Beaulieu Is Pleased To Announce Its Events Calendar For 2013

FEBRUARY
16th – 24th February Fun Half-term activities  
T: 01590 612345 info@beaulieu.co.uk

APRIL
29th March  –14th April Easter Extravaganza - Hare-brained Easter Trail and egg-citing treats. T: 01590 612345 info@beaulieu.co.uk

28th April  Boatjumble (Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction) 1000 stands of jumble, new & used boats Watersports and much more!
Tickets: 01590 612888 events@beaulieu.co.uk 

MAY 
4th – 6th May Shipwrightry at Buckler’s Hard (Provisional dates- please check our website) Demonstrations of 18th century shipbuilding T: 01590 616203
 
5th May Simply Ford  (Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
A gathering of Fords of all ages and models, open to clubs & individuals.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

6th May Bank Holiday Monday May Day Cavalcade
A display of vehicles owned by Friends of the National Motor Museum Trust.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

12th May Simply French (Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
A gathering of all French cars of all ages and models, open to clubs & individuals.
T: 01590 614641events@beaulieu.co.uk

18th & 19th May Spring Autojumble and Sodbury Sortout  (Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
1000 stands of motoring parts, literature and accessories, plus 150 cars for sale. Sunday only: Sodbury Sortout.
Tickets: 01590 612888 events@beaulieu.co.uk
 
23rd May – 23rd August  Surrey Sculpture Society
Exhibition of artwork on display in the grounds, all available for purchase.
T: 01590 612345 info@beaulieu.co.uk
 
25th May – 2nd June May Half Term Activities
T: 01590 612345 info@beaulieu.co.uk

25th - 27th May NEW EVENT! Truck Mania
(Provisional dates- please check our website)Truck displays and activities.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

26th May Lancia Motor Club Rally
(Provisional dates- please check our website)
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

JUNE
9th June National Mini Cooper Register Rally
1,000+ cars, Displays, trade stands, Concours.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

16th June Custom & Hot Rod Festival including Custom Motorcycle Show
(Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
Hundreds of Hot-Rod, Custom & American cars & bikes, trade stands & live music.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

23rd June NEW EVENT! Simply Sports
(Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
A gathering of all sports cars, of all makes, models and ages, open to clubs and individuals.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

30th June Simply Italian (Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
A gathering of Italian vehicles of all ages and models, open to clubs & individuals
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

JULY
7th July Austin 750 Rally
Up to 300 750s on display.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

9th & 10th July Shakespeare in Beaulieu Abbey Cloister
(Provisional dates- please check our website)Open-air  performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by The Castle Theatre Co
Tickets: 01590 612888 events@beaulieu.co.uk

JULY
13th July – 1st September Summer Fun
Holiday activities including falconry, games on Palace House lawns, go karts, etc.
T: 01590 612345 info@beaulieu.co.uk

14th July Motorcycle Ride-In Day(Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)Public motorcycle ride-in, trade stands and stunt displays.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

20th July Beaulieu Village Fete
Held in the grounds of Palace House.
T: 01590 612345 info@beaulieu.co.uk

21st July The German Show
(Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)A show for all German marques, including VW and BMW.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

28th July NEW EVENT! Simply Vauxhall(Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
A gathering of all Vauxhalls, of all models and ages, open to clubs and individuals.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk
AUGUST

4th August Simply Japanese(Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
A gathering of Japanese cars of all ages and models, open to clubs and individuals.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

10th August Marie Curie Cancer
Walk A twilight walk around the Beaulieu Estate, in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

11th August Graham Walker Memorial Run
Annual get together for pre-1930 veteran and vintage bikes.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

11th August Simply 4x4 (Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)A gathering of 4x4 vehicles of all ages and models, open to clubs and individuals.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

16th – 18th August T4 Rally
200 T4 vehicles on display within the Beaulieu grounds.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

25th August Simply Classics(Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)Drive-in & display of club & owners’ classic cars
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

26thAugust Bank Holiday Monday Supercar Showdown
Over 50 high performance supercars will be on display and revving up on the Demonstration Run.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk
SEPTEMBER

7th & 8th September International Autojumble(Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
The biggest Autojumble in Europe with over 2000 stands, plus Bonhams Auction.
Tickets: 01590 612888 events@beaulieu.co.uk

27th - 29th September Holiday & Park Homes Show
See the latest static holiday homes.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

OCTOBER
26th October – 3rd November Halloween Hauntings
Half Term spooky activities for all
T: 01590 612345 info@beaulieu.co.uk
 
26th October Fireworks Spectacular (Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)
Celebrate Halloween with a fireworks display set to music.
Tickets: 01590 612888 events@beaulieu.co.uk

NOVEMBER
10th November Simply Smart (Event tickets include entry into the Beaulieu attraction)A gathering of Smart cars of all ages and models, open to clubs and individuals.
T: 01590 614614 events@beaulieu.co.uk

15th November Countryside Education Trust Christmas Fair  
Dozens of stands selling gifts, festive foods & refreshments 10.00am – 2.30pm Palace House
T: 01590 612401
 
DECEMBER
14th December – 5th January 2014 Victorian Christmas at BeaulieuExperience the magic of Christmas past in Palace House
Tel: 01590 612345 info@beaulieu.co.uk

For more information please visit http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu-events

COURT JESTER WANTED!

Leeds Castle is looking for a jester. Yes, some lucky individual will be paid to lark about. Paid to juggle and tell jokes. Paid to turn cartwheels.

Leeds Castle

The former Royal Palace in Kent is following in the tradition of the Tudor kings by appointing a member of staff just to make people happy. Applicants must be able to juggle, chat and joke with visitors, teach basic circus skills and perform tricks. An interest in history and ability to speak foreign languages would be welcome.

Costumes will be provided but candidates are expected to have their own equipment for entertaining crowds, corporate and wedding guests. Interviews will be live performances at the castle throughout the half term week in February, when staff and visitors will be invited to choose their favourite.

Chief Executive of Leeds Castle, Victoria Wallace said:  “The principle of appointing a jester is just as it was in Henry VIII’s time. When the Royal court visited the castle, there were about as many people in their retinue as we see visiting on a sunny weekend.

We know we already offer a fantastic day out for families, but having someone whose job it is to make visitors laugh can’t be a bad thing.

We’re leaving the choice of jester to our visitors. We’ll invite all applicants to come and perform from 18th- 22nd February and ask our visitors to decide who they like best. Then the jester will receive his or her official appointment in time for the Easter holidays.”

Interested applicants are invited to send their CVs to the HR manager at jobs@leeds-castle.co.uk. The closing date for applications is the 5 February 2013.

Snow Penguins at Harewood

Harewood Visitors and Team members have been having fun in the snow!
Visit the Treasure House facebook page for lots more beautiful snowy images!

Burghley's dark secrets revealed on new TV programme!

A new peak time TV series from the creator of smash hit show Downton Abbey airing tonight at 9pm on ITV unveils a secret side to England’s greatest Elizabethan house.

‘Great Houses’ with Julian Fellowes is a compelling two-part factual series that takes viewers on a journey to discover the real people behind two of Britain’s most incredible houses, Lincolnshire’s Burghley House and Goodwood House in West Sussex.

The man who has penned the most successful period dramas of recent years turns his attention to the real life stories and secrets of not only those that owned these grand houses, but also those that served in them Burghley, which sits on the edge of the picturesque Georgian stone town of Stamford, provides a few historic surprises – including the shocking murder of a cook.

For the last four centuries Burghley has wowed visitors, whether Elizabethan royalty, locals enjoying the parkland or tourists from across the globe. Built for Elizabeth I’s chief minister William Cecil, Lord Burghley, it now offers a packed family day out with a combined ticket giving access to the stunning history and architecture of the House, and its huge collection of treasures, plus two gardens, including the Tudor-inspired Gardens of Surprise.

The new TV show discovers some new stories from its past too. ‘We so enjoyed working with Julian Fellowes on the making of this programme. His extraordinary knowledge of life upstairs and downstairs in the English country house was invaluable in the discoveries he made about the history of Burghley. Understanding more about those who have lived and worked here has been fascinating and it really brings the story of the house to life,“ said ‘ Miranda Rock, House Director.

Beginning on Tuesday 22 Jan 2013, 9-10pm, the one-hour programmes offer an insight into the most significant moments in British history as well as uncovering untold stories. For Burghley, those darker secrets include the murder of cook Thomas Brinknell. Added Burghley Curator Jon Culverhouse: ‘The makers of Julian Fellowes’s programme went to extraordinary lengths to track down little-known scraps of the history of Burghley, its occupants and those who worked here.”

Burghley House opens for its 2013 season on Saturday 16th March, but although the house might have closed, Burghley’s popular Orangery Restaurant continues to serve up foodie treats this winter from 10am until 4pm Wednesday to Sunday. Visitors are welcome to come and visit the Orangery Restaurant and take a walk through Burghley’s sweeping parkland, free of charge throughout the year. Burghley’s Sculpture Garden is also open free of charge from 11am to 4pm daily through until Friday 15th March 2013 (Garden may be closed for essential maintenance work).

Find out more http://www.burghley.co.uk/

February Fun At Beaulieu! 16th – 24th February 2013

Beaulieu becomes a secret agent training ground once again for Bond-themed February Half Term.
 

Aston Martin DB5 and Rolls-Royce Phantom III

During February half-term week, from 16th – 24th February, come to Beaulieu, home of the world’s largest ever James Bond vehicle exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, and test out your spy skills to see if you have what it takes to be the next 007.

In the National Motor Museum, pit your driving ability against others on a Bond style, eight-lane Scalextric track. Race round in the fastest time possible for the opportunity to win a fantastic Scalextric prize.
Test your knowledge of the world’s most famous special agent, James Bond, with our special half term quiz trail as you enter BOND IN MOTION, which displays 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films. Follow the trail around the exhibition and exercise your code-cracking skills for an opportunity to win a Bond goody bag. See some of the best-loved and most iconic vehicles, including the Lotus Esprit S1, affectionately nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from The Spy Who Loved Me, the Crocodile Submarine from Octopussy and the Aston Martin Vanquish with adaptive camouflage seen in Die Another Day.

Crocodile Mini-Sub from Octopussy

Don’t miss the Secret Army Exhibition, which tells the story of Beaulieu’s history as a training ground for secret agents during WWII. The Special Operations Executive (SOE) trained agents at a number of large country houses scattered across the Beaulieu Estate before they left to work with Resistance groups in occupied Europe.

Learn about the instructors, secret agents and unsung heroes of the SOE, their training and secret missions. See some real-life spy gadgets on display which wouldn’t look out of place in Q’s laboratory, watch a film explaining how the ‘Finishing School’ operated in total secrecy for four years, and make and break your own secret codes using the cipher wheel.

See the National Motor Museum’s collection of over 250 vehicles, from the iconic World Land Speed Record Breaker, Bluebird CN7, to the quirky and instantly recognisable ‘orange on wheels’ Mini Outspan. There are historic racing cars, modern rally cars and the latest F1 machines as well as family cars from every motoring era on show.

Walk into the World of Top Gear, displaying 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.The latest creation to join the display is Top Gear’s ‘Bond car on a budget’ Lotus Excel submarine car from the 50 Years of Bond Cars special.

Enter the‘Enormodrome’, which aims to recreate the feel of the Top Gear studio, to see regular features from the programme including the Cool Wall and Celebrity ‘Lap Time’ boards. Plus you can watch an exclusive video presentation from behind-the-scenes at the Top Gear HQ with Jeremy, Richard and James, and clips from the show featuring the cars on display.

Explore the grounds by taking a ride on the high-level Monorail, which runs straight through the roof of the museum, or by hopping on the open-topped replica London bus.

Budding drivers can get in the driving seat on Dipstick’s Driving Circuit in fun mini motorised vehicles or drive remote controlled cars in The Stig Driving Challenge. Younger visitors can get physical on the Mini Motor PlayTrail with its Veteran Bus climbing frame, swings and Little Tykes ride-on-cars.

Visit Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and stroll through the beautiful gardens and take a look inside Beaulieu Abbey, a 13th century Cistercian monastery.

Beaulieu is open from 10am – 5pm every day. For more information please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

Lord Coe gift offers visitors to England's greatest Elizabethan house even more history in 2013

Burghley house has wrapped up an Olympic year of celebration with a unique gift from the man who spearheaded Britain's hugely successful London 2012 Games.

Ancestral home to David Cecil, Lord Burghley (1905-1981) - an Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler who helped deliver the 1948 London Games - Burghley celebrated its sporting connections with an exhibition of his sporting achievements as well as special events in 2012.

Among exhibits on display during the year long exhibition was an original Olympic torch from the 1948 London Games - and Burghley, near Stamford, welcomed the 2012 version during a torch runner hand-over as part of the Olympic Flame's triumphant UK summer relay.

Now one of the 2012 torches has returned to the Lincolnshire historic house… thanks to the generosity of Olympics supremo Lord Sebastian Coe.

The gift means that England's greatest Elizabethan house has the honour of being home to not one, but two Olympic torches from two different Games.

Fittingly Lord Coe was at Burghley in July to welcome the torch as it changed hands in front of the house, which was home to Lord Burghley, a celebrated Olympic athlete and the man who was effectively the Lord Coe of his day for the last London Games, in 1948.

Lord Coe also carried the torch himself in his hometown of Sheffield and like all runners who took part in the nationwide relay he got to keep his torch as a memento. And he has decided to donate his torch to Burghley so that it can go on display alongside Lord Burghley's 1948 torch in the permanent Olympic Corridor exhibition within the House in 2013.

"We're so grateful to Lord Coe for his very gracious gift which will add a special bit of sporting history to Burghley's remarkable collection" said Miranda Rock, Burghley House director.

And she added: "It's been a pleasure this year seeing so many visitors appreciating my grandfather's sporting legacy thanks to the wonderful exhibits we were able to display as part of our Olympics exhibition, including the torch from the 1948 London Games.

"Welcoming the 2012 torch to Burghley in the summer was among our highlights of the year and we were so grateful that Lord Coe took time out of his busy schedule to share that special day with us. Now his gift of his own Olympic torch will mean visitors to the house next year will be able to see even more Olympic history in this very special place.”

Hurdler David Cecil, Lord Burghley, who inherited the title of Marquess of Exeter from his father in 1956, was one of the golden athletes of his generation, winning gold for the 400 metres hurdles at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and silver in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics 4x400 metre relay.

Once he retired from active sport, he worked hard for amateur ideals within the Olympic movement. As President of the International Amateur Athletic Federation, Chairman of the British Olympic Association and a member of the International Olympic Committee, he was instrumental in bringing the Olympic Games to England in 1948 and was also chairman of the Organising and Executive Committee for those Games.

During his time at Cambridge, Lord Burghley - as he was then known - was also the inspiration behind one of the key characters in the movie Chariots of Fire, played by Nigel Havers. A famous scene in that film was also inspired by one of Lord Burghley’s feats – the race around the Great Court at Trinity College, Cambridge, against fellow athletes, when he became the only person to sprint around the courtyard before the college clock tolled 12 times.

While the Olympics exhibition ended when the House closed for the season at the end of October, Burghley’s permanent Olympic Corridor display returns for the 2013 season. The expanded exhibition will also now include both the 1948 and 2012 Olympic torches.

For full details of 2013 opening times and prices visit www.burghley.co.uk or telephone 01780 752451.

Centuries old gardens design scoops top modern day award for Woburn Abbey

 Woburn Abbey and Gardens are delighted to announce that the completion of a pavilion designed over 200 years ago has won the prestigious New Commission category of the 2012 Hudson’s Heritage Awards.  The striking red, green and gold pavilion in a Chinese-style was the inspiration of Humphry Repton, the famous landscape gardener, and sits on top of the attractive rockery in the gardens of Woburn Abbey, family home of the 15th Duke and Duchess of Bedford.

 

In 1802 Repton was commissioned by the 6th Duke to produce designs for enhancing the gardens and deer park and create interest for visitors.    The rockery and pavilion together were one part of Repton’s plan for formal ‘Pleasure Grounds’ at Woburn Abbey and illustrations of all of Repton’s designs and ideas were collated in his Red Book (1805), still held at the Abbey today.  Woburn has the most plans of Repton’s realised in the UK, but until this year the rockery stood uncompleted.

For the past seven years the Family along with the Estates Gardens Manager Martin Towsey and his team have been working tirelessly to restore Repton’s original plans for the ‘Pleasure Gardens’, which have also included an aviary and Children’s Garden.   In 2009 the Abbey Gardens team began restoring the rockery, which had suffered badly from weather over the years and was overgrown with trees, with the ultimate goal of recreating Repton’s original illustration.    In 2011 F Martin Ltd were commissioned to build the pavilion and together with the Abbey Gardens team constructed it on top of the rockery.  It took four weeks to build and a week to construct on site.  The entire project was successfully completed this summer and officially opened by Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford at the Woburn Abbey Garden Show.

The pavilion and rockery are on public display within the Abbey Gardens.  
For more information, visit www.woburn.co.uk/abbey or call 01525 290333.

Woburn Abbey Gardens Opening Times
Until 21st March 2013:10am to 4pm (last entry), closed 24th to 26th December 2012
22nd March to 3rd November 2013: 10am to 5pm (last entry)
4th November to 31st December 2013: 10am to 4pm (last entry) Friday, Saturday and Sunday only

Location of Woburn Abbey and Gardens
Just south east of Milton Keynes, Woburn Abbey is signposted from junctions 12 and 13 of the M1. It is also easily accessible from the A5.

Beaulieu wins Large Attraction Gold Award

At the 2012 Beautiful South Awards for Excellence gala dinner held at Denbies Wine Estate, hosted by Toby Anstis from Heart FM radio and TSE Chairman Ken Robinson, Beaulieu received the Gold Award in the Large Attraction category.

In its 60th anniversary year, more than 400,000 visitors from all over the world have visited the Beaulieu attraction, giving it its best visitor numbers since the mid 90s.  A big part of this success has been the opening of BOND IN MOTION, an exclusive exhibition, the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world, featuring 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films, including some of the best loved and most iconic.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn said: “Beaulieu was one of the first stately homes in England to open its doors to visitors in the early 1950s and I am delighted that in its 60th anniversary year it continues to flourish.

“The attraction endeavours to offer something for all ages and tastes and its latest exhibition BOND IN MOTION has brought a whole new audience to the attraction since its opening at the beginning of the year. We are delighted to be the recipients of this prestigious award in such a special year for Beaulieu.”

Beaulieu also received Silver Awards in three other categories;  Access for All Tourism, Tourism Event of the Year, for the International Autojumble, and its in-house caterers, Leith’s, for Business Tourism.

In addition Beaulieu has received a Highly Commended Award for its Shopping Experience in the 2012 Hudson’s Heritage Awards and a Highly Commended in the Visitor Attraction category at this year’s Bournemouth Tourism Awards.