An opportunity to visit 5-6 small, private gardens in Heslington, mostly maintained by Friends of York Art Gallery. Explore the character of this small village, which retains its rural character despite being within the orbit of the University of York campus. Refreshments will be available to purchase. Closing date for applications: 1 May 2021 To […]

*** Fully booked *** A coach trip from York to Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire. On arrival there will be a guided tour before a free flow visit. Refreshments will be available to purchase. Bolsover Castle was once the home of Charles Cavendish, the son of Bess of Hardwick, and substantial alterations were made by him to […]

A coach trip from York to the Hepworth Art Gallery in Wakefield and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. After exploring the galleries at the Hepworth, there will be time for a (self-funded) lunch at the Scupture Park followed by a guided tour of some of the most significant scupture at the Park. Return to York at […]

Leaving the Memorial Gardens at 1pm, we will travel by coach to Birdsall House, the home of Lord Middleton. Originally a late Elizabethan house it was altered and enlarged in the eighteenth-century with a substantial remodelling by Salvin in 1870-5. Despite the different architectural interventions, the house, which is set in beautiful landscaped grounds, overlooking […]

*** Fully booked *** Join guides, who are members of the Friends of Rowntree Park, to mark the hundred years since the Park was given to the people of York by the Rowntree family as “a place of rest and recreation”. We will have the opportunity to find out about the history of the Park […]

Leaving the Memorial Gardens at 1 15 we will travel by coach to Kiplin Hall near Richmond. Kiplin was originally built as a hunting lodge for George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I, who became the founder of the state of Maryland, USA. Since that time, through the ownership of four succeeding families, the […]

Leaving the Memorial Gardens at 1 pm, we will travel by coach to Everingham. The Hall was built 1757-64 by John Carr & was restored by Francis Johnson in 1962, who removed the large Victorian additions. The house, which has some fine mid-18th century woodwork & fireplaces, is an interesting example of a property which […]

Leaving the Memorial Gardens at 9am we will travel by coach to the centre of Sheffield to the Cutlers Hall. The present building, erected in 1832, is the third Cutlers Hall on the site, it is now mainly used for conferences and weddings. After coffee we will have a guided tour and see some of […]

A bespoke tour of Fairfax House with Dr Sarah Burnage. With reference to the current concern about what and what not to display in galleries, discussion will focus on items, particularly pictures, which are on display and some which are not. There will also be a chance to hear about the recent urgent conservation project […]

A coach trip from York to Bishop Auckland for a visit to the Auckland Project starting with a tour of Auckland Castle, formerly the residence of the Bishops of Durham. It has been described as Britain’s finest bishop’s palace. The castle’s many treasures include the celebrated series of the 13 life-sized portraits of Jacob and […]