National Trust

Programme 2025

National Trust

 Dates and Times

Visit to Belton House.

• Sometimes described as the ‘perfect’ English country house estate, Belton was built in the late 17th century by ‘Young’ Sir John Brownlow. Home to the same family for nearly 300 years, Sir John’s heirs also made their mark on Belton, commissioning the finest designers and craftsmen of their age.
• Step back in time and explore below stairs on this new experience, offering a unique insight into the history of food at Belton. Discover more about the global ingredients used, how they arrived at Belton, and how meals were prepared here up to 1870.
• The upper ground floor and first floor of the mansion are currently closed while we decorate for Christmas. Christmas in the Mansion will return 23 November – 5 January 2025, 11am – 3.30pm (last entry 3pm).
• The Marble Hall was designed as the main entrance and the first in a procession of grand rooms. In the Victorian period, its function changed dramatically into an area of familial comfort, with large rugs, plants, and seating in place. Look out for the overmantel carvings in the Marble Hall, from c1688, one side is attributed to Grinling Gibbons and the other is carved by Edmund Carpenter.
• Walking through the house you’ll come across the Chapel Drawing Room, which is a rare example of decor that dates from the building of the house in 1683-1685. If you had visited Belton in the 1690s you would have been in no doubt that this was one of the most opulent rooms in the house. What is now subdued green/blue marbling was originally bright lapis blue with white and gold flecks. No doubt Lord Tyrconnel enjoyed looking out to Bellmount Tower which he had built as part of significant alterations to the grounds in his later year.
• Upstairs you’ll discover the Chinese Bedroom with wallpaper that was hand painted in China and intended for export. The pink background, now faded, and the inclusion of figures were stylistic adaptations to appeal to European consumers. This paper was hung in 1830 but probably made much earlier. By the 19th century a Chinese bedroom or drawing room had become an almost expected element of the British country house. They were associated with women, where the ladies of the house would receive members of their family and more intimate friends. Before heading back downstairs you’ll visit the Windsor Bedroom. This room is named in honour of Belton’s association with Edward VIII, the British monarch who abdicated in 1936 so he could marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, a divorcee. Peregrine Cust, 6th Baron Brownlow was a close friend and Lord-in-waiting to the King. He accompanied Mrs Simpson to France at the height of the scandal and, to protect the monarchy, he encouraged her to renounce her relationship with Edward.
• Stables Café
  Belton’s refurbished Stables Café offers an historic setting to rest and refuel. The café is open daily, 9.30am – 5pm, serving seasonal menus.
• Venue: Belton House.
• Date: Monday 17th March.
• Cost: £16. Cheques payable to Sherwood u3a or BACS payment please.  You can now pay by your card.
• Bookings open at January meeting.
• Leaving Morrison’s Woodhouse at 9.00am.
• Returning time: Departing Belton 3.00pm.
• For further details contact Liz Wilson or Denise Whitsed.

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Visit to Wentworth Castle and Garden Centre.

• Stainborough Castle
  This almost ancient castle is the crowning glory of a visit to Wentworth Castle Gardens. Although it looks medieval, this folly was actually completed in 1731 by Thomas Wentworth. Born out of a fierce family rivalry, the folly was designed to give the impression that the Wentworth family had lived here for centuries. Today it’s a peaceful place to enjoy a picnic, surrounded by medieval-style turrets.
• Gardens within a garden
  The Union Jack Garden -Thomas Wentworth created the landscape at Wentworth to showcase his wealth and status, and the Union Jack Garden is no different. This 18th-century wilderness garden was planted in 1713. Its distinctive criss-cross pattern marks the union of England and Scotland in 1707. It was largely replanted in 2005. John Arnold Garden – Named after the Head gardener in the 18th century, this garden offers views across the wider countryside and colour in every season. Enjoy a myriad of smells and textures as you weave through this space on your way towards the rest of the formal gardens. National Collections -The gardens are home to several collections of Magnolias, Williamsii Hybrid Camellias, Species Rhododendrons and Hardy Hybrid Rhododendrons, including three national collections. That’s over 100 different Magnolias and 300 different wild rhododendrons. Between these and the Azalea Garden, the result is a vibrant and colourful spring and summer with large spreads of colour, delicate floral patterns and in some cases, fur lined leaves.
• Monument to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu -Framed by the trees, this monument has a powerful story to tell. Originally erected by Thomas Wentworth, it was later dedicated by his son William to Lady Mary Montagu in honour of her efforts to inoculate children against smallpox. A symbol of Mary’s achievements, it’s believed to be the oldest monument in the country dedicated to a non-royal woman. Lady Lucy’s Walk Wentworth Castle Gardens is an oasis of calm, and there’s nowhere more peaceful than Lady Lucy’s Walk, an avenue of towering lime trees. Believed to have been named after one of Thomas Wentworth’s daughters, this line of trees stretching through the garden was planted around the time of the First World War.
• The Victorian Conservatory As the next generations of the Wentworth family took over the estate, they sought to modernise Wentworth Castle Gardens. The Victorian era saw the Vernon-Wentworths move in, creating an impressive conservatory to grow unusual and exotic plants. This was among the first places in the country to have electric lighting – even before Buckingham Palace.
• Venue: Wentworth Castle & Garden Centre.
• Date: Wednesday May 21st.
• Cost: £16 Cheques payable to Sherwood u3a or BACS payment please.  You can now pay by your card.
• Bookings open at  March meeting.
• Leaving Morrison’s Woodhouse at 8.30am
• Returning time: Departing Garden Centre at 4.00pm.
• For further details contact Liz Wilson or Denise Whitsed.

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Visit to Fountains Abbey

• The ruins at Fountains Abbey are the largest monastic ruins in the country. Step back into a rich and dramatic past and imagine what life would have been like for the monks who first came here years ago, and learn how Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal became one.
• Fountains Abbey – The abbey’s beginnings -The abbey was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks from St Mary’s in York. They’d grown tired of the extravagant and rowdy way that the monks lived in York and so they escaped, seeking to live a devout and simple lifestyle elsewhere. This was how they came to Fountains. By the time three years had passed the monks had become settled into their new way of life and had been admitted to the austere Cistercian Order. With that came an important development – the introduction of the Cistercian system of lay brothers. Introduction of the lay brothers – The lay brothers (what we would now call labourers) relieved the monks from routine jobs, giving them more time to dedicate to God rather than farming the land to get by. It was because of the help of the lay brothers that Fountains became wealthy through wool production, lead mining, cattle rearing, horse breeding and stone quarrying. Not all plain sailing at the abbey Bad harvests hit the monks hard and combined with raids from the Scots throughout the 14th century, they experienced economic collapse. This was worsened by the Black Death which struck the country in 1348. Despite its financial problems, the abbey remained important. The abbacy of Marmaduke Huby (1495–1526) marked a period of revival, and the great tower built by Huby symbolised his hope for the abbey’s future. The Dissolution – The abbey was abruptly closed in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries ordered by Henry VIII. The abbot, prior and monks were sent away with pensions. Fountains Abbey today – The estate was sold by the Crown to a merchant, Sir Richard Gresham. It remained in private hands until the 1960s. The National Trust bought the estate from the West Riding County Council in 1983.
• Studley Royal – Studley Royal Water Garden is the result of the vision of John Aislabie and his son William. Recognised as a site of cultural importance, it was granted World Heritage Site status in 1986.The beginnings of Studley Royal – In the early 18th century John Aislabie had great plans to impress visitors to his Yorkshire estate and turned the wild and wooded valley of the River Skell into one of England’s most spectacular Georgian water gardens. John Aislabie inherited the Studley Royal estate in 1693. He was a socially and politically ambitious man and became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1718. Disaster struck his career in 1720 due to his part in the South Sea Bubble financial scandal and he was expelled from Parliament. It was then that John returned to Yorkshire and devoted himself to creating this groundbreaking garden. Inspired by the work of the great French landscape gardeners, the two gifted amateurs created the Water Garden with its formal, geometric design and extraordinary vistas, including the Temple of Piety.
• Two estates become one – The purchase of the abbey -In 1767 William Aislabie bought the Fountains Abbey ruins to complete the garden and create the ultimate vista. The climax of the garden is known as the ‘Surprise View’ or ‘Anne Boleyn’s Seat. ’‘Surprise View’ refers to the astonishing view of the abbey ruins in the distance and was designed to cause a sharp intake of breath when visitors to the garden came across it.
• Venue: Fountains Abbey.
• Date: Tuesday August 19th.
• Cost: £20 Cheques payable to Sherwood u3a or BACS payment please.  You can now pay by your card.
• Bookings open at June meeting.
• Leaving Morrison’s Woodhouse at 8.00am.
• Returning time: Departing Fountains Abbey at 4.30pm.
• For further details contact Liz Wilson or Denise Whitsed.

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Visit to Attingham Park

Attingham’s Walled Garden is a hive of activity, with seasonal fruit, vegetables and flowers grown throughout the year, and a haven for wildlife, including the Attingham bees. Bright splashes of colour can be seen in the Walled Garden and orchard at this time of year, look out for the dahlias in bloom in September and early October.
In the frameyard, you’ll find our wildlife-friendly bed. With a variety of plants, a small pool of water and hedgehog house it’s a great place for ideas for your own garden or to take a moment and see what wildlife you can spot.
As you follow the Mile Walk through the Pleasure Grounds, look out for the various trees and seasonal shrubs, historic planting schemes and landscaped views designed to impress. You’ll find benches located around the walk where you can sit and take in the views and surroundings. Soak up the scents, sights and sounds of Attingham’s restored Walled Garden. Originally created in the 1780s, the team has been bringing this important part of the Attingham Estate back to life and production. After falling into disrepair, and having different uses in the 20th century, this Georgian kitchen garden is both beautiful and bountiful today.

• Venue: Attingham Park.
• Date: Wednesday October 15th.
• Cost: £20 Cheques payable to Sherwood u3a or BACS payment please.  You can now pay by your card.
• Bookings open at  August meeting.
• Leaving Morrison’s Woodhouse at
• Leaving Mansfield outside Iceland at
• Returning time: Departing
• For further details contact Liz Wilson or Denise Whitsed.

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• Venue: 
• Date:
• Cost: £ Cheques payable to Sherwood u3a or BACS payment please.  You can now pay by your card.
• Bookings open at  August meeting.
• Leaving Morrison’s Woodhouse at
• Leaving Mansfield outside Iceland at
• Returning time: Departing
• For further details contact Liz Wilson or Denise Whitsed.

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• Venue: 
• Date:
• Cost: £ Cheques payable to Sherwood u3a or BACS payment please.  You can now pay by your card.
• Bookings open at  meeting.
• Leaving Morrison’s Woodhouse at
• Leaving Mansfield outside Iceland at
• Returning time: Departing
• For further details contact Liz Wilson or Denise Whitsed.

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• Venue: 
• Date:
• Cost: £ Cheques payable to Sherwood u3a or BACS payment please.  You can now pay by your card.
• Bookings open at  meeting.
• Leaving Morrison’s Woodhouse at
• Leaving Mansfield outside Iceland at
• Returning time: Departing
• For further details contact Liz Wilson or Denise Whitsed.

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• Venue: 
• Date:
• Cost: £ Cheques payable to Sherwood u3a or BACS payment please.  You can now pay by your card.
• Bookings open at  meeting.
• Leaving Morrison’s Woodhouse at
• Leaving Mansfield outside Iceland at
• Returning time: Departing
• For further details contact Liz Wilson or Denise Whitsed.

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We are open to suggestions (polite ones!) or we may just pick from Irene’s previous visits. We are also hoping to choose an area with several National Trust properties and fit in several of them with an overnight stay.