show lasting many weeks. Join in with Victorian Games on the lawns in front of the house and face painting inside.

Don’t miss Palace House’s new photographic exhibition, ‘Beaulieu Estate: a year in pictures’ which features photographs taken by the Beaulieu Camera Club, documenting every aspect of life on the Beaulieu Estate during 2011.

There’s a lot more for all the family at Beaulieu this Easter; take a ride on the high-level Monorail or see the sights from the replica open-topped London Bus. Budding drivers can get behind the wheel on the Mini Car Driving Circuit and younger visitors can get physical on Dipstick’s Mini Motor Play Trail with its Veteran Bus climbing frame, swings and Little Tykes ride-on-cars. Plus visit the Secret Army Exhibition and learn about the training of special agents at Beaulieu during WWII.

Beaulieu is open from 10am every day so hop along to Beaulieu for some Easter fun. For further information telephone 01590 612345 or visit: www.beaulieu.co.uk

For further information on The Treasure Houses of England please click here.

Wedding Showcase Day at Harewood

2012-03-02T02:12:00.000-08:00

Hosting a selection of carefully chosen suppliers, the new Wedding team at Harewood look forward to welcoming guests to a Wedding Showcase Day on Sunday 11 March from 11am – 4pm. With complimentary admittance and a glass of champagne on arrival in the newly refurbished Courtyard Suites, Boutique at Harewood is confident it’ll be a day to remember.

With a combination of experienced staff, exquisite catering and unwavering attention to detail, your experience with Boutique at Harewood will surpass all expectations, and the Wedding Showcase allows guests to sample the highlights of our new Wedding Menu whilst perusing the range of carefully chosen suppliers. World renowned Bettys will be showcasing their delectable offer of wedding cakes; Leafy Couture, Grace & Tailor, and Ambience will be setting the scene with picturesque floral displays and beautifully dressed rooms; and wedding photographer favourite Olivia Brabbs will be displaying her atmospheric imagery – all to the live sounds of Elysium Entertainment.

When it comes to choosing a venue for your wedding, few can beat the stunning setting of Harewood with its historic surroundings and spectacular grounds. One of the most prestigious wedding locations in the UK, Harewood hosts a range of weddings that require a tailored approach. With two beautiful venues within this magnificent location, it provides the ultimate backdrop for intimate and larger gatherings, and is licensed to perform civil ceremonies for up to 150 guests.

Register your interest today to secure your place on the guest list for this ticket-only event which provides entry to the Showcase and grounds. Entry is free, but advance booking is required. Contact the Wedding Team on 0113 218 1036 or email weddings@harewood.org

www.harewood.org/weddings

Harewood is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the mostmagnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England. www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Easter Holidays at the Treasure Houses of England

2012-03-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Expect an Easter egg extravaganza at a multitude of venues, such as with Blenheim Palace with their enticing Easter Egg Challenge (6-7 April) around their glorious Pleasure Gardens. BAFTA award-winning TV series characters Peppa Pig and George with The Piplings will be at Blenheim Palace to meet families (8-9 April). Piplings Yojojo, Lau Lau, Nok Tok and De Li also invite you to join the fun for their interactive yoga sessions (8-9 April).

During the Easter holidays, 31st March – 15th April, young visitors to Beaulieu can join in a Hare-Brained Easter Trail. Look for the hares, find the answers to the clues and collect a sweet treat at the end of the trail.

Explore the superb Sculpture Garden and Garden of Surprises at Burghley’s Easter Egg Hunt (8 April); and get involved with Chatsworth’s Easter Eggstravaganza (31 March – 15 April), featuring trails in the house, garden and farmyard, as well as themed crafts and much more.

Castle Howard’s Traditional Easter Fair (6-9 April) will see an old-fashioned dray pulled by Shire horses that will deliver you to a bevy of fantastic fair rides and the huge adventure playground. Enjoy lunch at the Boathouse and become transformed into some wild and imaginative creatures courtesy of the incredible face painters for a fun-filled and adventurous day out.

Sticky fingers and rosy cheeks abound at Harewood this Easter Weekend (6-9 April) Celebrating Easter traditions from across the world, there’s some unique activities inside and out for all the family. We’ve made Easter at Harewood the best place to get in the Easter spirit, with a superb Children’s Craft Village, Easter egg trails through the bird garden, a now famous Easter Egg hunt around the grounds and the chance to see Harewood’s very own chef demonstrating traditional chocolate egg making.

There’s lots of Easter Fun for children at Holkham Hall (6-9 April) with an ‘Egg-stacle’ course in the beautiful walled garden and appearances of the Bouncing Bunny or Mad Hatter, with crafts and egg-citing Easter fun in the Bygones Musuem. On Easter Sunday 8th April and Easter Monday 9th Holkham is turning back the clocks to the Edwardian era commemorating the sinking of The Titanic with “titanic Tea-time Treats” bringing historic cookery to life in the Old Kitchen of the hall.

Children can follow a trail through the grounds of Leeds Castle to collect a chocolate Easter egg from the Bunny Burrows. With lots of animal fun, crafts and even Easter Egg Archery! (6-9 April)

Revel in the beautiful outdoors of Woburn Abbey (reopening 30 March) and explore their magnificent Deer Park and Abbey Grounds as well as following the Easter Egg Trail in the Abbey Gardens. The 19th century Hornbeam maze is open for the Easter weekend providing a fun challenge for adults and children alike (additional charge).

For more informationvisit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

New exhibitions unveiled at the Treasure Houses of England

2012-02-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

From artistic masterpieces to fascinating historical exhibitions, The Treasure Houses of England look set to deliver a captivating programme of exciting exhibitions this year.

Bond in Motion is the world’s largest official collection of original James Bond vehicles which has just opened at Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum for one year only. Bond in Motion features 50 vehicles to celebrate 50 years of the Bond franchise and 40 years since the National Motor Museum opened.
From the 24th May to the 2nd September at Beaulieu, there will be an exhibition of the Surrey Sculpture Society’s stunning traditional and contemporary artwork. The sculptors are exhibiting their broad range of work on an extensive Sculpture Trail that leads visitors through the beautiful grounds and gardens of Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. This diverse collection of artworks includes abstract and traditional sculptures in figurative, floral, animal and human form and is fashioned from a range of materials such as bronze, ceramics, wood, glass and stone.

British art is showcased in supreme style courtesy of John Piper at Blenheim Palace (11 February – 9 April). Eleven original – and some previously unseen - watercolours from the esteemed twentieth century artist will be on display from the Palace’s impressive collection. Featuring a multitude of mixed media, the exhibition will focus on Blenheim Palace and the breathtaking artworks created during the last decade of John Piper’s life.
Dedicating its annual Treasury Exhibition to the Olympic career and connections of Gold medal winning Olympian David Cecil, Lord Burghley – Burghley House will unveil a mass of memorabilia from the acclaimed golden athlete of his generation, including his running outfit, medals and in-depth information about his intriguing sporting life.

Capturing the Castle comprises an extensive exhibit spanning 300 years of Castle Howard in the Arts (May-November). Incorporating everything from photography and paintings to porcelain and souvenirs, the display offers an inspired and rare treat to visitors.

Chatsworth House presents a private collection of modern British masterpieces with lendings from internationally renowned collectors, Frank and Cherryl Cohen (19 March – 10 June) featuring over 40 pieces from over 20 various artists such as Stanley Spencer, John Hoyland and Edward Burra. Also, don’t miss Caro at Chatsworth (28 March – 1 July) – 15 stunning sculptures in the estate’s gorgeous gardens from the country’s greatest living sculptor, Anthony Caro.

Royal Harewood (31 March – 17 June) – Harewood commemorates this special Jubilee year with two exhibitions – ‘Royal Harewood: Celebrating the Life of The Yorkshire Princess’, and ‘Marcus Adams: Royal Photographer, photographs from the Royal Collection’. A unique insight into the life of HRH Princess Mary in Yorkshire, including some previously unseen items from her Faberge and Fan collection, many given as gifts when Harewood was a Royal Household. In the Terrace Gallery, intimate photographs of a young Monarch to-be, will be on view for the first time in the UK in 2012 to celebrate this special year.

Continuing to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Holkham Hall’s new exhibition highlights the 400-year long royal connection between the monarchy and Holkham’s Coke family establishment (April-October). Delve into the archives, library, personal records and photos to discover original items that illustrate the spellbinding story.
Following on from the success of ‘Moore at Hatfield’ in 2011, Hatfield House are staging the first major UK outdoor exhibition of the sculptural works of French artist Xavier Veilhan (7 April – 30 September). Discover more about The Ladies of Hatfield House, with this new exhibition which offers an insight into the Ladies who lived at Hatfield, their passions, accomplishments and the odd scandal! (7 April - 30 September).

Woburn ARTBEAT is an annual project now in its third year where Woburn Abbey and the nearby village of Woburn join together to promote high quality original art by turning the village into an art gallery (6th - 27th April) and a prominent sculpture exhibition in the gardens of Woburn Abbey (6th - 31st August).

The Treasure Houses of England (THE) is a consortium of 10 of the country’s finest palaces, historic houses and castles. Unique in character, each property has its own magical blend of magnificent architecture, fabulous surroundings, world class collections and family attractions to enjoy.

• For admission prices and opening hours - visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

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The Treasure Houses of England are 10 of the most magnificent palaces, houses and castles in England today. Together they attract in excess of 2.8 million visitors annually.

Members include: Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Burghley House, Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Harewood House, Hatfield House, Holkham Hall, Leeds Castle and Woburn Abbey.

One of the most compelling features of the Treasure Houses of England is that they all offer the visitor a living history. Most are still homes to the great families who have owned them for generations. Others keep their heritage alive by re-creating scenes and events that have dominated and shaped England from the 9th century to the present day.

Between them they house some of the most important art collections in the world with famous works from artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. The connoisseur of fine furniture, porcelain and china will find priceless examples of Chippendale, Wedgwood and Meissen.

Each house is an architectural masterpiece surrounded by beautiful parklands and gardens.

For admission prices and opening hours - visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Fun Farming at Chatsworth Farmyard for February Half Term

2012-02-09T05:24:00.000-08:00

11 February to 19 February 2012

TheChatsworth Farmyard and Adventure Playground will be opening this Saturday (11February) for the school half term holiday to give families a fun taste ofrural farming. The packed line up includes rural demonstrations and activities;the chance to meet the Shire Horse and find out how they are dressed; learn howto spin thread from local wool; discover where the old pack horse routes arearound the estate; find out how horse drivers work and see the local farriermaking a horse shoe on his mobile forge.

Witha large indoor barn, an indoor picnic room and a covered canopy area, thefarmyard is a great place to visit this half term whatever the weather. Children can plant out beans and make bird feeders to take home in the barn andenjoy some messy mud painting under the canopy.

The popular small animalhandling and ‘Meet the Animals’ sessions for a chance to get up close to thelarger farm residents will take place every day. The woodland adventure playground wherechildren can climb, slide, swing and spin is a great place to let off steam andthe cafe and shop will be open to complete a great day out.

Thefarmyard is open from 11 to 19 February from 10.30 to 4.30pm every day, withlast entry at 3.30pm. For details of each day’s activities andticketing options including a 10 percent discount for online booking, go to www.chatsworth.org

For further information on the Treasure Houses of England please visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Holiday Fun at the Treasure Houses of England

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Promising a mesmerising mix of entertainment especially for children, The Treasure Houses of England are poised to deliver a fabulous feast of family fun this February Half Term.

FEBRUARY HALF TERM

From 11th to 19th, take part in Beaulieu’s James Bond-themed quiz and enjoy the new Bond in Motion exhibition where there are over 50 original James Bond vehicles - plus take part in an undercover army commando course.

Jump aboard the land-train for a joy ride down to the Lakeside Adventure Playground at Castle Howard, which is suitable for children (and adults!) of all ages.

Similarly, Chatsworth’s Farmyard and Adventure Playground offers an enticing array of activities for all (11-19 February).

To celebrate spring, Harewood gardens and grounds are hosting a range of activities and demonstrations for all the family including walks and talks from experts, alpaca wool spinning, pottery classes and a chance to enjoy the fresh air and fun in a glorious location.

Visit the brilliant Bloody Hollow – Hatfield House’s adventure playground (free to anyone who has purchased a ticket from the park) and Hatfield Park Farm (free for accompanied children) to see the various farmyard animals and play amongst spectacular surrounds. The stableyard will also be hosting a great array of children’s activities during half term (15-19 February).

Leed’s Castle presents the Birds and Beasts Roadshow (11-19 February), which houses a huge range of animals, birds, spiders and snakes in a marquee near the maze. Get up close and personal with a bevy of creepy crawlies for an unforgettably fun and educational experience.

The Pleasure Gardens at Blenheim Palace is the perfect place for families to let off steam during February half term. Hop on the miniature train from the Palace for family fun in the Pleasure Gardens including the giant Marlborough Hedge Maze, Adventure Play Area, the Butterfly House and the Gardens Cafe.

The Treasure Houses of England (THE) is a consortiumof 10 of the country’s finest palaces, historic houses and castles. Unique incharacter, each property has its own magical blend of magnificent architecture,fabulous surroundings, world class collections and family attractions to enjoy.

For more informationvisit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Half Term Fun at Harewood with 'Love Nature, Love Harewood'

2012-02-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

This February half term, Harewood looks forward to celebrating all things natural with a great week of events and activities for all the family. Surrounded by open spaces and burgeoning Spring gardens, Love Nature’s aim will be to shake off the winter blues, spark interest, learn through fun and celebrate the new season within the comfort of the gardens and grounds of one the nation’s favourite country homes. Plus there’s 10% off if you book ahead ….

Love Nature combines insightful activities and demonstrations, and Harewood provides handy facilities to keep all the family fed and watered. See how alpaca wool is spun to create woolly masterpieces with the Yorkshire Alpaca Group, and join in and ‘paint and take’ your own piece of pottery with Fired Art Designs or join our Education team and try your hand at a range of crafts. Yorkshire based masters of wood, Mawdsley Williams will be on hand with wood furniture demonstrations to showcase their extraordinary skills in sourcing and making woodwork for their individual designs and showing how the environment inspires them in their work. Get your hands dirty with seed planting workshops, pick a seed to plant and take it home to watch it grow! If you’re keen to get out and about, why not take part in a ‘walk and talk’ and gain a fascinating insight into the stunning gardens with Head Gardener, Trevor Nicholson, you’ll find out all sorts about the grand, venerable, ancient and elegant trees we have here… or watch the Red Kites circling the skies and find out more with a Red Kite talk from Yorkshire’s own Project Officer from Yorkshire’s original Kite programme, Doug Simpson (one day only, visit website for details). Bird Garden Curator, John Waller, is also offering a walk and talk all about the birds in the Bird Garden, which will include details on birds that can be seen around the gardens and grounds of Harewood at this time of year. The bird walk concludes with our resident penguins’ feeding time. Plus there’s make your own bird cake feeder, win a prize with Spot the Owl prize draw, visit The Old Kitchen Below Stairs for fun food demonstrations and much more. (Note. Some events need to be booked ahead and require a small additional spend – see below or visit our website for details).

Perfect for all the family, Harewood has it just right this half term. Whether you have a love of gardens, birds or simply for the great outdoors, Harewood provides. Love Nature, love Harewood…

11 - 19 Feb 2012, 10am - 4pm.
Adult £10.00 Senior £9.00 Child £6.00 Family £30, includes all grounds (State Floor closed). Below Stairs is open.
10% discount on pre-booking discount applies.
Harewood Members Free.
Pottery ‘make and take’ £5 upwards per head
Garden walk and talk free
Bird Garden walk and talk free
Red Kite talk free
Visit www.harewood.org/LoveNature for more details

Harewood Winter opening 7 Jan – 30 March (Below Stairs open half term only, limited menu in café weekdays – some parts of the garden may be closed over the Winter Season – please check website) 10am – 4pm
Open daily for half term week 11 to 19 February 10am - 4pm
Members Exhibition Preview Day 30 March
Daily opening 31 March – 4 November 10am – 6pm
(House 31 March - 30 September, & 27 October – 4 November 12 – 3pm)
Royal Harewood: State Floor, 31 March to 17 June

Entry is £5 throughout the winter November – February, general admission prices apply from 11 February onwards.
Special event prices apply on certain event days, please see website for details.

To be a member at Harewood and enjoy exclusive benefits, visit www.harewood.org/membership – membership also makes a great gift.

Recently awarded Gold in the Large Visitor Attraction category of the Enjoy England Awards, Harewood is an independent charitable educational trust set up to maintain and develop Harewood, its collections and grounds, for public benefit. Registered Charity No: 517753. Harewood is the family seat of the Earl and Countess of Harewood and provides a great day out for all the family. The House, with its outstanding art collections, splendid State Rooms and fascinating ‘Below Stairs’ exhibition, is set in spectacular landscaped grounds, which include formal gardens and gentle woodland walks, renowned Bird Garden, children’s Adventure Playground, a Bhutanese Stupa, waterfall and Himalayan Garden.

Harewood House Trust, Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG info@harewood.org 0113 218 1010

For more information on the Treasure Houses of England please visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Gold medals and movie magic . . . a royal Olympic year for Burghley House

2012-02-01T05:37:00.000-08:00

England’s greatest Elizabethan house will be offering visitors a unique take on Britain’s Olympic year including perhaps the most scenic place to watch the London 2012 Games – and the picturesque venue for a blockbuster summer feast of movie outdoor screenings.
Throw in fun family events, free-to-enter Fine Food Markets, summer picnics plus Diamond Jubilee celebrations and Lincolnshire’s Burghley House is setting its sights on a bumper 2012.

As Britain prepares for Olympic glory and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, one of the country’s most inspirational past Olympic champions is being celebrated at the ancestral home of Queen Elizabeth I’s most trusted adviser.

Since being built 400 years ago by William Cecil, Lord Burghley - Elizabeth I’s chief minister - Burghley House has dominated the sweeping approach to the Georgian stone town of Stamford. Today, it still packs that ‘wow’ factor – offering a packed family day out with a combined ticket giving access to the House plus two gardens, including the Tudor-inspired Gardens of Surprise.

Regarded by many as England’s greatest Elizabethan house, Burghley has a unique claim to fame for its 2012 season - as home to an Olympic Gold Medal Winner and one of the key organisers behind the last Olympic Games to be staged in London.

David Cecil, Lord Burghley (1905-1981), who inherited the title of Marquess of Exeter from his father in 1956, was one of the golden athletes of his generation. During a sporting career spanning more than a decade he won every available honour in his chosen discipline culminating in achieving gold for the 400 metres hurdles at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and silver in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics 4x400 metre relay.

Lord Burghley’s great talent as a hurdler and his life at Cambridge was the inspiration behind Lord Lindsay, one of the key characters in the film Chariots of Fire, played by Nigel Havers – a movie which features in Burghley’s summer night film outdoor screenings.

Burghley House will be dedicating its annual Treasury Exhibition to the Olympic connections and sporting achievements of the Gold medal winning Olympian. ‘An Olympian at Burghley’ will show memorabilia including his running outfit, medals and information about his sporting career.

And for those who want to watch the Olympics in a spectacular setting, Burghley will be throwing The Great Olympic Garden Party every day during the London Games. With the Elizabethan house as the backdrop, Burghley’s normally closed private South Gardens will host a Big Screen, showing TV coverage from Saturday 28th July to Saturday 11th August – and included for free with a normal house and gardens ticket.

Access to the screen will be available 10am to 10pm, last admission 6pm, with special late night tickets after 6pm at a reduced rate. A special Olympic Pass will also be available covering the whole period, while day tickets will be given as wristbands in the colours of the Olympic Rings. Visitors who collect all five will get free admission for the rest of the period.

A summer evening festival of outdoor screenings will feature four special film nights, launching on Saturday 28th July with iconic sports movie Chariots of Fire, followed by three other movie screenings on Wednesday 1st August, Thursday 2nd August and Friday 3rd August.

Fittingly for a house so closely linked to the first Elizabethan period, Burghley will also be joining in celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June, while there will once again be children’s events in summer and autumn as well as the annual free-to-enter Burghley Fine Food Markets at Easter, summer and Christmas.

For full details visit www.burghley.co.uk or telephone 01780 752451.

Burghley, near Stamford in Lincolnshire, has been the home of the Cecil Family for over 400 years and is England’s greatest Elizabethan House. Burghley is owned and maintained by Burghley House Preservation Trust, which looks after a huge collection of great works of art, including one of the most important private collections of 17th century Italian paintings, the earliest inventoried collection of Japanese ceramics in the West, exceptional 18th century furniture and wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons and his followers. The Trust also maintains a 13,000-acre estate including residential, commercial and agricultural lettings, woodland and Burghley Park, which is open daily at no charge.

The House is open from Saturday 17th March to Sunday 28th October 2012 daily (except Fridays) from 11am to 4.30pm (Saturday 28th July to Saturday 11th August, open every day including Fridays, with Big Screen access 10am to 10pm, last admission 6pm). Admission: House and The Gardens of Surprise - adults £12.50; children (3–15 years) £6.30; seniors/students £11.20; family (2 adults & 2 children) £33.

Join in the February fun at Beaulieu! 11th – 19th February 2012

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During February half-term week, from 11th – 19th February, young visitors can join in February Fun at Beaulieu and take part in a James Bond-themed quiz trail and an undercover army commando course.

Test your knowledge of the world’s most famous special agent, James Bond, in the National Motor Museum’s brand new exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, which showcases 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films. The exhibition is the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world and features some of the best-loved and most iconic vehicles from the films, including the Lotus Esprit S1, affectionately nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from The Spy Who Loved Me and the Rolls-Royce Phantom III used in Goldfinger. Follow the trail around the exhibition and exercise your code-cracking skills for an opportunity to win a Bond goody bag and have your picture taken in a genuine Bond vehicle.

Learn the skills and tactics required to outsmart the enemy, whilst getting a taste of life in the modern Army on an Army Commando course, courtesy of soldiers from the Marchwood based 17 Port & Maritime Regiment. Once kitted out in army camouflage, young recruits can join real soldiers on a patrol exercise, have fun on an Inflatable Assault Course and test their aim on a Laser Shotgun Range.

These special activities can be enjoyed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which includes the National Motor Museum with its collection of over 250 vehicles and new BOND IN MOTION plus World of Top Gear.

Don’t miss the ‘On Screen Cars’ exhibition, new for 2012, which showcases a number of TV and film favourites including Del Boy’s Reliant Regal as featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, Mr Bean’s lime green Mini and possibly the most famous of all screen cars, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. You can also visit Palace House, the Montagu family home since 1538, and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, plus rides and drives for all the family.

Beaulieu is open from 10am – 5pm every day except Christmas Day. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit: www.beaulieuevents.co.uk

Blenheim Palace Wedding Fair

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Sunday 19th February 2012
11.00 am – 4.00pm

Whether you are just beginning to make plans for your wedding or getting ready to finalise the last minute details, the Blenheim Palace Wedding Fair will provide a cornucopia of the regions finest wedding suppliers, showcased together within the stunning setting of Blenheim Palace.
Our dedicated hospitality team will be delighted to show you around the venue and to introduce you to the various different options available for your wedding day at Blenheim Palace.

Free admission and a free prize draw

Please call 01993 813874 or email sales@blenheimhospitality.com to apply for a ticket.

International line-up of chamber music at Holkham Hall

2012-01-02T03:45:00.000-08:00

A second exciting series of chamber music at Holkham Hall firmly establishes the historic property as one of the premier venues for chamber concerts. The 2012 season sees celebrated musicians from around the world perform in the magnificent Marble Hall and includes three song recitals, two string quartets, a piano trio and a solo piano recital. In addition, one of Europe’s leading young ensembles will make a special appearance for a captivating live broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

The season opens with an afternoon concert in February when the Escher Quartet from the United States comes to Holkham as part of their European tour. Then the following month Dame Felicity Palmer gives a rare recital before she visits Paris, and the hall hosts a live Radio 3 concert by the Signum Quartet. During the season, two winners of the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World song competition also perform – Elizabeth Watts, who won the song prize in 2007 and Ukrainian baritone Andrei Bondarenko, who was the winner in 2011.

The full concert listing is as follows:

Sunday, February 12 at 3pm
Escher String Quartet preceded by a pre-concert talk
Pre-concert talk by Simon Rowland-Jones titled “Bartók’s String Quartet No.5 - The Greatest String Quartet of the 20th Century?” at 3pm followed by a performance by the Escher String Quartet who were selected as BBC Radio 3’s ‘New Generation Artists’ for 2010-2012 and will perform a programme of music, including Haydn’s String Quartet in D Op.76 No.5, Bartók’s String Quartet No.5 and Beethoven’s String Quartet in C sharp minor Op.131.

Sunday, March 18 at 7pm
Dame Felicity Palmer and Simon Lepper
Mezzo-soprano Dame Felicity Palmer has sung at every major opera house during the last four decades and pianist Simon Lepper is one of the leading accompanists of his generation, working with the world’s top singers. “Women on the Edge” is a programme of songs by Britten, Purcell, Tchaikovsky, de Falla and Sondheim.

Saturday, March 24 at 1pm
The Signum Quartet
Broadcast on BBC Radio 3, one of Europe's leading young quartets and Radio 3 New Generation Artists, The Signum Quartet from Berlin, perform an all-Schubert programme including one of the composer’s greatest string quartets as a live broadcast from the Marble Hall.

Saturday, April 7 at 7pm
Elizabeth Watts and Julius Drake
Soprano Elizabeth Watts won several major competitions including the Kathleen Ferrier Award in 2006 and the Song Prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in 2007 and quickly established herself as the country’s leading young soprano. Pianist Julius Drake was Artistic Director and a regular performer at Holkham Hall between 2005 and 2010 and works with the leading singers of the day. This event includes Schumann’s song cycle Liederkreis Op.39 and songs by Ivor Gurney and Richard Strauss.

Friday, June 8 at 7pm
Kungsbacka Piano Trio
Formed in 1997 and named after the Swedish town where they gave their first performance, the Kungsbacka Piano Trio will perform a programme of music by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. They won first prize in the prestigious Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition in 1999, have made prize-winning recordings for Naxos and this year are celebrating 15 years of giving concerts together.

Saturday, October 13 at 7pm
Andrei Bondarenko and Gary Matthewman
Ukranian baritone Andrei Bondarenko sprang to international prominence in the 2011 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition where he won the first prize in the song competition and was a sensational finalist in the main competition. Gary Matthewman is one of the best known accompanists of his generation and recently joined BBC Cardiff Singer of the World as official accompanist. The evening will include Ibert’s “Chansons de Don Quichotte”, songs by Tosti, Respighi, Glinka, Tchaikovsky and opera arias.

Saturday, November 10 at 7pm
Brodowski Quartet
The Brodowski String Quartet burst on to the London musical scene in 2008 winning a clutch of major prizes including first prize winner of the Royal Overseas League Competition for the best chamber ensemble. Some of the most celebrated of all string quartets make up the Brodowski’s programme, from Haydn’s last complete work for the genre to Smetana’s revolutionary “From My Life” and Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No.1 in D major Op.11.

Saturday, December 1 at 7pm
Pianist Leon McCawley
A Beethoven Piano Competition and Leeds International Piano Competition winner, Leon McCawley is at the forefront of musical life. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Debussy’s birth, he presents a wide-ranging programme that charts the influences on Debussy’s pianistic style. Leon’s programme includes works by Bach, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Schumann. This concert includes a champagne reception in the Saloon and opportunity to view some of the state rooms magnificently decorated for Christmas.

Tickets for the BBC broadcast concert with the Signum Quartet on 24 March are £18. For the December concert with Leon McCawley tickets are £30 and include a champagne reception in the interval. Tickets for all other concerts are £25 and include a glass of wine in the Saloon and an opportunity to view some of the other state rooms in the Hall. To book or for further information, please contact 01328 713111 or visit www.holkham.co.uk

Never Before Seen Exhibits Arrive for James Bond Vehicle Exhibition 17th January 2012

2011-12-21T06:23:00.000-08:00

The opening of an exciting new exhibition of 50 James Bond vehicles, which will be unveiled to the public on 17th January 2012, is now less than a month away. The exhibition, the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world, will showcase 50 of the best loved and most iconic James Bond vehicles in celebration of the 50th year of James Bond films. Bond in Motion will run from January to December 2012 at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

Among the vehicles now arriving for the exhibition are a number that have never before been seen in public. These include the Ford Mustang Mach 1 from Diamonds Are Forever, villain Zukovsky’s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II from The World Is Not Enough and the vintage 1962 Rolls Royce, pushed into a lake by May Day and Zorin with Bond still inside, in A View to a Kill.

Other exhibits on public view for the first time include the ‘Burial-At-Sea Bed’ from You Only Live Twice, the Union Jack Parachute which villain Gustav Graves used when he landed on The Mall and the Surfboard with concealed weapons and ammunition, from Die Another Day. Also on display will be the Casino Royale Skyfleet S570 model, based on a Boeing 747, and original ‘Pig’ from The Living Daylights, used to smuggle Koskov across the border through the Siberian Pipe Line.

2012 also marks the 40th anniversary of Beaulieu’s world-famous National Motor Museum, a fitting year to be hosting a major new car exhibition with some of the most recognised vehicles from the Bond films.

National Motor Museum

The world-famous National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has a collection of over 250 vehicles telling the story of motoring on the roads of Britain from the dawn of motoring to the present day. There are historic racing cars, modern rally cars and the latest F1 machines as well as World Land Speed Record Breakers and family cars from every motoring era. Visitors to Beaulieu can also explore Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey as well as World of Top Gear. Open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information Tel: 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

EON Productions
EON Productions Limited and Danjaq LLC are wholly owned and controlled by the Broccoli/Wilson family. Danjaqis the US based company that co-owns, with MGM, the copyright in the existing James Bond films and controls the right to produce future James Bond films as well as all worldwide merchandising. EON Productions, an affiliate of Danjaq, is the UK based production company which makes the James Bond films. The 007 franchise is the longest running in film history with twenty-two films produced since 1962. Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over the franchise from Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli in 1995 and have produced some of the most successful Bond films ever including CASINO ROYALE and QUANTUM OF SOLACE.

Classic christmas stories come alive at Leeds Castle

2011-12-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

Visit “The Loveliest Castle in the World” this Christmas to experience the glamour of a country house in the festive season.

From 5 December 2011 to 2 January 2012, traditional Christmas decorations will fill Leeds Castle and many of the rooms will be beautifully decorated with scenes inspired by classic children’s stories for the whole family to enjoy.

A selection of traditional and contemporary stories will be represented throughout the castle using colourful costumes, decorations and props.

This winter, the Queen’s Gallery will be transformed into Alice’s adventures in wonderland and the Queen’s bedroom will become tales from the Arabian Nights with inspiration taken from ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’. The Lady Baillie bedroom will be inspired by a scene from the classic ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ and the Seminar Room will become Willy Wonka’s famous Chocolate Factory.

Younger children will enjoy visiting the magical world of ‘The Gruffalo’ in the Fountain Courtyard at the centre of the castle. Other classic stories will include ‘Narnia’ and ‘Twas the night before Christmas’.

On 15, 19, 20 and 22 December, winter wonderland characters will bring the castle to life with Christmas evening tours. Be guided on an entertaining and lively tour with Jack Frost and other traditional festive figures, who will bring the castle to life. Enjoy a glass of warm mulled wine or hot chocolate together with a delicious mince pie in the Gatehouse on arrival, before your magical tour begins. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. Entry is timed from 5pm to 7.45pm. Tickets cost £15 for adults, £12 for seniors and £10 for children (under 16 years). Tickets must be pre–booked by calling 01622 880008, open weekdays 10am to 5pm.

Children can also visit Father Christmas in the castle along with an evening tour for an extra £5 per child. Tour and visit must be booked together.

Warm up by the crackling log fires in the castle before visiting the oak–beamed 17th century Fairfax Hall Restaurant which offers an excellent choice of freshly prepared dishes and spectacular views of the castle over the moat.

Children can visit Father Christmas in his mini castle grotto in the courtyard on 10 and 11 December and daily from 16 – 24 December. As Father Christmas is very busy this time of year, pre–booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Tickets to see Father Christmas cost £8.50 per child which includes a surprise gift. A valid Key to the Castle ticket is also required. Please phone the Leeds Castle Box Office on 01622 880008, open weekdays 10am to 5pm.

For adults, come and try Christmas shopping somewhere different this year. Avoid the Christmas rush and visit Leeds Castle’s shops where you can browse at leisure and purchase unusual, quality gifts for friends, family and even find some glittering decorations for your Christmas tree. The shops will be stocked with Christmas gifts from late October. You do not need an admission ticket for the Leeds Castle Shop at the main entrance and parking is free. Key to the Castle tickets cost £18.50 for adults; £16 for seniors and visitors with disabilities (carer goes free); £11 for children (under 4s free). Tickets are valid for 12 months so you can pay once and visit all year round. Leeds Castle is located near Maidstone in Kent just off Junction 8 of the M20 and only one hour’s drive from London. Grounds open at 10am daily and the castle is open from 10.30am. Last admission is 3pm and gates close at 5pm.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Elsie the Castle Train Leeds Castle’s exciting new land train. Children and adults will enjoy riding on Elsie from the main entrance up to the castle. A charge of 50p per person each way applies.

World of Wings Shows Exciting falconry and free–flying bird shows in a flying arena near the maze at 1.30pm (weekends only during winter opening times). Featuring an exotic collection of species from five continents, the presenters aim to inform as well as entertain visitors about the birds they fly each day. Children and adults alike will be spellbound at the sight of storks, black kites, blue and gold macaws, conures, falcons, a bald eagle and a young brown wood owl flying overhead.

Aviary Talks Join one of the expert keepers for a guided tour of the castle’s internationally renowned aviaries at 2.15pm daily. Enjoy a fascinating glimpse into the world of modern conservation and captive breeding programmes as you learn more about the birds in the collection. Included in the castle admission price.

Go Ape! Test your nerves and agility on the Go Ape! High wire forest adventure in the castle parkland. For further details and to book online visit goape.co.uk/leeds-castle or call the Go Ape! booking centre on 0845 643 9215.

Pay & Play Golf Course The castle’s scenic 9–hole, par 33 golf course offers a combination of blind tees, strategically placed bunkers and medieval moat to provide challenging and rewarding holes from start to finish. 9 holes from £9.99. Call the Golf Shop on 01622 767828 or visit leeds-castle.com/golf

General Admission Prices: Key to the Castle tickets Adult £18.50 Senior Citizens/Students/Visitors with Disabilities £16 (carer goes free) Children (4–15 yrs) £11 Prices from 1st April 2011 – 31st March 2012 Group and education rates available on request by contacting the Group Reservations Co–ordinator on 01622 767865.

Opening Times: Open throughout the year. Closed 5 & 6 November and Christmas Day 2011. Please visit our website for up to date information or call: 01622 765400. April to September; Castle opens 10.30am. Last admission 4.30pm. Gates close at 6pm. Shops 10am – 5.30pm. October to March; Castle opens 10.30am. Last admission 3pm. Gates close at 5pm. Shops 10am – 4pm. Grounds open at 10am daily. Latest entry to Castle is 30 minutes after last admission time.

Directions: Leeds Castle is located near Maidstone just off Junction 8 of the M20 between London and the Channel ports, clearly signposted from the motorway with brown tourist signs. It is one hour’s drive from London, 25 miles from the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone and 38 miles from the port of Dover.

SUCCESS FOR BEAULIEU AT THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH AWARDS 2011

2011-12-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Beaulieu was basking in success last week at the BeautifulSouth Awards for Excellence 2011, when the New Forest visitor attraction waspresented with not one, but three awards at the ceremony held at the DenbiesWine Estate, Surrey.

Despite facing fierce competition from other entrants,Beaulieu was delighted to receive a Silver Award for Outstanding CustomerService, and a Silver Award in the Tourism Event of the Year category for itsworld-famous International Autojumble. In addition, the attraction’s cateringarm, Leith’s at Beaulieu, was Highly Commended in the Business Tourismcategory.

Members of the Beaulieu Events and Front of House teams, andLeith’s were present at the ceremony to collect their awards. Beaulieu hasdeveloped over the years into one of the South’s leading day visitorattractions, and prides itself on its visitor facilities and customer services.Its features now include the internationally renowned National Motor Museum,which has recently had a new mezzanine level installed to improve access to theupper floor, the World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House andgardens, plus a growing calendar of motoring related events which runthroughout the year.

The annual awards, organised by Tourism South East, are nowin their 21st year, and recognise businesses and destinations across the tourismindustry for their exceptional levels of customer service and dedication toraising standards.

Chairman of Tourism South East, John Williams commendedBeaulieu and all other award winners on their success, saying: “We offer ourcongratulations to all tonight’s winners. Our industry’s commitment toproviding the best possible customer experience and to exceeding customerexpectations is outstanding. The Award winners have shown that they are trulythe best-in-class and we look forward to seeing them on the national stage atthe VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012.”

In addition to the success at the Beautiful South Awards,Beaulieu also received two other awards last week. Earlier on the same dayLeith’s at Beaulieu received another Highly Commended award in the BestCorporate Venue category at the Hudson’s Awards, and on Tuesday last weekBeaulieu’s Education Team were awarded the Sandford Award, recognisingexcellence in heritage education.

Next year, the attraction will be celebr

ating twoanniversaries; 60 years since Palace House first opened to visitors and 40years since the launch of the National Motor Museum. In honour of this, and tofurther improve the visitor experience, it will be hosting brand newexhibition, Bond In Motion, showcasing 50 original vehicles from the James Bondfilms. This will be the largest exhibition of Bond vehicles staged anywhere inthe world and will run from mid-January to December 2012.

For more information on the Beaulieu attraction, pleasevisit www.beaulieu.co.uk

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Christmas House Party at "The Loveliest Castle in the World"

2011-12-06T14:00:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the start of the festive season this year by spending a luxury evening at Leeds Castle’s ‘Christmas House Party’ on Wednesday 14 December.

On arrival, join the other guests for a cocktail reception before taking a guided tour of the beautifully decorated castle rooms, lit up at night and while closed to the public.

Take your seats in the impressive Henry VIII Banqueting Hall and be served a fine dining four course dinner with half a bottle of wine per person.

The festive feast which includes a terrine of smoked mackerel, smoked trout, celeriac and beetroot salad starter followed by seared loin of venison, parsnip and sweet potato dauphinoise, kale, blueberries, shallots and Barolo wine jus – will be accompanied by live opera music.

Retire to the Drawing Rooms after your meal and relax to the sound of the piano being played whilst you enjoy coffee with the other guests.

This evening costs £150 per person and numbers are limited to 80 guests so book now to guarantee this special experience.

Complete your evening of glamour by staying overnight in one of the castle’s bedrooms. Accommodation including full English breakfast costs £275 per room for State bedrooms and £225 per room for a newly refurbished Battlement bedroom.

Staying overnight at “The Loveliest Castle in the World” is a luxurious end to the perfect evening.

Leeds Castle is located near Maidstone in Kent just off Junction 8 of the M20 and only one hour’s drive from London.

ACCOMMODATION

Leeds Castle Holiday Cottages
Refurbished period cottages within the estate are available to book as luxury self–catering holiday cottages. Guests receive free visitor passes to the castle and grounds and get the run of the grounds after the day visitors have departed. Ideal if you have family or friends to visit and require accommodation, or to combine with special events at the castle.

The Stable Courtyard Bedrooms at Leeds Castle
Come and stay in the grounds of “The Loveliest Castle in the World”. The Stable Courtyard bed and breakfast rooms at Leeds Castle are luxury en–suite bedrooms refurbished to the highest standard offering indulgence and comfort. A full English or continental breakfast made with fresh local produce, is served in the 17th Century oak–beamed Fairfax Hall Restaurant between 8.30am and 9.30am. All bedrooms are equipped with tea trays, white towelling robes and digital flat screen televisions. During your stay you can enjoy a stroll around the castle grounds and gardens, beautiful at any time of the year.

For further information and bookings call 01622 767823 or visit leeds-castle.com.

Festive Family Fest at Leeds Castle

2011-12-06T03:33:00.001-08:00

Friday 23 December 2011

Experience the magic of Christmas at “the loveliest castlein the world” this year.

Due to popular demand, this year LeedsCastle invites you to the return of our seasonal Festive Family Feast evening.

Celebrate Christmas with yourfriends and family in Leeds Castle’s 17th century oak beamed FairfaxHall on Friday 23rd December.

On arrival, be greeted with aglass of festive punch and sing along to traditional Christmas music performedby carol singers.

Feast on a delicious two course buffetdinner whilst enjoying seasonal music with your meal.

Take your pick from three maincourse options including traditional roast turkey, pork, sage and onionstuffing and mini sausages wrapped in bacon followed by a choice of deliciousseasonal desserts including traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, Yulelog with cinnamon Chantilly cream or mini mince pies with brandy butter.

For younger guests, FatherChristmas will be visiting the Fairfax Hall and giving chocolates to thosechildren who have been good this year.

Tickets for this evening eventcost £20 for adults, £15 for children aged between 4-12 years and £10 for under4’s. Bookings are available from 5.30pm.

This event has been extremelypopular in the past and spaces are limited. Call the Box Office on 01622 880008to guarantee your place.

Complete your evening and stayovernight in the new Stable Courtyard Bedrooms, available at £120 per room pernight and including full local English breakfast served on Christmas Evemorning.

Please contact the Hospitalityteam on 01622 767823 for more information and to book your accommodation.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Sandford Awards 2011 - Beaulieu Wins Award For Excellent Education Services

2011-12-05T10:14:00.001-08:00

For a record sixth time, Beaulieu has been awarded thecoveted Sandford Award, in recognition of the excellent Education Services it offers.The award was presented to the Beaulieu Education team at a ceremony in DurhamCathedral on Tuesday 29th November.

Susan Tomkins, Heritage / Education Archivist, Group VisitsExecutive, Mandy Lane and Learning & Access Officer, Chris Gutteridge werepresent to accept the award, which was granted to Beaulieu by the HeritageEducation Trust and Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln, inrecognition of Beaulieu’s outstanding contribution to Heritage education andlearning within the historic environment.

The Awards Scheme, first conceived by the Heritage EducationTrust in 1975, was established to raise the profile of the educational use ofhistoric properties, and annually presents Awards in recognition of excellencein the provision of Educational Services. Beaulieu received its first SandfordAward in 1978, and since then has continued to develop the quality and range ofservices on offer for Educational Groups.

Jaguar XKR Die Another Day James Bond

The 2011 Sandford Award commendation for Beaulieu reads:“Beaulieu offers schools some excellent facilities and resources, and anoutstanding range of carefully planned educational programmes and activities.Delivered by some highly talented and well-trained staff, these are closelylinked to the needs of the National Curriculum and are stimulating, informativeand fun.”

Beaulieu boasts a wealth of resources for the study ofHeritage Education and in programmes offering something for every age group, itspans the 800 year history of the Beaulieu Estate.

The 2012 Education programme will include a number ofcurriculum-based activities themed on the National Motor Museum’s exciting newexhibition for 2012, Bond In Motion, which will showcase 50 vehicles from theJames Bond films.

Beaulieu also offers a number of Educational trips to itssister attraction, Buckler’s Hard. This 18th century shipbuilding village issituated on the banks of the Beaulieu River, and was used to build the shipsfor Nelson’s fleet at Trafalgar. The Maritime Museum at Buckler’s Hard hasrecently been re-displayed to offer a new interpretation of Buckler’s Hard andthe Beaulieu River, which has helped greatly to improve the quality of itseducational programmes.

For further information on educational visits to Beaulieuand Buckler’s Hard, please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk/education

Weddings at the Treasure Houses of England

2011-11-29T05:35:00.001-08:00

For timeless glamour, fairytale romance and awe-inspiring grandeur at some of the country’s most stunning country estates and stately properties – make a statement with a wedding at the Treasure Houses of England.

Featuring ten of England’s most spectacular castles, palaces and houses, the magnificent venues present couples with a beautiful and beguiling backdrop for a brilliantly bespoke and memorable day.

The Marble Hall at Holkham

The Treasure Houses’ host of illustrious properties boasts a range of features from fine paintings, objects d’art and antiques to incredible architecture and gorgeous grounds - ensuring extravagant interiors and an atmosphere imbued with Royal heritage and a rich history.

Hollywood hits such as The Kings Speech, Harry Potter and Brideshead Revisited have been filmed on location at the likes of Burghley’s stunning Elizabethan House and at Castle Howard where you can utter your vows under the Great Hall’s glorious painted dome.

For couples considering a themed wedding, each venue exudes Downton Abbey style romance and nostalgia that are perfect for period costumes and an inspired sense of individual occasion.
Catering for all kinds of weddings, each venue is unique, carefully attending to every need and minutiae for a completely personalised affair.

With an array of options available - every scenario is possible - from lavish, exclusive-hire affairs, marquee weddings and small weddings to civil ceremonies, civil partnerships and elegant evening receptions.

Hatfield House

At Beaulieu, couples can enjoy seven thousand acres of enchanting estate and choose from the decadent setting of the Domus a 13th century building, the pristine Palace House or even the National Motor Museum and the Top Gear Enormodrome for something distinctly different. Beaulieu provides an enchanting and unique setting for your wedding day.

Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace offers the timeless elegance of The Orangery, whose private entrance, glass ceiling, and terrace over-looking the Italian Garden provides a stunning wedding venue. Alternatively, the striking Marlborough Room offers a double vaulted ceiling, chandeliers and fireplace for more intimate gatherings.

Already making waves throughout Leeds as the ultimate place to get married, Harewood House offers a dramatic and romantic venue courtesy of its Courtyard, elegant Pavilion or the Victorian Terrace with the beautifully restored Italiene Parterre.

Chatsworth makes an exceptional location for weddings, receptions and civil partnerships. Set in 1000 acres of stunning Derbyshire parkland, with spectacular gardens creating the most stunning backdrop for all wedding photographs. This unique venue epitomizes quality and elegance.

Kent’s Leeds Castle offers civil marriage and partnership ceremonies in the Dining Room, Gatehouse or Maiden’s Tower followed by dining in the beautiful Henry VIII banqueting hall or 17th century Fairfax Hall.

The Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey

Hatfield House is an incomparable choice, with its magnificent Grade 1 listed Old Palace and stylishly contemporary Riding School, while Holkham Hall’s tally of four stunning staterooms present impressive interiors flanked by enticing exteriors at the Walled Gardens and magical woodlands beyond.

Woburn Abbey offers three very distinct wedding venues. From the splendor of The Sculpture Gallery, or The Inn at Woburn for classic country weddings, to the fun and unusual Safari Lodge at Woburn Safari Park weddings held on the estate are truly unique. Weddings can be arranged for just 25 up to 250 guests and a dedicated wedding planner will ensure that every wedding is a day to remember.

2012 Wedding Fairs:

The Old Palace at Hatfield House

Hatfield Wedding Fair
Sunday 5th February 2012

Blenheim Palace Wedding Fair
Sunday 19th February 2012
11.00 am – 4.00pm
Whether you are just beginning to make plans for your wedding or getting ready to finalise the last minute details, don’t miss the Blenheim Palace Wedding Fair.

Chatsworth Wedding Fair
Sunday 26th February 2012
10.00am – 4.00pm
Chatsworth wedding fair takes place in the majestic stables Sunday 26th February 2012 from 10.00 am until 4.00pm. Entry is free

We'll post more Wedding Fair dates soon.

A Fairy-Tale Wedding at Blenheim Palace

2011-11-23T05:20:00.000-08:00

Winter Wedding Limited Special Offer in 2012

Over 50% discount on normal package price for selected dates only in January and February 2012.

Blenheim Palace is offering a fabulous fairy-tale winter wedding package for up to 70 guests in a stunning location including a Civil Ceremony in the Marlborough Room and Wedding Breakfast in the Orangery.

Hold your special day at this world-famous venue, host of many high-profile celebrity weddings.
Contact sales@blenheimhospitality.com or call 01993 813874 for more details.

Win a pair of tickets to the Treasure Houses of England

2011-11-23T03:16:00.001-08:00

Full details available here:

http://www.countryfile.com/webform/win-pair-tickets-treasure-house-england

Closing date 25th November 2011

Traditional delights, historic markets and fairytale magic will transform Holkham Hall in North Norfolk into a charming winter wonderland for the very first time.

2011-11-21T10:37:00.000-08:00

Traditional delights, historic markets and fairytale magic will transform Holkham Hall in North Norfolk into a charming winter wonderland for the very first time.

From late November, Holkham will host its first series of exciting Christmas events, including visits from the Holly King, Queen Victoria and the Snow Queen, which promise to make it the most regal of festive destinations.

Holkham’s Christmas calendar opens with a Victorian Christmas Fayre on November 26 and 27, which sees the Bygones Museum turn back the clocks to the time of Charles Dickens for a wonderful period market, created by the Black Knight Historical team.

Visitors will be able to buy unique gifts from costumed traders and enjoy Christmas carols performed by minstrels, as well as storytelling. There will also be the opportunity to make traditional decorations, relax with mulled wine and walk around the garland-decorated hall, where children will be able to meet the Holly King himself.

Period entertainment continues with a Victorian Christmas Celebration on December 3 and 4. Queen Victoria arrives at the decorated hall to music, dancing, carols, games and stories by the fireside. During the festivities, kitchen staff will prepare a seasonal feast, the Holly King will be giving gifts to children beneath his Christmas tree, and all is captured for posterity using photographic techniques from the era.

Holkham Hall’s Christmas experience concludes with an atmospheric performance of The Snow Queen in the magnificent Marble Hall on December 17. This retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale by Quantum Theatre follows a young girl travelling across the North Pole to free her friend from the spell of the wicked Snow Queen.

The Christmas Fayre and Christmas Celebration events take place 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm for the Hall and 4.30pm for Bygones Museum. Tickets for each event are £11 for adults, £7 for children.
The Antiques Fair is held from 10.30am to 5pm. Tickets are £5 for adults, free for under-16s.
Tickets for The Snow Queen are £16 for adults, £12 for children, with performances at 2pm and 6.30pm.

Further details can be found by visiting www.holkham.co.uk, or telephoning 01328 713111.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Christmas Festivities at the Treasure Houses of England

2011-11-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

Spend the festive season at some of England’s most magnificent castles, palaces and houses. Boasting ten of the most grand, historic and breathtaking buildings in the country, the Treasure Houses will all be hosting a variety of Christmas events and entertainment amidst spectacular scenery and stunning surrounds.

Blenheim Palace

Join Beaulieu’s exciting itinerary of Christmas celebrations (17th December-3rd January), including Victorian games and carol singing while Blenheim Palace creates ‘A White Christmas’ with snowflakes, silver white birches and icicles for an atmospheric and magical experience (12th November-16th December). Enjoy a performing snow queen statue, Santa’s grotto in the stables and choir concerts.

Fine Food Market at Burghley

Stock up on festive fayre at Burghley’s Fine Food Market (3rd-4th December) and at Castle Howard’s Christmas Craft and Produce Market (5th-6th December). Open for Christmas, see Castle Howard by candlelight and beautifully dressed for the holiday (26th November-18th December). Father Christmas and The Festive Wizard will be entertaining the crowds (26th & 27th November and 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th December) while adults can indulge in canapés, candlelight and a sumptuous three-course meal at Castle Howard’s glamorous Christmas Party Nights (9th and 16th December).

Christmas at Chatsworth

From 5th November to 23rd explore Chatsworth’s Christmas displays inspired by timeless Christmas carols. The lower floors of the house are decorated with beautiful trees, garlands and candles to bring to life Christmas classics such as The Holly and the Ivy, Silent Night and Jingle Bells in a sparkling and surprising journey for all the family.
Presenting over 100 stalls, Chatsworth’s Christmas Markets are a must-see (11th-13th and 18th-20th November), as are their ambient Twilight evenings presenting shopping and entertainment with the option of a gourmet three-course meal (24th & 25th November and 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th 15th & 16th December).
Starring real farmyard animals, Chatsworth’s popular Nativity performances will ensure a jovial mood for all the family, with daytime performances held twice daily on 3rd 4th 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th December and special evening performances on 3rd, 10th and 17th December.

Find some gorgeous gifts at Hatfield House’s Christmas Frost Fair (25th-27th November. There’s also a Christmas Music Concert on Sunday 11th December and families can have fun on the synthetic skating rink in the Stable Yard from 1st to 23rd December.

Harewood is open every weekend 10am to 4pm from 25 November - 18 December and all week leading up to Christmas (19 - 23 December) with a glittering array of festive events, perfect for a full day’s family entertainment whatever the weather. If you’re planning a party to remember, or just looking for somewhere to get into the festive spirit - Harewood has it all this winter.

The Marble Hall at Holkham

Spellbinding Chamber Music in Holkham’s Marble Hall includes a champagne reception (12th December) and their production of The Snow Queen looks set to entertain and enchant in equal measure (2pm & 6.30pm 17th December).

Be beguiled in the Bygones Museum at Holkham’s Victorian Christmas Fayre (26th & 27th November). The Black Knight Historical team will ensure a festive event with Dickensian decor including costumed traders, storytelling and minstrels leading carol singing for a superb shopping trip and traditional entertainment.

A Victorian Christmas Celebration (3rd & 4th December) sees Holkham welcoming Queen Victoria for the weekend. Inside the dazzling hall, expect music, dances, carols, games and storytelling in scenic surrounds. With Florence Nightingale in attendance and the Holly King giving gifts to the children, join the festive bustle for a delightful day out.

Dreaming of a White Christmas
at Leeds Castle

From 5th December to 3rd January 2012, traditional Christmas decorations will fill Leeds Castle in Kent and many of the rooms will be beautifully decorated with scenes inspired by classic children's stories for the whole family to enjoy. Meet Father Christmas (pre-booked slots 10th & 11th December and daily from 16th – 24th December) and book in advance for Theatrical Christmas Tours on the 15th, 19th, 20th and 22nd December. Timed entry from 5pm to 7.45pm (tours last approximately 45 minutes). Blow away the New Year cobwebs with the Christmas Trail (26th December – 3rd January).

The Sculpture Gallery, located in the South Court of Woburn Abbey, provides a stylish and elegant setting for ‘The Woburn Classic Christmas Party’. The shared party nights on the 9th and 16th December include traditional Scottish piper, three course festive dinner and dancing.
The Woburn Abbey Antiques Centre will be holding its annual Winter Art Sale 3rd December – 8th January (closed 24th – 26th December), a great opportunity to pick up a Christmas gift at an exceptional price

A full schedule of events is available on request.
For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Hatfield House Skating Rink Opens 1st December 2011

2011-11-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Come and enjoy our synthetic skating rink in Stable Yard, Hatfield House from 1st - 23rd December!

It's clean, dry and compared to real ice, much kinder to the environment.

Each session is 25 minutes and available from 10am with the last skating session at 5pm.

Tickets are available in advance but booking isn't essential - just come along!

Price
Adult £5, Child £3 (3-15yrs) - 25min session

Details
Time: 10.00am - 5.00pm
Venue: Stable Yard, Hatfield House
Date: 01 December 2011 - 23 December 2011
To book online: Click here
Phone: 01707 357117

Hatfield House Christmas Frost Fair 25th to 27th November 2011

2011-11-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

Held in the Riding School at Hatfield House and in heated marquees on Palace Green in front of the Old Palace, the childhood home of Elizabeth I.

The Christmas Frost Fair will feature wonderful gifts for family and home, original and unusual crafts, fine foods direct from the producers, exclusive ranges from the Hatfield Gift Shop, fresh ideas from the retailers in Stable Yard, drop in workshops and a festive atmosphere, sights and delicious scents. Morning coffee, lunches and afternoon teas will be available in the Old Palace.

To exhibit at this exciting event please call the organiser on: 01487 814800 / 07798 930070 or email Cliff on cliff.bloomfield@eventis.ltd.uk

Price
Adults £3.50
Under 15s FREE when accompanied by paying adult

Details
Time: 10:00am - 5.00pm
Venue: Riding School & Palace Green
Date: 25 November 2011 - 27 November 2011
www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Wishing you A Very Harewood Christmas!

2011-11-16T02:35:00.001-08:00

Harewood announces extended winter opening times and special entry prices to spread the festive spirit. Launching with a series of spectacular concerts from 17 November, Harewood is open every weekend 10am to 4pm from 25 November - 18 December and all week leading up to Christmas (19 - 23 December) with a glittering array of festive events, perfect for a full day’s family entertainment whatever the weather. And if you’re planning a party to remember, or just looking for somewhere to get into the festive spirit - Harewood has it all this winter.

White Rose Winter Music festival
The White Rose Winter Music Festival (17 - 19 Nov) is setting the tempo for winter 2011, providing a fitting combination of Yorkshire heritage, first class musical entertainment, a choice of hospitality and a special occasion to launch people into the festive spirit. Harewood House will provide a stunning backdrop to the shows this year which will be staged inside the Pavilion on the North Front. The programme is as follows: Thursday 17 - A Night at the Opera - Friday 18 - A Night in the West End - Saturday 19 - A Night at the Proms.

‘Essence of Christmas’ fair
This year Harewood is hosting the much acclaimed ‘Essence of Christmas’ seasonal shopping fair from 25 - 27 November (Fri & Sat 10-5pm, Sun 11-4pm). Offering a range of entertainment cleverly combined with heritage and culture, easy shopping to help you find that perfect gift for those hard-to-buy-for friends, gorgeous walks and views, and music to raise even Scrooge’s spirits. The Essence of Christmas Fair is a cornucopia of all things Christmassy and we’ve weaved it throughout the House, Gardens and Grounds.

A Very Harewood Christmas
Perfect whatever the weather, Harewood have put together ‘A Very Harewood Christmas’ which means something a little bit different and perfect to fill a day with festive family cheer; meet one of our huskies or even one of our Christmas ponies, enjoy great shopping, food and fun, all with a dash of something magical, plus as an extra special treat enter a daily draw to feed our penguins! Children’s entertainers make themselves at home in our Geopods and will provide 4 daily shows and a chance to follow a trail around the grounds during the day. There will be lots of seasonal activities to keep little ones entertained including Santa Claus who is coming to town. Harewood look forward to ho-ho-hosting him as he sets up temporary residence in the ‘Snowflake Dome’ of the Geopods every weekend from 25 Nov and throughout the week leading up to Christmas (19 – 23 Dec). He’s spreading the cheer for all with a gift for every child who visits him (booking applies). Harewood is providing a unique opportunity to enjoy a Christmas lunch in banqueting style in the Harewood Suite in the Courtyard, great for adults and children alike. Enjoy children’s entertainment with a festive pre-lunch show and meet Santa (12.30 start each day, one course, booking applies). This year, Santa has supplied us with his loyal friends, the Christmas ponies, perfect for mini-rides for mini-people.

The Grade I Listed Courtyard will be covered against the wintry elements by marquees so you can enjoy a veritable feast of stalls with a range of great gifts; all fortified with the scent of chestnuts and mulled wine served under the colonnade. The Courtyard Café is serving a festive menu using locally sourced ingredients, great for all the family, and live festive music can be heard in the Courtyard in December at 12pm and 2pm to add to the merry atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Harewood’s award winning gardens and grounds provide the perfect setting for wintry enchanted walks and visits to Santa’s penguin friends. Join us throughout December for some good old fashioned outdoor winter fun. Enjoy family trails, join in our many children’s craft activities with the learning team, and stroke one our huskies.

Much more than a stately home, Harewood House is very much a family home, and the team have been working hard to ensure they provide a complete experience for all the family this Christmas. This year the house will be dressed for the season and the team have pulled together a unique exhibition of Christmas family mementos and informal introductory talks to showcase the State Floor as a grand family home at Christmas. Not to be outdone by the State Floor, story telling and biscuit decorating will take place Below Stairs which will be decorated for Christmas with a twist.

Christmas Parties
Harewood has gone Tinseltown crazy with a series of parties to dazzle your friends, colleagues and clients. The team of experienced event coordinators have created nights to fit with the Tinseltown Hollywood glamour. Join us for a party fit for the stars this winter in the Pavilion, with red carpet and paparazzi, Frank Sinatra tribute, great food and DJ til late. All against the stunning backdrop of Harewood House.

For more information about the flurry of festivities at Harewood this winter, visit www.harewood.org or call our box office on 0113 218 1000.

Alison Weir, Talk and Book Signing at Hatfield House

2011-11-14T07:47:00.000-08:00

The historical novelist Alison Weir will be giving a talk, followed by a book signing on 17th November, in the Riding School at Hatfield House based on her most recent book, Mary Boleyn: "The Great and Infamous Whore"

Mary Boleyn is remembered by posterity as a 'great and infamous whore'. She was the mistress of two kings, Francois I of France and Henry VIII of England, and sister to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife. She may secretly have borne Henry a child and it was because of his adultery with Mary that his marriage to Anne was annulled. It is not hard to see how this tangled web of relationships has given rise to rumours and misconceptions that have been embroidered over the centuries.

In her new book, the first full scale biography of Mary Boleyn, Alison Weir explodes much of the mythology that surrounds her subject and uncovers the facts about one of the most misunderstood figures of the Tudor age. Her extensive, forensic research has facilitated a new and detailed portrayal, in which she recounts that, contrary to popular belief, Mary was entirely undeserving of her posthumous notoriety as a great whore or the 'hackney' whom the King of France famously boasted of riding.

Alison Weir also presents compelling new evidence that almost conclusively determines the paternity of Mary's two oldest children. This astonishing and riveting book shows that Mary's story had a happy ending and that she was by far the luckiest of the Boleyns.

Alison Weir trained as a history teacher; her passion for history had been born when she read her first adult novel at the age of fourteen. Her first book, Britain's Royal Families, came out in 1989. She has since written fourteen other history books, including The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Elizabeth the Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Katherine Swynford and The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn. Alison has also published three historical novels, Innocent Traitor, The Lady Elizabeth and The Captive Queen. Her latest history book, a biography of Mary Boleyn, is published in October 2011. She has recently completed a fourth novel and is now working on a history of England's medieval queens. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences, and is married with two adult children.

Please visit www.alisonweir.org.uk for further information on Alison and her work.

Tickets are £10 - to book http://bit.ly/uDyQZe

What's on at the Treasure Houses of England this November

2011-10-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

Get out and about this November with theTreasure Houses of England’s fabulous feast of events. Visit any of their tenpalaces, houses and castles for an atmospheric and seasonal extravaganza forall the family. Experience a rich array of architecture, history and culture –not to mention – exciting entertainment and activities at these spectacularlybeautiful sites.

Beaulieu’s annual Fireworks Spectacular (29thOctober) will see a dynamic display to a Twilight Zone soundtrack guaranteed toinspire and excite the crowds. Featuring a fair, hot food and drinks includingcandy floss and roasted chestnuts; there will also be live music courtesy ofWAVE 105 and a fantastic fancy dress contest.

Stir up Sunday (13th November) atBlenheim Palace affords visitors the opportunity to make and stir a Christmaspudding while meeting the palace’s acclaimed cooks and receiving top bakingtips.

Stock up on the best of British with creativegifts courtesy of Blenheim’s Living Crafts for Christmas (18th-20thNovember). Quality items on offer include clothing, ceramics, jewellery,artwork and a delicious range of food such as homemade chocolates and seasonalpies and chutneys.

Burghley House invites brides and grooms-to-beto their Essential Wedding Show (6th November) while Castle Howardfollows spectacular suit with their Wedding Fair (6th November). Bothwill be exhibiting a variety of premier suppliers from the industry.

Inspired by some of our favourite Christmascarols, enjoy this sparkling and surprising journey for all the family with ‘Deckthe Halls: A visual celebration of carols’ at Chatsworth House (5thNovember to 23rd December).

The White Rose Winter Music Festival (17th-19thNovember) at Harewood House returns to provide an eclectic mix of music from operaand A Night at the Proms to Musicals from the West End all set amidst abeautiful backdrop.

Hatfield House provides the perfect setting forsome unique Christmas shopping on 12th November with its ChristmasMarket while Holkham Hall offers captivating chamber music from the CarducciString Quartet (5 & 6th November).

Experience Leeds Castle’s renowned FireworksSpectacular (5th & 6th November) for a memorableevening’s entertainment. With an open air children’s film screening and a widerange of refreshments available, the stunning light and fireworks show will beset to music inspired by ‘Space’.

Visit their Festive Fair to find innovativegifts for a superb shopping spree (19th & 20thNovember).

Woburn Abbey’s beautiful deer park will featurethe RNLI Reindeer Run (27th November) – a festive and fun-packed dayin aid of a worthy charitable cause.

A fullschedule of events is available on request.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

History comes alive at Buckler's Hard, Beaulieu

2011-10-17T02:31:00.000-07:00

22nd to 30th October 2011

This October Half Term, 22nd to 30th October, the peaceful village of Buckler’s Hard on the banks of the Beaulieu River comes alive as Living History characters recount what life was like in the 18th century, when the village was a thriving centre for shipbuilding. Meet Balthazar Adams, son of Master Shipbuilder Henry Adams, and his wife, Mary, who lived and worked in the village at the time when ships for Nelson’s Trafalgar fleet were built.

Historic displays in the Labourer’s and Shipwright’s cottages show how the village would have looked in the early 1800s and in the New Inn, you can hear residents from the time gossiping about local matters.

Visit the newly re-desplayed Maritime Museum and discover the ships that were built at Buckler’s Hard, which have been the inspiration for a wealth of art, literature and films. In its more recent history, find out about the important role played by Buckler’s Hard and the Beaulieu River during WWII. Sections of the ‘Mulberry Harbour’ were made here, and hundreds of craft sailed from the Beaulieu River in the D-Day landings.

In the chapel of St. Mary’s, peer through the viewing window in the floor beside the altar which reveals the recently discovered cellar below. The Beaulieu River was believed to be a major landing point for smuggled goods from the late 18th century, and it is possible that the cellar was once used as a store for smuggled contraband.

Plus don’t miss the opportunity to embark on one of the last River Cruises of the season. This tranquil 30 minute journey wends its way along the river, with an accompanying commentary on the history of the river and the abundant wildlife that inhabits its banks.

The Captain’s Cabin Tea Rooms serves refreshments, including delicious cream teas, throughout the day.

Visit www.bucklershard.co.uk for more information.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

October Half Term & Halloween at the Treasure Houses of England

2011-10-14T03:25:00.000-07:00

Celebrate October Half Term and Halloween withThe Treasure Houses of England and their feast of festive events andactivities. Set amidst beautiful backdrops and showcasing a series of historic and cultural artifacts and exhibitions – the tencastles, houses and palaces make for an exciting and entertaining day orevening out for all.

Reputed to be one of Britain’s most hauntedplaces, Beaulieu is a brilliant venue for a stream of festivities from spookystorytelling sessions by real-life Ghost Hunters to gruesome face painting.Follow the Halloween trail to see the 250 vehicles on show – and marvel at landspeed record breakers and genuine James Bond movie cars (22^nd-30^thOctober).

With a scary ‘Monster Mash’ trail featuringcrazy mirrors concealed in the Marlborough Maze at the Pleasure Gardens -Blenheim Palace presents an elaborate mix of festive entertainment (22^nd-30^thOctober). Create your own monster or pumpkin ‘Jack-o-Lantern’ and decorate ascary piece of pottery for creative – and gruesome-themed – craftsmanship forkids.

Follow Burghley House’s pumpkin trail (22^nd-30^thOctober) for a special prize or dare to follow the clues around Castle Howard’sspooky pumpkin trail through the woods (22^th-30^thOctober).

If you're feeling brave, then bring yourlittle monsters along to Chatsworth for a whole week of terrible treats, evilentertainment and devilish delights (22^nd -30^th October).See areas of the house, garden and farmyard transformed, with pumpkins galore,a spooky secret tunnel, crafts, dancing zombie workshops, creepy crawlies andmuch more.

Find outwhat really happens when the doors are closed for the day on a spookyexploration of Chatsworth by torchlight. Those who are brave enough can joinour Guides on an eerie exploration of the house and hear creepy stories andtales of spooky goings on (27^th-31^st October).

Experience a mouthwatering mix of ‘food, folkand fun’ at Harewood House (22^nd-30^th October), which willbe presenting twilight tales and Diwali celebrations amongst a mass ofHalloween themed fun.

Holkham Hall will host a spellbinding set ofactivities and adventures beginning with an afternoon of ‘all things batty’ (27^thOctober), including crafts and a guided evening bat walk. Their selection of Halloweendelights (27^th-30^th October) includes witch dodging, spiderhunting and Victorian ghost hunting with belly-filling treats. Round offHolkham’s Halloween with Freaky Face Painting and Scary Snacks in the StablesCafé.

Spooky themed crafts will be on offer at Leeds Castle in Kent between 22^nd-28^th October. With a range ofactivities taking place in the marquee (additional charge applies) by the mazeas well as a moreish menu of themed food on offer, Halloween will truly ticklethe senses for children and adults alike in supreme style.

A full schedule of events is available onrequest.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Bats, Spiders and Witches in store for Halloween at Holkham Hall

2011-10-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Four days full of fun and frights will set pulses racing at Holkham Hall in Norfolk when a full programme of events and activities from October 27 - 30 is planned to celebrate Halloween.

Every day spooky activities abound with wicked witches and gigantic spiders to be found in the Bygones Museum, where younger visitors are in for a trick or treat as they seek them out amidst the huge cobwebs.

In the evenings it won’t be just the heating pipes making strange noises below stairs in the hall, as a renowned Victorian ghost hunter leads the hunt for all things ghoulish and unlocks the secrets hidden in the labyrinth of cellars beneath the grand Palladian mansion.

This year it is also the United Nations Year of the Bat and, in keeping with the season, the hall is hosting a ‘Go Batty’ family activity day on Thursday, October 27. This free event is open to everyone and takes place from 11am to 4pm offering an opportunity to explore the habitats and lifecycle of these creatures who have had long been associated with witchcraft, black magic and darkness.

An evening ‘dusk bat walk’ will follow in Holkham Park from 5pm – 6.30pm, with bat detectors in operation to help find the creatures before they hibernate for the winter. There will be a small charge for all those wanting to join the walk of £3 for adults and £1.50 for children

Further details on admission prices and times of events can be found by visiting www.holkham.co.uk, or telephoning 01328 713111.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

AUTUMN GLORY … FOOD, FOLK AND FUN! 22 October to 30 October 2011

2011-10-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

Photography by Simon Dewhurst

Join in the celebration of all things Autumnal in some of the best surroundings Yorkshire has to offer this October half term (22 to 30 October). One of Harewood’s most popular annual events, Autumn Glory offers a schedule bursting with outdoor and indoor activities to suit all the family. Wrap up warm and get into the spirit of Autumn with witches and wizards from ‘Make a Wish Entertainment’, twilight tales (Tues and Thurs), corn doll making, scarecrow trails, face painting, sample seasonal food, Bird Garden activities and Diwali celebrations (Wed), and much much more

Visit Below Stairs to see the Autumn displays, including English apples of all varieties from the Northern Fruit Group, biscuit decorating, lantern making, drawing and colouring. This year the Harewood team are on the look out for the best carved pumpkin in our new pumpkin competition. To be in with a chance – simply bring along your carved pumpkin. Entries will be judged by Head Gardener, Trevor Nicholson.

If the outdoors is more your thing, then enjoy walks and trails around the grounds and take in the stunning array of colours that the season brings to Harewood. And if you want to pick up a new skill, watch, learn and have a go at dry stone-walling … Autumn Glory is a great opportunity to get some fresh air ahead of the nights drawing in, plus there are all the great facilities and cafes that Harewood offers to keep the energy levels high. In the Terrace Gallery, you can enjoy Antony Gormley’s ‘Two States’ exhibition to top up on your culture – there’s no better way to enjoy half term with all the family.

Open from 10am to 4pm daily, free entry to Harewood Cardholders and under 4s, and included with all day tickets. Adult £7.50, Seniors £6.50, Children (4-16 years) £4.50, Family (2 adults up to 3 children) £25 - Gift Aid tickets are slightly more. Visitors can upgrade to a Freedom ticket to include access to the House. Some activities require a small spend or pre-booking and run on a variety of days. Visit www.harewood.org or call 0113 218 1000 for details.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Fireworks set to go off with a bang at Beaulieu Saturday 29th October 2011

2011-10-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

Beaulieu’s annual Fireworks Spectacular, one of the largest fireworks displays in the South, will be taking place on Saturday 29 October. The explosive and dynamic display will this year be set to a Twilight Zone theme.

Admission to the event is from 3pm when you can enjoy all the fun of the fair. Have fun on the Beaulieu Rides and Drives and Old-Time Fairground Rides including a Big Wheel, Gallopers and Swing Boats, all at good-value extra charges. Hot food and drinks are available both inside and out, as well as roast chestnuts and candy floss.

Entertainment on the WAVE 105 stage will include live music playing throughout the evening. Everyone is invited to join in with the spirit of the event by wearing fancy dress, with prizes going to the best dressed. Come early, stay late and have a great time.

Ticket prices on the day are Adult £11.50, Child (aged 5 – 17) £7, plus a great value family ticket for 2 adults and up to 3 children, at £31.50. To make special savings on advance tickets call 01590 612888 or buy online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk. Visitors to the event will also be able to see the National Motor Museum, with its latest exhibition, ‘Feats of Endurance’, and the James Bond Experience.

Normal Beaulieu admission prices apply before 3pm, with visitors welcome to stay and enjoy the fireworks.

For more information visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

The event is supported by WAVE 105 and the Daily Echo.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Have a hauntingly good time at Beaulieu this half term.

2011-10-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

22nd – 30th October 2011

Look out for some strange happenings in the neighbourhood at Beaulieu this half-term – it will be quite a spectre-cle!

In the National Motor Museum, you can follow the Halloween Trail and see some of the 250 vehicles on show, from early motor cars to Land Speed Record Breakers. Be ‘shaken but not stirred’ by the James Bond Experience, with genuine cars and boats from the Bond movies.

Become a part of the world’s greatest car show with Beaulieu’s popular ‘World of Top Gear’. Enter the Top Gear Enormodrome to see actual cars from some of the presenter’s most ambitious challenges, hear the stories behind them and enjoy clips of some of the best Top Gear moments. attraction

Have a ride on ‘Wheels’, a pod ride through 100 years of motoring history and take a trip on the high-level Beaulieu Moan-o-rail which passes through the roof of the Motor Museum.

Beaulieu is reputed to be one of Britain’s most haunted places and ghosts have often been seen and heard in its 13th century Abbey and at Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538. On selected days, talk to real ‘Ghost Hunters’ in the haunted Abbey Cloister and hear Spooky Stories from the costumed guides in Palace House. Children can take a lucky dip in the Witches Cauldron and be given a Gruesome Face Painting.

Beaulieu is open daily from 10am to 5pm with free parking. Admission prices are adult: £16.75, seniors £15.50 child (5-12) £9 and (13-17) £10, a family ticket for 2 adults and up to 3 children is £45.50.

Join the hunt for ghosts and ghouls at Beaulieu Abbey

2011-10-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

On the 22^nd and 31^st October this year, join the Hampshire Ghost Club as they embark on a paranormal investigation at the historic 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey, the site of many spooky spectre sightings.

Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204, when King John gave a gift of land to the Cistercian monks to found a monastery. The largest Cistercian Abbey in England, Beaulieu thrived for over 300 years until it was destroyed in the 1530s at the time of the dissolution of the Monasteries.

The strange stories and legends surrounding Beaulieu Abbey have captured the imaginations of people from all walks of life, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who had a great interest in psychic research and made many visits to Beaulieu in search of the unexplainable. To this day, both staff and visitors to Beaulieu report glimpsing ghosts of the Abbey’s former inhabitants, as well as sounds and smells from eras past.

Now, the Hampshire Ghost Club are inviting members of the public to join them on a ghost hunt, investigating some of the most haunted areas of Beaulieu’s ancient Abbey.

The paranormal sessions will be taking place on two nights around Halloween, beginning at 9pm and continuing through to 1pm. Activities will include vigils and investigations, using professional equipment, in the Abbey’s Domus building, which was formerly the Lay Brothers’ Dormitory. Investigations will also take place in the Abbey ruins and Cloisters. Ticket prices are £50 per person, including hot drink refreshments, and are available to people aged 18+. Pre-booking for these sessions is essential, and you can reserve your place by telephoning 01590 612888.*

For more information, please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

*Minimum numbers apply

A touch of festive magic comes to Holkham Hall for the first time this Christmas

2011-09-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Traditional delights, historic markets and fairytale magic will transform Holkham Hall in North Norfolk into a charming winter wonderland for the very first time.

From late November, Holkham will host its first series of exciting Christmas events, including visits from the Holly King, Queen Victoria and the Snow Queen, which promise to make it the most regal of festive destinations.

Holkham’s Christmas calendar opens with a Victorian Christmas Fayre on November 26 and 27, which sees the Bygones Museum turn back the clocks to the time of Charles Dickens for a wonderful period market, created by the Black Knight Historical team.

Visitors will be able to buy unique gifts from costumed traders and enjoy Christmas carols performed by minstrels, as well as storytelling. There will also be the opportunity to make traditional decorations, relax with mulled wine and walk around the garland-decorated hall, where children will be able to meet the Holly King himself.

Period entertainment continues with a Victorian Christmas Celebration on December 3 and 4. Queen Victoria arrives at the decorated hall to music, dancing, carols, games and stories by the fireside. During the festivities, kitchen staff will prepare a seasonal feast, the Holly King will be giving gifts to children beneath his Christmas tree, and all is captured for posterity using photographic techniques from the era.

Meanwhile, visitors with a passion for quality antiques and fine art will enjoy the Antiques Fair from December 9 to 11. Organised by Galloway Fairs, a collection of nationally-known dealers will be exhibiting a selection of town and country furniture, jewellery, paintings, decorative pieces and antiquarian books amid the festive atmosphere of the Hall’s seasonal decorations.

Holkham Hall’s Christmas experience concludes with an atmospheric performance of The Snow Queen in the magnificent Marble Hall on December 17. This retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale by Quantum Theatre follows a young girl travelling across the North Pole to free her friend from the spell of the wicked Snow Queen.

The Christmas Fayre and Christmas Celebration events take place 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm for the Hall and 4.30pm for Bygones Museum. Tickets for each event are £11 for adults, £7 for children.
The Antiques Fair is held from 10.30am to 5pm. Tickets are £5 for adults, free for under-16s.
Tickets for The Snow Queen are £16 for adults, £12 for children, with performances at 2pm and 6.30pm.

Further details can be found by visiting www.holkham.co.uk, or telephoning 01328 713111.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Chatsworth Tastes Sweet Success with Home Grown Grapes

2011-09-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

Sweet, juicy grapes grown and hand-picked at Chatsworth are to become the first in England to be launched by a supermarket this week (Sept 22, 2011).

A crop of golden yellow fruit harvested from vines on the Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire go on sale at the John Lewis Foodhall from Waitrose on London's Oxford Street on Thursday, September 22 for a limited period priced at £2.99 per 300g pack. The grapes will also be available at the Chatsworth farmshop in Pilsley for a limited time.

The grapes are the Muscat of Alexandria variety more usually seen in the sunny climes of Spain, France, Chile and South Africa.

They were carefully cultivated on the Duke of Devonshire's estate in a Chatsworth glasshouse where vines were first planted back in 1921. The plump, seeded dessert grapes have an aromatic, honeyed flavour.

Chatsworth’s Head of Gardens and Park Steve Porter said the sweet fruit had to be tended very carefully throughout the year.

"Growing these grapes is a very labour intensive process so we have up to three gardeners at a time tending to them in the glasshouse," he said.

"Chatsworth produces around 500 bunches annually so the Duke of Devonshire and his family are very pleased that delicious Derbyshire grapes will now reach a wider audience."

The grape vines must be painstakingly hand-pruned and any loose bark removed to help them stay healthy and pest-free.

Waitrose fruit buying manager Jocelyn Clarke said: "The English climate is not really suited to growing table grapes so it's a glorious surprise that these delicious fruit are a little piece of England.

"The Muscat of Alexandria is a beautiful variety of dessert grape and the fact that we have a supply lovingly cultivated in Derbyshire is the icing on the cake."

The arrival of English-grown sweet Muscat grapes in stores follows a British wine boom that last year saw vineyards here celebrate record production equal to four million bottles.

Small quantities of sweet dessert grapes have been grown in England for many decades, but not on a commercial scale. The Muscat of Alexandria grapes can only thrive in England if they're kept in heated glasshouses.

Chatsworth house, garden, farmyard and adventure playground are open every day to 23 December 2011. For more information and ticketing options including a 10 percent discount for online booking, visit www.chatsworth.org

Advance Notice of Christmas Festivities at the Treasure Houses of England

2011-09-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

Spend the festive season at some of England’s most magnificent castles, palaces and houses at the Treasure Houses of England. Boasting ten of the most grand, historic and breathtaking buildings in the country, they will all be hosting a variety of Christmas events and entertainment amidst spectacular scenery and stunning surrounds.

Join Beaulieu’s exciting itinerary of Christmas celebrations (17^th December-2^nd January), including dress up games and carol singing while Blenheim Palace creates ‘A White Christmas’ with snowflakes, silver white birches and icicles for an atmospheric and magical experience (12th November-16th December). Enjoy a performing snow queen statue, Santa’s grotto in the stables and choir concerts.

Stock up on festive fayre at Burghley’s Fine Food Market (3^rd-4^th December) and at Castle Howard’s Christmas Craft and Produce Market (5^th-6^th December). Also at Castle Howard, Father Christmas and The Festive Wizard will be entertaining the crowds (26^th & 27^th November and 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th, 11^th, 17^th & 18^th December) while adults can indulge in canapés, candlelight and a sumptuous three-course meal at their glamorous Christmas Party Nights (9^th and 16^th December).

Presenting over 100 stalls, Chatsworth’s Christmas Markets are a must-see (11^th-13^th and 18^th-20^th November), as are their ambient Twilight evenings presenting shopping and entertainment with the option of a gourmet three-course meal (24^th & 25^th November and 1^st, 2^nd, 8^th, 9^th & 16^th December).

Starring real farmyard animals, Chatsworth’s popular Nativity performances will ensure a jovial mood for all the family (3^rd, 10^th & 17^th December).

The grounds at Harewood are beautiful at this time of year, and there will be plenty of seasonal events including a Santa's grotto on winter weekends. The courtyard shop will be filled with festive foodstuffs, homeware and gift ideas - with perfect presents for children of all ages in the toyshop.

Find some gorgeous gifts at Hatfield House’s Christmas Frost Fair (25^th-27^th November) and Christmas Market (12^th November) or even acquire some rare antiques at Holkham Hall’s Galloway Antiques Fair (9^th-11^th December).

Spellbinding Chamber Music in Holkham’s Marble Hall includes a champagne reception (12^th December) and their Christmas Theatre looks set to entertain and enchant in equal measure (17^th & 18^th December).

Merry moments will be had by all at Leeds Castle courtesy of their beautifully decorated castle rooms featuring Father Christmas in his grotto (5^th-24^th December) and captivating Christmas Trail (26^th December – 3^rd January).

A full schedule of events is available on request.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Join in the celebration of all things Autumnal at Harewood House in some of the best surroundings Yorkshire has to offer (22nd to 30th Oct)

2011-09-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Photography Simon Dewhurst

The Treasure Houses of England - Special Days Out

2011-09-20T03:01:00.000-07:00

Encompassing a total of ten of England’s most spectacular castles, palaces and houses, the magnificent Treasure Houses of England are an absolute must-see this autumn.

Affording visitors the rare opportunity to explore a real life ‘Downton Abbey’, the houses continue to reign as Hollywood hits, having been strewn across the silver screen in a tally of TV and films such as ‘Harry Potter’, ‘The Kings Speech’, ‘Brideshead Revisited’, ‘Hot Fuzz’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’ to name a few.

Offering a complete living history of English life over the centuries, most of the houses are still home to the families that have resided there for generations, providing a unique insight into the lives both up and downstairs at these incredible sites of historic grandeur.

Housing some of the most revered art collections in the world, visitors are treated to master artworks by the likes of Rubens, Gainsborough and Van Dyck alongside priceless pieces of fine furniture, china and porcelain from Chippendale, Meissen and Wedgewood.

With an array of guided tours and scenes specially recreated for visitors, examples of some of the highlights on offer include a ‘Staff and Servants Exhibition’ at Woburn Abbey, the recent restoration of Hatfield House’s original kitchen where Queen Victoria’s banquet was prepared for her 1846 visit, and costumed guides at Beaulieu who assume the characters of the household staff that were integral to the running of the house – and the people who lived there.

Every house provides a distinctive and dramatic setting for a day out amidst achingly beautiful backdrops where guests can sample a nostalgic age imbued with a rich history from the 9th century to today. All the grounds are different, with some offering sweeping panoramas of parkland and others gorgeous landscaped gardens scattered with statues, lakes, fountains, cafes, adventure playgrounds - and even a golf course at Leeds Castle.

From gourmet days and bird displays to art and motorcar exhibitions, a variety of events across all of the houses ensure an eclectic mix of entertainment, cultural insight and outstanding architecture for an unforgettable – and quintessentially English – experience guaranteeing fun for all the family.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Houses include: Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Burghley House, Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Harewood House, Hatfield House, Holkham Hall, Leeds Castle and Woburn Abbey.

Four days full of fun and frights during October Half Term will set pulses racing at Holkham Hall in Norfolk

2011-09-19T01:14:00.000-07:00

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Beaulieu October Half Term - Look out for some strange happenings in the neighbourhood at – it will be quite a spectre-cle! 22nd – 30th October 2011

2011-09-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Have a ride on ‘Wheels’, a pod ride through 100 years of motoring history and take a trip on the high-level Beaulieu Moan-o-rail which passes through the roof of the Motor Museum.

Join the hunt for ghosts and ghouls at Beaulieu Abbey

2011-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Now, the Hampshire Ghost Club are inviting members of the public to join them on a ghost hunt, investigating some of the most haunted areas of Beaulieu’s ancient Abbey.

For more information, please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

*Minimum numbers apply

INTERNATIONAL AUTOJUMBLE 2011

2011-09-15T02:27:00.000-07:00

We should be used to it by now but a very optimistic attitude was required not to get despondent about the gloomy weather forecasts ahead of this year’s International Autojumble, which included very heavy rain and gale force winds for the Sunday of the event, held in the grounds of the National Motor Museum on the 10^th & 11^th September.

The reality was actually much better and the worst of the weather did not materialise. Beaulieu’s Events Manager, Judith Maddox said: “It is very encouraging that, in its 44^th year and 45^th show, the event’s popularity, both with exhibitors and visitors, shows no sign of waning. The International Autojumble has become the premier event of its kind and is to jumblers what Glastonbury is to Festival goers.”

Foreign ‘tongues’ were more in evidence than ever this year with many commenting that English voices seemed to be in the minority among the many languages being spoken. Large contingents came from Europe, particularly France, Germany and The Netherlands, as well as regulars from the US and Canada, Japan and South America.

Exhibitors reported very good trading with many declaring this year’s event ‘the best ever’, in terms of sales. It was especially noticeable on Saturday that trading continued long after the show’s official closing time and the excellent quality of overseas buyers was particularly commented upon. The free delivery service for bulky purchases was certainly much in demand with vehicles laden with goods being continuously driven to the collection point throughout both days.

The number of Trunk Traders stands was a little down this year, another victim of Sunday’s adverse weather forecast and the early morning rain. However, those amateur jumblers who did arrive to sell their surplus bits from the back of their cars had a queue of eager exhibitors and visitors waiting to rummage through their stands in the hope of unearthing a rare or unusual find that had perhaps been languishing in the back of someone’s garage.

The Automart had the usual range of vehicles for sale, from restoration projects such as a rare pre-war Series 2 Lancia Aprilia and a 1928 Sunbeam 20.9 pick-up with quite a high asking price of £50,000, to a restored 1929 American La Salle for £42,000 and a 1937 BMW 320 Cabriolet, not used since being restored in Prague 20 years ago, which had an asking price of £69,500.

A fully restored 1932 Morris Minor 2 seater Tourer, going for £7,500, had been a laid-up barn find on the Isle of Wight, while a 1966 Austin Mini Moke, completely restored by its present owner, had an asking price of £18,500.

Lord Montagu was on hand to congratulate the winners of this year’s Best Stand, Burlen Fuel Systems Ltd. This Salisbury based family business run by John Burnett and his sons, Mark, Jamie and Andy specialises in S.U & Amal carburettors, fuel pumps, service kits and spares. The stand was commended by the judges for its stylish and excellent display and sense of history as well as for its very knowledgeable staff. They were presented with a trophy donated by Lolly Starnes, in memory of her father, Terry Lee, a keen autojumbler who spent his life looking for rare items of interest. In addition, they will receive a free stand at next year’s International Autojumble.

Bonhams Business Administrator, Motor Cars UK, Tom Harrington, reported the largest audience ever for a Beaulieu sale and a record number of 138 vehicles for sale in this year’s auction, held on Saturday. With 98% of the vehicles selling and a hammer price of 2.4 million, Tom said: “Bonhams is delighted with the results at the 2011 Beaulieu International Autojumble auction. Another set of barn-storming results continues to illustrate the strength of this wonderful event.”

Highlights of the sale included a barn discovery 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Sports Saloon with an estimate of £40-£50,000 which fetched £166,500, a 1935 Bentley 4¼ Litre Competition Special which exceeded its guide of £55-£65,000 to reach £78,500 and a 1925 Bentley 3- Litre Shooting Brake which went under the hammer at £124,700.

The Meldonfoot collection of 13 classic cars from the Scottish Borders, some more than a century old, raised more than £250,000. The vehicles were part of a large collection built up over several years and had been shaped by an appreciation of the ‘mechanical genius of Henry Ford.’ Among the highlights were a 1904 Cadillac and a very early 1910 Ford Model T Tourer.

The huge variety and mix of vehicles and stands, plus enthusiastic purchasers, combined to make this year’s event both memorable and enjoyable, maintaining its position as the premier Autojumble in Europe and reinforcing the event’s claim that :”If you can’t find it at Beaulieu, it doesn’t exist!”

Gary Stretton, Editor of Classics Monthly, the event’s sponsor magazine said:”True to its heritage, this year's Beaulieu Autojumble once again easily lived up to expectations. On the Classics Monthly stand we were busy socialising with the Autojumble's diehard worldwide fans and Classics Monthly readers old and new. Sun, wind and the odd Saturday shower provided the backdrop whilst we discussed our Project MGB and dodged questions about the correct prize draw answer from its might-be winners.

“If you're going to stand in gorgeous countryside, talking old cars, then like us, Beaulieu's the place for you. See you next year.”

The next International Autojumble will take place on the 8^th and 9^th September 2012.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

New Damien Hirst Sculpture Takes Flight at Beyond Limits

2011-09-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Anew work called ‘Legend’ by Damien Hirst is one of the key pieces at ‘BeyondLimits’ the monumental, contemporary sculpture exhibition at Chatsworth inDerbyshire opening Friday 16 September.

See a pictures here from the BBC

Showingin public for the first time, the painted bronze, winged horse was cast earlierthis year and stands at more than 10ft high. ‘Legend’ joins 25 other sculpturesfrom 20 British and international artists and includes completely new pieces aswell as others not previously seen in the UK.

Chatsworth’sfamous gardens and the surrounding Peak District landscape provide a dramaticbackdrop for these large-scale works with the biggest, Manolo Valdes ‘Nike’, measuringjust under 50ft in width.

TheBritish presence includes Marc Quinn, Yorkshire artist Richard Hudson, Barry Flanaganand Lynn Chadwick. European and American artists include Rene Magritte, JaumePlensa, and Jedd Novatt while a strong Asian influence includes works fromTakashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Ji Yong-Ho and Ju Ming.

Freesculpture tours are available to visitors at 11.30 and 2.30 every day until theBeyond Limits closes on Sunday 30 October. All exhibits will be on display from 11am-6pm everyday at no extra charge beyond normal garden admission (standard adult gardenticket is £7.75 – see http://www.chatsworth.org/visiting/opening-times-and-prices/admission-pricesfor advance-purchase, discounted ticketing options).

Thousandsof art-lovers, general visitors and serious collectors are expected to visitthe Peak District home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for the exhibition.

All sculptures on display at BeyondLimits are for sale through Sotheby’s.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

October events at Holkham Hall

2011-09-11T08:54:00.000-07:00

Gardeners will delight in Holkham Hall’s expert Pruning Day (15^th October) and exclusive tour of the private gardens (23^rd October). More news soon.

Ten-year repainting project nears completion at Holkham Hall

2011-09-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

Nearly 10 years after work began – and around 400 windows later – Holkham Hall is reaching the end of a major project to repaint all of its window frames.

The first stage of application of Holkham Linseed Paint to the Hall’s windows began in 2002, and the window restoration team is headed up by Maurice Bray, who has worked at the estate since 1958.

The project is anticipated to finish in the next 12 months and only the interior courtyard windows of the Grade One listed hall remain unpainted.

Every frame will eventually be painted in linseed, a specialist environmentally-friendly paint, which can last up to 15 years. Used across Europe since the early 18th century, linseed paint has been enjoying a revival in the UK thanks to its environmental credentials and long life span.

Holkham Linseed Paints was established by Lord Coke in 2002 and are endorsed by the Holkham Estate. Derived from natural pure linseed oil, using renewable and sustainable resources, the paint has proved a long-term and cost effective way of maintaining the estate’s properties.

“There are certainly more windows than days in the year,” said estate surveyor James Bracey, commenting on the scale of the job. “Previously they were painted on the outside and varnished on the inside. Today they are painted externally and waxed internally, and all work is undertaken in full agreement with English Heritage.”

The largest fireworks display in Britain since New Year

2011-09-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

To celebrate their 400th anniversary, Hatfield House will host the largest fireworks display in Britain since New Year with their fabulous Firework Picnic Concert (10th September), due to be broadcast live to a spellbound audience.

For more information on the fireworks display visit http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/whats-on/events/firework-picnic-concert/

More September events from the Treasure Houses of England

2011-09-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Chatsworth will be treating visitors to a mix of events – from their glorious Wedding Fair (15th September) and Moris Minor rally (11th September) to their beautiful Beyond Limits sculpture exhibition (16th September-30th October). Widely regarded as one of the year’s premier arts events, Sotheby’s brings a wealth of contemporary sculptures from over 20 international artists such as René Magritte, Ju Ming and Marc Quinn.

Enjoy some Hollywood nostalgia at Harewood House’s Drive-In Movie Night (10th September) by watching Tony Scott’s cult classic, ‘Top Gun’ under the stars. Continue the high-octane theme with Cars in the Park – a casual gathering of sports/super cars and enthusiasts on 11th September.

Events this September at the Treasure Houses of England

2011-09-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Treasure Houses of England are presenting a plethora of events this September at their magnificent castles, houses and palaces. Enjoy an inspiring itinerary of exciting events spread across their ten sites all featuring gorgeous grounds and breathtaking buildings steeped in their own fascinating history.

Experience Europe’s biggest autojumble at Beaulieu (10th-11th September) where over 200 vehicles will be for sale including collectors’ cars, motorcycles and numerous automobilia. Following world class riding at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (8th-11th September) - The Independent Woodstock Literary Festival will be staged at Blenheim Palace to kick start the autumn literary season in supreme style (15th-18th September).

More events coming soon!

Harewood feels the need . . . the need for speed

2011-09-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

Harewood invites you to unite in a Top Gun moment on Saturday 10 September, when you can join Goose and Maverick for an evening under the stars during this unique drive-in movie experience.

Classic 1986 American action film, Top Gun, is coming to Harewood and you are invited to join in this unique movie experience. The iconic film stars Tom Cruise playing his infamous 80s role - Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young Naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. A story of rivalry, camaraderie, romance and loss - Top Gun offers the ultimate opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the most legendary films of the 80s.

This film showing coincides with the end of Summer and provides a fitting way to see the Summer out in style, with pre-movie entertainment from Stray FM and refreshments available throughout. Simply drive in, bring a picnic to share with friends or enjoy a romantic evening for two at what is sure to be an unforgettable evening.

Gates will open at 5.30pm. The film will commence at around 8pm depending on weather/light conditions, and will last approximately 110 minutes. Please ensure you have a working FM Radio to be able to pick up movie sound.

Certificate 12A – children’s attendance is at parents’ discretion.

Pre-book to save money and avoid disappointment.

Pre-book: £20 per car for Harewood members, £25 per car (up to 6 seats) and £30 per mini bus.

Prices on the day: £35 per car (up to 6 people) and £40 per mini bus.

Visit www.harewood.org for more details.

www.treasurehouses..co.uk

Red Arrows Aim to Reach for the Sky Above Chatsworth

2011-09-02T01:29:00.000-07:00

The Red Arrows are expected to give their first public aerobatic display since the death of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging. Returning to the sky above the Chatsworth Country Fair at 4.15pm on Friday 2 September, the eight other pilots from the team will perform a twenty-four minute display of aerial prowess.

While the inquest into the accident continues, the Hawk T1 aircraft used by the Red Arrows have been cleared for flight and the team’s pilots are ready to go subject to a final test flight today. The Red Arrows were originally scheduled to fly at Chatsworth on Friday and Sunday but the Sunday display has been cancelled, replaced with other aerobatic displays.

The Duke of Devonshire said: “We are delighted that the Red Arrows have decided to take flight again at Chatsworth but of course it will be a day of mixed emotions. There will be thousands of people enjoying the show but it will be tinged with sadness as people remember Flight Lieutenant Egging. I think it will give everybody a greater appreciation of the expertise needed for a display like this and of the enormous risks taken on our behalf by the armed forces.”

Christopher Lloyd Owen, organiser of the Chatsworth Country Fair, added: “We had dedicated this 30th anniversary year to the armed forces before this terrible accident and the decision of the Red Arrows to return to action here makes it especially poignant. The Country Fair has always had a strong link to the three services and this year is no exception – as well as the Red Arrows we have the REME Band, the Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry, the Tigers Freefall Team of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, and - representing the Navy - the Portsmouth Action Field Gun Club.”

Held in the park of Chatsworth, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the Chatsworth Country fair is celebrating its 30th anniversary - the three day event takes place from 2 to 4 September 2011. For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

INCREASE YOUR PLANT STOCKS AT A PROPAGATION DAY AT HOLKHAM HALL IN NORFOLK

2011-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Enthusiastic gardeners can take the opportunity to learn how to increase their plant stocks without having to spend a fortune by attending a special Propagation Day at Holkham Hall in Norfolk on Saturday, September 10.

Head gardener Tim Marshall is overseeing a long term restoration project of the Walled Gardens at Holkham and has a wealth of experience in propagating plants. The day will start with an informal talk on the various methods used with the aid of some helpful information sheets followed by a buffet lunch in the Stables Café after which a practical session will take place in the Walled Gardens to demonstrate how to take cuttings and pot them up.

The day includes coffee on arrival and lunch along with a selection of your own propagated plants to take home.

Focus returns to the Walled Gardens on Saturday, October 15, with a dedicated Pruning Day for gardeners keen to learn the correct methods of effective pruning. The course covers the basic biology of trees and shrubs and includes hands-on experience, the opportunity to ask questions and coffee and lunch.

Tickets for both event are £35 each and can be bought by telephoning the Holkham ticket office on 01328 713111 or emailing ticketoffice@holkham.co.uk.

BEAULIEU International Autojumble 10th & 11th September 2011

2011-08-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

Beaulieu’s most famous motoring event, the International Autojumble, takes place on the 10th and 11thSeptember in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, and is the biggest outdoor sale of motoring items this side of the Atlantic.

The event that started as a one day show with 75 stands in 1967 is now in its 45^th year and boasts over 2,000 stands. Beaulieu’s Events Manager, Judith Maddox said: “This popular event is going from strength to strength with demand for stand space increasing year on year. Advance ticket sales are also well up on last year.”

With stands, groaning with all kinds of vintage and classic motoring ephemera - motoring parts, accessories, automobilia, literature, tools and clothing, there is something for everyone and lots of bargains to be had.This iconic event enjoys the reputation that; “if you can’t find it at Beaulieu, it doesn’t’ exist!” The traditionally cosmopolitan flavour of the International Autojumble will be much in evidence again this year with both exhibitors and visitors coming from all continents of the world.

In the Automart there will be up to 200 cars on offer, from restoration projects to cars in concours condition while the DealerMart will have a selection of classic cars for sale.

On Saturday, Bonhams will be holding an auction of Collectors’ motor cars and automobilia. Among the star lots going under the hammer is a superb 1904 Cadillac Model B, which has previously been a winner of several concours awards in the USA, and is estimated to sell for £60,000-£80,000. A very early 1910 Ford Model T Tourer (est. £25,000 - £30,000) a 1925 Bentley 3-Litre Shooting Brake with an estimate of £80,000-£100,000, and a 1904 Cadillac Model A Delivery Van (est. £60,000 - £80,000) are also on offer in the sale.

On Sunday, the popular Trunk Traders will offer amateur autojumblers the opportunity to sell their surplus motoring bits from the back of their cars.

The Autojumble is open from 10am on Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday. Ticket prices are 1-day adult, £14.00 (Sat), £12.30 (Sun), child £8.00 (Sat), £7.70 (Sun), even less for a two day ticket and booked in advance. For advance tickets telephone 01590 612888 or visit www.beaulieushop.co.uk

Visitors to the event will be able to enjoy all the Beaulieu attractions, including the National Motor Museum’s latest exhibition ‘Feats of Endurance’ showcasing a number of vehicles that have stretched the boundaries of motoring endurance, plus World of Top Gear, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey ruins.

For stand enquires, call the Events team on 01590 614614 or email: events@beaulieu.co.uk

'Sports Train' pulls into World Of Top Gear

2011-08-31T00:58:00.000-07:00

The actual TGV12 ‘sports train’ from the latest series of the popular TV motoring programme has just pulled into the World of Top Gear Exhibition at Beaulieu. The ‘sports train’ was driven by Jeremy during Top Gear’s valiant attempt to reduce the cost of railway travel using innovative car-based rolling stock. The ‘locomotive’ is really little more than an old jag convertible with some different wheels and the ‘carriage’ is actually an old caravan with the top sawn off, some racing seats bolted to the floor and a massive spoiler on the back!

Yet, this simplicity is also the very genius of Clarkson’s creation and might explain why the TGV12 successfully completed a journey from very near Leicester all the way to the outskirts of Loughborough and, unlike the train created by Hammond and May, did so without catching fire or getting clobbered by a real train along the way. Strangely, none of the major rail networks have shown any interest in this innovative design which is why it’s at Beaulieu instead.

The World of Top Gear features a collection of cars, created by the presenters, for some of their most ambitious challenges on the TV show over the years. Exhibition highlights include the Top Gear ‘Enormodrome’ which recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio, where the TV show is filmed in front of a live audience.

Regular features from the programme including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ boards are kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

World of Top Gear can be viewed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction including the National Motor Museum with its collection of over 250 vehicles, the James Bond exhibition with genuine vehicles and memorabilia from the films, Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and the 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey.

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit Treasure Houses of England