An Evening With Richard Noble - Thursday 8th May 2014

On Thursday 8th May, Richard Noble, OBE, will be the guest speaker at an evening hosted by the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

Richard Noble

Richard Noble, OBE will be talking you through his own personal World Land Speed Record story. Starting with his experiences as a driver and his success in setting a World Land Speed Record of 633mph in Thrust II in 1983, he will continue with his experiences as Project Director, working with driver Wing Commander Andy Green, OBE, to achieve the record of 763mph in Thrust SSC.

Having covered his past and current records Richard will look to the future, taking you through his plans for Bloodhound SSC, again working with Andy Green on an international education initiative designed to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists by designing and racing the ultimate 1,000mph jet and rocket powered car.

There will be an opportunity for guests to ask Richard questions in a Q&A session after his talk.

The evening, starting at 7.30pm, will be held in the Lecture Theatre of the National Motor Museum Collections’ Centre. A pay bar is available for the purchase of beers, wines and soft drinks.

Tickets at £15, which must be pre-booked, can be purchased online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk

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Note to Editors

    Visitors to the Beaulieu attraction on Saturday 10th May will have a special opportunity to find out more about the Bloodhound SSC project, the next British contender for the Land Speed Record with a chance to see a full sized prototype of Bloodhound SSC, the car that, it is hoped, will hit 1,000mph with Andy Green at the controls. The Bloodhound project will be showcasing the excitement of the project and will offer the chance to drive at 1,000mph in the Bloodhound Driving Experience. Visitors can also see For Britain & For The Hell Of It with Beaulieu’s iconic Land Speed Record cars re-displayed and accompanied by archive footage to tell a story of British pluck, technological mastery and national pride.

National Motor Museum Workshop takes on new Trainee

On 1st April the National Motor Museum Restoration Workshop at Beaulieu welcomed a new trainee – the first in several years.

Tim Edgerton with 350hp Sunbeam

Tim Edgerton, 23, is not new to Beaulieu having worked both in Visitor Services and Living History as well as helping out at Beaulieu events. Tim is a hardworking and enthusiastic young man who has already impressed everyone with his proactive attitude and obvious commitment to Beaulieu.

The traineeship has been made possible by the generosity of individual members of the Beaulieu One Hundred together with match funding from Beaulieu Enterprises.  The apprenticeship will last four years and will enable the many years of specialist experience built up by the workshop team to be passed on to the next generation.

Chief Engineer, Doug Hill, said “When you add my years at Beaulieu with those of the Workshop team, we have over one hundred years of experience. We are looking forward to bringing in new blood so we can pass on our legacy of skills and knowledge, unique to Beaulieu and to our vehicle collection.”

Tim is keen to start, so keen he has already built up many hours in the workshop as a volunteer and is looking forward to building his career at the museum. He said “I don’t see myself leaving Beaulieu, I enjoy working here too much.”

Much more than a Boat Jumble - Beaulieu Boatjumble on Sunday 27th April

There is something for all the family at this year’s Beaulieu Boatjumble on Sunday 27th April. The largest outdoor sale of boating items in Europe with hundreds of stands selling nautical bargains, there are also activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Are you up for a challenge?  Then visit the Calshot Activities Centre stand in the new Display Area and take on the nine metre rock climbing tower.  If you prefer to keep your feet closer to the ground, why not try your skill at surfing on the Surf Simulator or push the limits on the kayak ergo’s – and see where you finish on the leader board.

Climbing Wall

Also in the Display Area and making their first visit to the Boatjumble is The National Museum of the Royal Navy. They will have original objects on display and games to play including that old navy favourite - quoits. The game of Battleships will be there too, for children from 10 to 80! For younger children there will be mystery objects to identify, ship models to construct and dressing up with a naval theme. There is also much fun to be had on the giant, nautical-themed slides. The whole family can enjoy demonstrations by the Boat Building Training College.

In the Boatmall, new boats from leading manufacturers and brokerages are up for sale, plus all the latest clothing and products. Head for the Boatmart, bringing together a wide range of used boats, from classics to nearly new and those in need of restoration, which can be viewed before you buy.  In the enlarged Trunk Traders area, amateur jumblers can sell their surplus second-hand sailing items from the boot of their car. Trading is brisk, so get there early.

BoatMart

Don’t miss the Walkabout Auction, a new feature and ‘end of show’ chance to buy and sell surplus items of stock exhibitors don’t want to take home with them. For just £2, exhibitors can buy a box to fill with bits to be auctioned at the end of the afternoon, by a guest auctioneer.

The RNLI will be running a Safety Lifejacket Clinic offering advice and free lifejacket safety checks. They will also be holding an auction on their stand at 3pm.

The Classic Motor Boat Association will be putting on their traditional display of members’ classic boats and antique outboard engines. At the entrance to the Boatmall, the Association will also be displaying aviation pioneer and yachtsman Tommy Sopwith’s powerboat, Thunderstreak.

Visit media sponsor, Practical Boat Owner magazine on their stand for special offer subscriptions. See how they are getting on with their Project Boat, Hantu Biru, which aims to demonstrate how a boat can be bought, restored and launched on a minimum budget

Event visitors can also enjoy all the delights of the Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and colourful gardens. Don’t miss the museum’s new multi-media display, For Britain & For The Hell Of It, featuring iconic Land Speed Record cars.

On-the-day, all-inclusive admission tickets are priced at £9.70 per adult and £7.50 per child. Advance tickets are available at a discounted rate online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on Ticket Line 01590 612888.

Trunk Traders

For those visitors arriving by public transport, there will be free shuttle buses running between 8am and 6pm from Buckler’s Hard Marina, the Lymington Isle of Wight Ferry Terminal and Brockenhurst station.

Stand spaces are still available, with stand prices starting at £55; BoatMart at £30 and Trunk Trader spaces, £32. To make a stand, Trunk Trader or BoatMart space booking please contact the Events Department by email at events@beaulieu.co.uk or on telephone number 01590 614614.

BoatMall and BoatMart are open to visitors from 9am, with the Boatjumble opening at 10am. The show closes at 5pm.

For more information please visit www.beaulieuboatjumble.co.uk

Enjoy Beaulieu’s Easter Egg-Stravaganza 5th–21st April 2014

This Easter holidays, 5th– 21st April, young visitors to Beaulieu can follow an egg-citing Easter Trail and collect a sweet treat at the end. At Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538, youngsters can have an Easter-themed face painting, and all the family can play with fun Victorian toys and games.

Easter at Beaulieu

If you visit over the Easter weekend, meet the Easter Bunny and see veteran and vintage vehicles motoring around the grounds.

Take a look around the National Motor Museum’s stunning collection of over 250 vehicles, from classic family cars of the 30s and 40s and classic cars of the 70s and 80s, to F1 racers, plus quirky motoring oddities including a Cadbury Crème Egg car. 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.

Don’t miss one of the first opportunities to see the museum’s fascinating new display, For Britain & For The Hell Of It, featuring Beaulieu’s iconic land speed record cars it tells the story of British pluck, technological mastery and national pride – alongside new vehicles with a more alternative land speed heritage. A moving audio-visual presentation transports you back to a golden age of invention, courage and patriotism and introduces you to those who are keeping the record breaking dream alive today.

During the Easter holidays, youngsters will also have the opportunity to take part in a fun Land Speed themed activity to make their very own record-breaker!

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.

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. 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.

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

The Treasure Houses of England’s Glorious Gardens

As well as boasting a series of fine stately homes, castles and palaces, the Treasure Houses of England are also world-renowned for their magnificent gardens. 

Celebrate the seasons in sublime style by visiting the glorious grounds and gardens at some of the most spectacular sites in the country.

Beaulieu literally means 'beautiful place' and the gardens certainly manifest the name. In spring, the banks of the dry moat surrounding the Montagu family home, Palace House, and the lawns of the adjacent Wilderness Garden are carpeted in colour with a dazzling display of snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils.

Beaulieu

With over fifteen species of daffodils in bloom during the flowering season, it presents a stunning seasonal show for all the senses. See the Surrey Sculpture Society’s exhibition of traditional and contemporary artwork on display throughout the grounds (23 May – 20 Aug).

Blenheim Palace

Celebrating the best gardening in the UK in stand-out style, the Blenheim Palace Flower Show (20-22 June) will feature in excess of 150 floral and gardens exhibitors alongside a grand floral marquee with industry judges, ten garden landscapes, and lots more including food, refreshments and family activities.  Featuring everything floral - from award-winning nurseries to gardening celebrities and experts who will be on hand to help you to transform your garden into a tranquil haven - the show is crammed with incredible colour and inspiration.

The Private South Gardens at Burghley boast nineteenth century yew hedges and stunning landscape views of the nearby Lion Bridge and South Front of Burghley. Meanwhile, the South Gardens magnificent displays of narcissi and spring bulbs will be available to visit in aid of the National Gardens Scheme (12 -13 April, 11am to 4pm - last admission 3.30pm) for a truly dazzling day out.

Burghley

Spruce up autumn by watching local flower societies transform Burghley’s staterooms into fabulous floral displays during Burghley Flower Festival (4-12 October). Take a tour through the grand interiors of this great Elizabethan house where the painted ceilings and seventeenth century art will be inspirationally echoed by breathtaking blooms.

Castle Howard

A stunning array of arrangements will adorn the house with beautiful bursts of colour and fragrance at Castle Howard Flower Festival (15-16 May). Early summer blooms in the Walled Garden and rhododendrons in Ray Wood provide plenty of scope to explore and admire the gorgeous grounds. Find inspiration and practical tips aplenty at the plant fair that will include demonstrations and advice from the resident experts.  And don’t forget to prettify your own garden courtesy of special not-to-be-missed promotions in the Garden Centre.

Chatsworth

Having evolved over more than 450 years, the 105-acre Chatsworth garden continues to change today. Roam the exquisite grounds to view permanent sculptures and famous water fountains - including the 300-year-old cascade, trough waterfall and the enormous gravity-fed Emperor fountain. As well as the huge maze, rockery, and rose, cottage and kitchen gardens, there are also over five miles of meandering walks dotted with rare trees, shrubs, streams and ponds.

Harewood

With over 100 acres of award-winning gardens and walks set within rolling parkland surrounding the House and lakeside, Harewood presents an awe-inspired location.  The West Garden’s floral displays morph from majestic daffodils and snowdrops in springs to a summertime show of rhododendrons and other exotic blooms. Follow the clues around the park’s spring trail and collect different letters to solve a puzzle.

Breathe in the sweet scent of bluebells and daffodils at Hatfield House’s gorgeous woodland garden. During NGS Gardens Open Day For Charity (29 March), visitors can enjoy the spring bulbs in the Lime Walk along with the enchanting Woodland and Sundial Gardens. (Admission charges apply.)

Hatfield

Join the Landscape team for Holkham Hall’s Spring Tours of the Private Gardens (18 May, 11am, 1pm and 3pm), which are normally closed to the public.  See the spectacular arboretum with its many unusual and rare specimen trees, along with the magnolia trees, tulip tree and resplendent rainbow of blooming bluebells.

Leeds Castle

For show-stopping spring colour, take a walk in the Wood Garden at Leeds Castle. In spring, a display of daffodils, narcissi and anemones presents a wonderfully vibrant palette, later replaced in the summer season by a spellbinding scene replete with rhododendrons and azaleas.

Woburn Abbey Gardens will be staging a variety of activities for National Gardening Week (14 - 20 April). This year’s theme of ‘Start Something Beautiful’ will encourage visitors to follow a series of discovery boards installed by the team of gardeners, affording a behind-the-scenes look at forthcoming developments. Other boards will showcase a number of Humphry Repton’s 200-year-old watercolour designs for the gardens, detailing plans for a green oak walkway to be constructed alongside the award-winning rockery pavilion.

Woburn Abbey

A garden tour, included with entry, will take place at 12noon on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Easter week. The tour will be lead by one of the RHS-qualified gardeners, who will also be available to dispense advice on how to start something beautiful in your own outdoor space this spring.

In addition, Woburn Abbey Garden Show (21 – 22 June) returns for its fifth year and welcomes everyone from green-fingered gardening experts to novices to offer a mass of magnificent tips, ideas and inspiration to make your own garden a stunning success.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Top Ten Places For Afternoon Tea - The Treasure Houses of England

A fittingly fine way to enjoy the quintessentially English custom of afternoon tea, visit the Treasure Houses of England’s consortium of historic homes, palaces and castles to indulge in this traditional pastime in spectacular surrounds and inimitable stately style.

Afternoon Tea at Woburn Abbey

•    Woburn Abbey - The quintessential English tradition of Afternoon Tea is said to have been popularised around 1840 by Duchess Anna Maria, wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, who entertained her friends at Woburn Abbey.  Visitors today can experience Afternoon Tea at Woburn at the Duchess’ Tea Room or at the Estate’s hotel The Inn at Woburn (pre-booking required).

•    Burghley House – Enjoy a range of Afternoon Teas in the Orangery Restaurant at Burghley, designed by ‘Capability’ Brown in the eighteenth century. The ornate gothic windows provide a bright and elegant space to indulge in homemade scones, cakes and a range of teas while overlooking the peaceful and romantic Rose Garden.

•    Beaulieu – Enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea with a wide selection of cakes and pastries all baked in-house in the Brabazon Coffee Shop and Restaurant.  Some produce comes from Lord Montagu's own Victorian Kitchen garden; beetroot is transformed into a delicious moist cake and plums made into jam, to eat on scones with lashings of Dorset clotted cream.

•    Hatfield House – Take tea to new and dizzy heights with Hatfield’s Helicopter Discovery Tour where you can escape on an eight mile helicopter pleasure flight over the estate to snatch spectacular aerial views of the stunning architecture of the house, rounded off by a delicious home made cream tea at the house.

Afternoon Tea at Castle Howard

•    Castle Howard – Enjoy an afternoon treat at Castle Howard in either the bistro style Courtyard Cafe or the more traditional Fitzroy Room.  On offer are seasonal menus prepared by their incredible chefs that include a generous selection of freshly made sandwiches, salads and heavenly homemade cakes.

•    Chatsworth – Enjoy a British tradition at Chatsworth with an afternoon tea in the Cavendish Restaurant (from 16 March 2014) built within the 18th century Stables designed by the famous architect James Paine. Enjoy homemade dainty finger sandwiches, a selection of cakes and pastries freshly baked at Chatsworth every day and a wide choice of carefully selected leaf teas. Afternoon teas are available throughout the day and are pre-bookable online.

Afternoon Tea at Leeds Castle

•    Leeds Castle – Enjoy an afternoon treat with a cream tea in the 17th Century oak-beamed Fairfax Hall or outside in the sunshine on the Terrace overlooking the castle.  There is an excellent choice of freshly prepared hot and cold dishes on offer, along with cakes and other sweet treats, all of which can be enjoyed in a rustic farmhouse kitchen style setting featuring oak and wrought iron finishes.

•    Harewood House – At Harewood House you can taste the delights of afternoon tea in one of its renowned cafés.  The Grade 1 listed Courtyard Café, edged by colonnades, offers superb al fresco and covered facilities perfect for families, while The Terrace Café- voted one of the best places to have afternoon tea by Gardener’s World Magazine readers in 2010- offers stunning views over the lake and Capability Brown landscape. Using locally sourced ingredients, much from Harewood’s own Walled Garden, both cafes provide a spectacular setting to relax and unwind.

•    The Holkham Estate has two cafés offering afternoon tea.  As part of a visit to Holkham Hall, discover the Stables Café in the adjacent sunny courtyard, perfect on a summer’s afternoon. Or there’s the Beach Café just a stone’s throw from the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea.  Whichever you opt for you can be sure to find plenty of mouth-watering homemade treats to indulge in.

•    Blenheim Palace is the perfect place to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the elegant surroundings only a palace could provide.  Tea is served in the palace’s Indian Room, or Champagne Bar, overlooking the eautiful fountains on the Water Terraces for a truly inspired setting.  Choose from a delectable selection of menus including a traditional Blenheim Tea, a Churchill Champagne Tea or a luxury Winston Churchill Premier Tea, inspired by the great leader it includes his favourite tipple Pol Roger Brut Reserve NV.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Treasure Houses of England
The Treasure Houses of England are ten of the most magnificent palaces, houses and castles in England today. Members are Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Burghley House, Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Harewood, Hatfield House, Holkham Hall, Leeds Castle and Woburn Abbey.  Each has its own unique charm and all combine together to give a fascinating insight into life in England over the centuries

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 and priceless antiques including Chippendale, Wedgwood and Meissen.

Discover hidden gems and dark secrets, follow walks and adventure trails in beautiful parklands and gardens, enjoy classical concerts, outdoor theatre, family fun and relax over afternoon tea:  the Treasure Houses change with the seasons, move with the times and always have something unexpected to offer, something new to discover.

Chatsworth in Wartime

A wide range of objects, including letters from the front line, photos, uniforms and paintings will reveal life on the Chatsworth estate during both World Wars. 

An Oscar Wilde book found by the Marques
of Hartington in his dugout at Gallipoli.
It was floating in water and shows signs of this.

The Derbyshire Yeomanry held camps and
trained in Chatsworth Park in the 1900s and
1910s. After the outbreak of the First World War,
they were billeted on the estate. Many of the men
enjoyed staying in the area. Some held a
cross country race through the Park.
They also appear to have been popular with local girls.

The exhibition will tell the stories of those who fought on the front line from the Somme to Gallipoli, including members of the Devonshire family; the house staff and estate workers and the contribution made by women through involvement with the Red Cross, the Women's Land Army and the WW2 'Dig for Victory' campaign. 

Life on the home front during the First World War is examined along with the impact of the war effort on the estate. In the garden, staff will be dressed as Land Girls while the Orangery border and Cottage Garden will be planted with vegetables as would have been done in WW1 and WW2.

During the Second World War, Chatsworth housed a girls' boarding school, Penrhos College, whose own building had been taken over by the Ministry of Food.  The State Drawing Room will be recreated as a dormitory, complete with beds and the original wardrobe, stored at Chatsworth since the girls moved out in March 1946. A group of alumni from the school are due to be among the first to view the exhibition following an invitation from the Duke of Devonshire.

Jacob van der Beugel exhibition at Chatsworth

Duke and Duchess of Devonshire
viewing the North Sketch Sequence

In a groundbreaking fusion of art and architecture, portrayals of the DNA of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and their heirs have become part of the fabric of the building at their ancestral family home, Chatsworth.

The walls of the North Sketch Gallery have been completely covered with textured, handmade ceramic panels in ‘The North Sketch Sequence’ by the artist Jacob van der Beugel. Raised ceramic blocks represent the DNA strand of ‘Everyman’ in the central portrait, which is flanked by the personal DNA profiles of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, their son Lord Burlington and his wife, Lady Burlington. This permanent contemporary ceramic installation in the North Sketch Gallery is the most important art installation at Chatsworth since the creation of the 6th Duke of Devonshire’s Sculpture Gallery in 1832.