Chairman's Remarks Social Group Leader's Letter

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS

A Happy New Year to you all! You will see that the social group has been working hard to produce the programme for the coming year. I would ask you to support as many events as you feel able. My thanks go to all the committee members who made 2015 so successful. I look forward to an equally good 2016. Peter Skinner

SOCIAL GROUP LEADER’S LETTER

Dear Peak District Centre Member The social programme for 2015 has now been completed, although at the time of writing this letter the Christmas Luncheon and walk on 5th December 2015 is yet to take place. At present 43 members have booked to attend that event, and it is my hope that the figure will be higher than that on the day. Nevertheless I am confident that this annual event will make money for the PDC and also be hugely enjoyable. I think my report on the 2015 social programme is largely positive. As in 2014 we didn’t have to cancel a single day trip, which is good news, although the trip to the National Brewing Museum and then to Calke Abbey did run at a small loss, which fortunately was wiped out by the profit made on the trip to Lake Coniston and Sizergh Castle. The other trips all broke even or made small profits but overall the income from the trips was not as high as it has been in previous years. Generally we were lucky with the weather particularly so when we went to the Lake District and to Chirk Castle. The visit to the bell foundry in Loughborough, organised by our Chairman Peter was also blessed with good weather, and perhaps was the most fascinating of all our trips.

Both holidays were fantastic. The holiday in Northern Ireland was as brilliant as it was thought provoking, and the holiday in Tenby also seems to have been much enjoyed. The only downside was both holidays only made very modest profits when compared with the income achieved in previous years. We had a very varied programme of talks, all of which were well attended, but the costs of putting them on in some cases was quite high. The last talk of the season given by the celebrated author Stephen Booth did see more than 70 people attend. Stephen proved to be a first rate speaker and his fee for speaking to us was surprisingly modest. If all the other talks had been so well attended our financial position would look considerably healthier. The two walks organised by John Boyle were much appreciated by the members who went on them, although only the walk around historic Bakewell was heavily subscribed. The judgement on 2015 I think has to be that, although we achieved our goals on most matters, income overall was unimpressive and we do need to do better in 2016. Before I briefly mention the 2016 Social Programme can I put on record my thanks to Peter Skinner, Judith Aizlewood, Carolyn Turner, Sandy Weedon and John Boyle for everything that they did to ensure we had a quality programme for 2015. Thanks are obviously also due to John Morten for looking after all our IT needs, to Annette Derbyshire for looking after the second-hand book stall and to Carolyn Turner and all the ladies who have provided coffee and refreshments at the talks, I do not propose to say much in this letter about the Social Programme for 2016 as all the details appear later in this newsletter. What I must say however is how fantastic I thought the last newsletter was and to commend Kathleen Wharton for doing such an outstanding job. One thing I will say at this time is that although the programme for 2016 is largely complete, you will note that there are one or two places where final details are not yet in place. I can assure you these will be attended to fully in the next newsletter. Can I now please make three brief points: 2

1. The cost of admission to talks has risen to £4 for members, and £5 for guests; the reason for this is that speakers’ fees are beginning to rise, and we have to ensure we can meet these extra costs. 2. Two absolutely superb holidays have been planned for 2016, at incredibly low prices, but they can only proceed if enough people book to go on them In particular we need a minimum of 30 people to go on the holiday to Holland. You will note that this holiday has been opened up to none PDC members to give us the best chance of hitting our target. 3. Some of the day trips are also very number dependent. The trip to York in August 2016 has to attract a minimum of 30 people to be viable. This is partly because we have booked a Blue Badge Guide for the whole day. If we do not hit our minimum target for this trip it will not run. Finally, this is my last year as Social Group Leader. Thank you for all the support you have given me in the last three years. The great news is that Judith Aizlewood has agreed to take on the role of Social Group Leader and I know she will be an outstanding success. It would be helpful to Judith if we could welcome some new members to the Social Group. New blood and new ideas are essential if the PDC is going to continue to thrive. Two or three new people could make all the difference; that would probably mean that no one person would have to organise more than two events in any calendar year. Please volunteer to help Judith; the whole Peak District Centre will benefit from your support. Tony Read Social Group Organiser

PROJECT GROUP’S REPORT

Some of the Projects Group visited Hardwick recently to review the progress of the two projects the Centre is sponsoring. Each has been funded with £2,500 by us and probably would not have happened without our support. 3

The first of these was to produce a number of display boards for the garden, and these are now largely in place. They appear fairly robust and should last some years. They are placed at various positions throughout the garden, and can be updated easily to show what is happening in the garden, and what to look out for. We particularly liked the one placed outside the restaurant which shows what home grown produce is being used that day. Apparently, this has been very well received by the visitors. A photo of this sign is attached. The second project is to experiment with the use of LED lights to display some of the tapestries in the house. As many of you will know, for preservation reasons Hardwick is kept very dark, with the result that the large tapestries throughout the house are almost impossible to see properly. LED’s are safe and do not damage the fabric, and the results of just a few small lights are really Photo: Tom Booth remarkable. There is still work to be done, but our hope is that this will in due course transform the experience of visiting Hardwick, and may even be something that could be transferred to other National Trust properties. Tom Booth Project Group leader

REPORTS ON PAST EVENTS

Report of the guided walk to Padley Chapel and the Industrial Archaeology of the Bolehill Quarry ocal National Trust volunteer historian, Thelma Griffiths, led our June L 2015 walk which started at Grindleford station café. After crossing Burbage Brook we compared her photographs of old Padley Mill to the present sensitively restored residential property. On reaching the manor house ruins behind Padley Chapel Thelma detailed the history of the site from pre-Norman origins to its demise because its owners were Catholic in the 16th century. Two Catholic priests - Nicholas Garlick and Robert Ludlam - were discovered when the manor house was raided on 12th July 1588. They were taken to be executed on St. Mary's bridge at Derby. The head of Nicholas Garlick was reputedly retrieved then buried in the graveyard of Tideswell's "Cathedral of the Peak". We then, slowly, walked up the steep inclined plane to the remains of the winding engine building at the lowest level of Bolehill quarry. Thelma explained that all the 1.25 million tons of stone needed for the building of the Howden and Derwent dams was extracted from the different levels of this extensive quarry which reached the southern end of Lawrence Field. The stone was loaded into standard gauge railway wagons then shunted to the top of the inclined plane. The winding engine lowered loaded wagons down the inclined plane to meet the main railway line by Grindleford station from where they passed through Hathersage to the construction sites in the Derwent Valley. Although Bolehill quarry has been reclaimed by self-sown silver birch, Thelma showed old photographs to bring this one hundred year old industrial site alive. She gave details from her extensive research into the workmen's living and working conditions with accounts of their accidents and the inevitable inquests.

By coincidence the main water pipelines from Bamford treatment works to Midland cities further south pass beneath Bolehill quarry. We walked into the ancient oak woodland at the bottom of Padley Gorge to see a stone building housing the water pipeline flow/pressure control equipment before returning to Grindleford station café for refreshments (and to watch trains entering and leaving the 3.5 mile long 1893 Totley railway tunnel). John Boyle Report of the visit to the Loughborough Carillon and Taylor’s Bellfoundry Thursday 6th August 2015 n Thursday 6th August 2015 members of the Peak District Centre and O six guests from St James’s Church, Taxal, set out on a day trip to the Loughborough Carillon Tower and Taylor’s Bellfoundry. The weather when we left Chapel-en-le-Frith was grey and damp but the forecast was for good weather to follow and by the time we reached Loughborough that forecast had proved to be correct. Our coach parked near to Queen’s Park and we alighted from it in bright sunshine and walked across the park to the Charnwood Museum which was to be our first port of call. Although not large it was filled with many interesting exhibits including some of the world’s oldest fossils, as well as ancient farm implements and many items of local interest. Of particular interest to us was an exhibition of the original artwork that had appeared in the locally produced Ladybird Books, which was charming to look at and brought back for all of us very many memories. There was a nice cafe, with outdoor seating where we could get tea and coffee which was right next to an aviary containing exotic birds; some of us took lunch their while others picnicked in the very pretty floral gardens just outside the museum’s front door. At just before 12:30 pm we walked the very short distance to the Loughborough Carillon Tower and we were admitted into this precisely on the half hour. We crammed into the ground floor entrance hall where a brief

6 history of the Carillon was explained to us and a short film was then played. We were split into two groups and our tour of the tower began. The military museums on the first and second floors were compact but crammed with memorabilia, but the steep spiral staircase was quite daunting and some members decided it would be safer to stay on terra firma. On the 3rd floor was the Clavier room, and there the Carilloneur talked to us about the Carillon and then started to play music, including tunes from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.” For those members in the Bell Chamber, when the music began the noise was deafening and even one floor below the sound was very loud. The clatter of the carillon was itself noisy, and there was no doubt that the bells sounded their sweetest in the park a little distance away from the tower. At just before 1:30 pm we left the Carillon to re-join the coach and travel to Taylor’s Bellfoundry to arrive there promptly at 1:45 pm. This was the highlight of the day. After a brief explanatory talk, during which the suitability of our footwear was carefully checked, we were taken on a tour of the foundry by a very knowledgeable guide. Taylor’s Bellfoundry is one of only two bell foundries left in the U.K. (the other one is at Whitechapel); it is very atmospheric and very Victorian in feel, and for some silly reason thoughts of Jack the Ripper flashed into my mind. Fortunately however murder was not on the agenda, but a deep insight into the process of creating church bells certainly was. We learnt about the family who established the foundry and about the various innovations that they had brought to a very ancient trade. We were allowed to strike suspended bells with wooden mallets to hear how different metals have different tones. Everywhere was dust and industrial grime, no sanitised working environment this, and there was something quite awe inspiring about the place. The highlight of our visit occurred when a small bell was cast and it was dramatic; if a big bell had been cast that would have been a sight to behold.

After our trip was over the bell ringers from Taxal Church were invited to step across the road and ring a peel of bells in the company’s own bell tower. We were then driven home by our wonderful driver Paul, and everyone expressed their thanks to Peter Skinner for organising such a memorable day out and how unfortunate it was he had to attend a funeral elsewhere. Had we had his in-depth knowledge I am sure that would have been the icing on the cake.

Tony Read Social Group Organiser Report on the guided walk around Historical Bakewell ur 18th August 2015 walk to explore the origins and history of Bakewell O started beside the five-arched 14th century bridge over the river Wye looking up toward the Iron Age fort which can still be seen near the top of the road to Pilsley. With no evidence of Roman settlement here it seems the Celts lived locally for around 1,000 years until the Anglo Saxons arrived. Anglo Saxon farmers flooded meadows by diverting springs to enable earlier cultivation of crops in the valley bottom. There is evidence of an Anglo Saxon burh (or fort) in the area of the present showground. Around 800 AD they founded a church on the site of the present church and the Anglo Saxon chronicle of 920 AD lists the market town of Badecan Wiellon (Badeca's warm spring). Shortly after the Norman invasion a motte and bailey timber fortification was built on the hill by the present Station Road. At this time the population of Bakewell was around 250. Our band of 22 Peak District National Trust Centre members walked to Rutland Square to see how the 5th Duke of Rutland attempted to establish a spa town to rival Buxton. He had animal markets cleared from the town centre and buildings such as the current Rutland Arms Hotel erected to accommodate visitors. The cooler spring waters of Bakewell meant this venture was not to succeed. 8

Before entering the churchyard we looked at the 1709 rebuilding of the Almhouses and learned that the adjoining "Orvis" shop was at various times the Town Hall, Court House, Lady Manners School, Fire Station and several other uses. Gravestones in the churchyard always make interesting reading - we looked at just three: Thomas Straffon - who fell to his death during the rebuilding of the church in 1842 White Watson - Fellow of the Linnean Society, geologist, mineralogist, sculptor, writer etc Ann Greaves - Innkeeper's wife of what is now the Rutland Arms Hotel at the time of the alleged accidental making of the first Bakewell Pudding. We also examined the two 1,000 year old gritstone cross shafts, the extensive collection of engraved Anglo Saxon stonework and grave covers before looking at the five upright gritstone sarcophagi by the church porch. On reaching what is now the Old House Museum we learned that it dates from 1534. It is the oldest residential property in Bakewell. At various times it has been home to a tithe collector, a farmer, in multiple occupancy by six families employed at Richard Arkwright's mill and, until the mid-20th century, home to local families. The local council invited plans for its demolition but the Bakewell and District Historical Society (B&DHS) was formed to save the building. The B&DHS continues to safeguard the building by interpreting its previous uses and housing a very popular museum of local artefacts. We returned to the town centre via Bagshaw Hall (c1686) and the Bath House (the home of White Watson until 1835 but now empty, privately owned and seemingly uncared for). This report barely scratches the surface of the history we covered during our walk. There's a lot more to Bakewell than ducks on the river and tea shops. If you missed this walk or want to learn more, the Old House Museum offers guided tours of Bakewell, the church and the museum - please see www.oldhousemuseum.org.uk or telephone 01629 813642 for details. John Boyle 9

Holiday in Tenby and Pembrokeshire 17th September to 21st September 2015

enby, a beautiful seaside resort in Little England beyond Wales, was our T base for this holiday. We stayed at the Fourcroft Hotel, an hotel owned and run by the same family for over 65 years. Here we were well looked after by the helpful staff; we had good food and comfortable accommodation. The public rooms and many bedrooms overlook a magnificent bay with, at one end, the bright water of a small harbour where the sunshine sparkled and little boats bobbled ready to take passengers to Caldey Island and to other more distant shores. Thursday 17 September En route to Tenby we stopped in the mid-Wales town of Welshpool to visit the imposing Powis Castle (the Red Castle) now in the care of the National Trust.

Powis Castle Photo: Peter Kobayashi

Powis Castle was built in the mid-13th century by a Welsh Prince who wanted to establish his independence from the aggressive powers of Gwynedd (North Wales) who were his traditional enemies. Powis Castle is a stark architectural contrast to the castles of North Wales (such as Conwy, Beaumaris and Caernarfon) built by the English to consolidate Edward the First’s conquest. For two centuries the Castle had a chequered history but in the 1530s the then Lord Powis began a major rebuilding programme which made Powis into a world-class medieval castle known for its extensive formal gardens, terraces, parkland, deer park and landscaped estate. Powis Castle has a strong connection with Clive of India through his son’s marriage into the Herbert family who owned the Castle in the late 18th century. The Clive Museum, opened in 1987, features artifacts brought from India by the Clives including textiles, armour, weapons, silver, jade, ivory and a formal tent. Friday 18th September The morning was spent at leisure exploring the narrow streets of Tenby, or, as opted by some, a boat trip to Caldey Island where a small band of ageing Cistercian monks live out their days in prayer and fasting. The afternoon saw the remainder of the group depart for Dinefwr Castle overlooking the River Towy near the town of Llandelio, Carmarthenshire. People are said to have lived at Dinefwr for more than 2000 years. The Castle was first built by the Lord Rhys in the 1150s and has been rebuilt over the centuries to leave the building as we see it today. For the Welsh it has become a symbol of national pride. In the 1480s Rhys ap Thomas built a mansion house on the site. According to legend it was he who delivered the fatal blow to Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The mansion house, now known as Newton House, has been restored to what it would have been like as an estate house of the later Victorian or early Edwardian period.

Saturday 19th September Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny, the perfect backdrop to today’s two contrasting visits. Our first visit was to St David’s Cathedral. The Cathedral lies at the west end of Wales on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic. It is here, or so it is believed, that David came with his monks sometime in the middle of the sixth century. At the time of David the peninsula, far from being isolated, stood at the crossroads between land routes from centres of population in mainland England and sea routes to Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall and France.

St David’s Cathedral Photo: Peter Kabayashi

Today we know little of David’s life save that the monastic community lived a very austere life. But when he was alive people flocked to seek his counsel and sought burial close to him. There is little or no evidence now of David’s original monastery. The present Cathedral was begun in 1181 and completed not long after. However, problems soon beset the new building. The tower collapsed in

1220 and there was earthquake damage in 1247/48. In the 1330s the Cathedral was modified further with the erection of the rood screen and the Bishop’s Palace. (The Palace is now a picturesque ruin). In 1540 the body of Edmund Tudor Earl of Richmond and father of Henry VII was brought to be entombed in front of the High Altar. During the Civil War of the 1640s the Cathedral was all but destroyed by Oliver Cromwell’s forces. In past centuries the interior of the Cathedral looked very different from the way it looks today. In the Middle Ages, all the interior walls were rendered and coloured (as was much of the exterior). Today’s nave is arranged for congregational worship but in the Middle Ages it was absolutely empty. A three-decker pulpit and a few pews appeared after the sixteenth century, but, only when the building was restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in Victorian times, was it fitted out as we see it today. Over the years problems with the foundations have caused all the stonework to move. By the end of the 18th century the West Front had shifted out by almost three feet and was still moving. John Nash was commissioned to rebuild it but his work was substandard and it was left to Scott to design the present West Front as part of his overall restoration between 1862 and 1870. The decades leading to and immediately following the year 2000 have been the most notable in the Cathedral’s history since its original construction. A new organ was needed, the West Front again needed extensive reconstruction and the peal of bells was enlarged from 8 to 10. Particular mention must be made of the recently restored shrine of St David. During the 12th century St David’s was declared a place of pilgrimage and David’s shrine became a place where thousands of pilgrims flocked. All this ended with the destruction of the shrine in 1538 at the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 2010 an appeal to restore the shrine was launched and it was consecrated on 1st March 2012, St David’s Day! The canopy seeks to replicate a 13th century construction, and the carvings along its outer edge relate to different aspects of the saints depicted in the icons beneath. The niches, once for kneeling pilgrims, house two reliquaries one of which is reputed to contain the remains of St David! Carbon dating, however, shows the bones being from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries.

As we left this beautiful place we were reminded by our guide that the story of St David’s Cathedral is more than the story of its buildings. Here, for almost fifteen centuries, since the time of David himself, worship has been offered to God by a Christian community. In contrast to our morning visit to St David’s Cathedral we spent the afternoon at Pembroke Castle, the birthplace of the future King Henry VII. Here we were greeted by Gareth, a tour guide who had recently retired as a history master in a secondary school. Gareth made the history of the castle come alive in such a dramatic way that we all envied the pupils who had been taught by him. Standing on a strategic rocky promontory beside the River Cleddau the castle was the original seat of the Earldom of Pembroke. The first fortification on the site was a Norman motte-and-bailey. It had earthen ramparts and a timber palisade. In 1189 the castle was acquired by William Marshal who set about turning the earth and wood fort into an impressive stone castle. Marshal would become one of the most powerful men in 12th century Britain, his life story being interwoven with all the great kings of his age: Henry II, Henry III, Richard I and John. William Marshal played a prominent role in the Magna Carta as a result of which it could be said that the feudal prerogatives of kings and their rights over their subjects became a matter for debate and discussion with the political community: a compact which would endure for the rest of the Middle Ages. In 1452 the castle and earldom of Pembroke were presented to Jasper Tudor by his half-brother King Henry VI. Jasper Tudor brought his widowed sister-in-law Margaret Beaufort to Pembroke where she gave birth in 1457 to her only child, the future King Henry VII. Here Gareth’s feel for history deserted him as he followed the lead of a current historical novelist in suggesting that the person responsible for the death of the Princes in the Tower was not Richard III nor Henry VII but Henry’s mother, Margaret Beaufort, the Red Queen! Following a successful siege by Oliver Cromwell in the Civil War the castle was abandoned and allowed to decay. In 1928 an extensive restoration of 14 the castle’s walls, gatehouses and towers was started. The castle is now jointly managed by the Philipp’s family trust and the Pembroke Town Council. Sunday 20th September Sunday morning started dry and bright, but with the possibility of rain later in the day, and our journey to the Dolaucothi Gold mines was uneventful, and we made good time. Our arrival however coincided with the arrival of a vintage car club rally and it therefore took a little while to be admitted to the site. Once beyond the reception desk those of us who wanted to explore the Victorian gold mine were split up into two groups and whilst the first group were being kitted out with miners’ lamps and hard hats, the second group were free to wander among the industrial buildings that housed the mining machinery, or to grab a coffee in the tea room, or to visit the gift shop that contained examples of jewellery made from Welsh gold. We were told that mining had been carried out here for almost 2000 years, until the mine closed in 1936. A tour of the Roman mines was on offer, but as it involved a great deal of climbing, and would take over an hour to complete there were no takers. Each of our groups entered the Victorian mine in turns in the care of the same very knowledgeable guide. It was dark, damp, and perhaps a little scary and no place for anyone with claustrophobia, but at the same time it was absolutely fascinating. We learned about the lives of the Victorian miners and the damage working in these cramped conditions did to their bodies. It was explained to us how little emphasis was placed on Health and Safety issues; for example whilst the miners were given tallow candles to light up the rock face, the children who picked up the rubble were “not worth a candle,” and hence an expression of low value entered the language. We also learned how ungenerous the mine owners were with candles, even going to the extreme of coating the bottom of the candles with poison to stop them being nibbled by hungry workmen.

There were never any gold nuggets at Dolaucothi; instead gold dust was extracted by industrial processes, and the yearly output of the mine was measured in ounces. One ingot of Welsh gold we were told is now worth £1,000,000; we were not told how much value was put on a Victorian miner’s life. With much to think about, after taking an enjoyable lunch in the cafe, we then set off to visit Dylan Thomas’s boathouse at Laugharne. Sunday afternoon was spent on a visit to the Dylan Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne. Even if Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) had not lived at the Boathouse for the last four years of his tragically short life, it is he who made it iconic. The Boathouse is the building most closely associated with him where the stability of a permanent home enabled him to give vent to his creative genius. He worked in the Writing Shed above the Boathouse with its remarkable and inspiring views of the Taf estuary and the Gower peninsula. Poems written here were “Do not go gentle into that good night: Rage rage against the dying of the light”,”Poem on his Birthday” and the famous play for voices “Under Milkwood” inspired in part by the people of Laugharne. Here he also wrote “Over Sir John’s hill” in which he describes the view from the Shed, writing of birds stalking their prey and bringing death in the midst of such beauty. “Life, death, beauty, eternity and God, Dylan Thomas could see them all from the window of this unique place” Monday 21st September 2015 Despite the fact that it had rained heavily overnight, by Monday morning it was largely dry, although overcast and with some dampness in the air. We left the hotel on schedule to visit Llanerchaeron, a National Trust property near to Aberaeron, before commencing our long journey home. Llanerchaeron is a fine Regency villa designed in 1790 by John Nash, and although it isn’t large by National Trust standards it has a beautiful entrance hall, a magnificent staircase to the upper floors and absolutely stunning interiors. In some ways being a little more intimate than many grand houses gives it warmth and an appeal that they sometimes lack. The style of Nash

16 was everywhere, and by a stroke of good fortune, and the great age of the widow of the owner, the building remains in its original state with little alteration having taken place. But lovely as the house is, there was so much more to see. The laundry and the brewery at the back of the property were fascinating, and the extensive walled gardens packed full of beautiful flowers and laden fruit trees were fantastic, and by now the sun shone brightly upon us. The ancient farm buildings contained many examples of early agricultural machinery and gave us a glimpse of life in a bygone age. We did not have time to complete any of the nature walks or to explore the estate and the extensive woodlands, but many of us earmarked this little known place as somewhere we would like to return to on another day. Gerry Slater and Tony Read

Photo: Bob Dakin

A few thoughts about aspects of the Tenby holiday

1. Powis Castle Garden When Lord George and Lady Violet inherited the property they made major changes to the gardens. The Yew and Box hedges were extended and allowed to grow taller so that they had to be cut by gardeners with a sickle whilst standing on ladders many feet from the ground. The task of cutting the hedges is one that still has to be performed today, but now they use a “cherry picker” rather than ladders; it still however takes many days to complete, but the effect is magnificent. The flower beds on the terraces are superbly laid out and labelled; and I enjoyed my time in the garden, and it was lovely to see Nuthatches diving in and out of the bushes.

2. Dinefwr This was the sort of place I would have liked to have seen in a variety of seasons. I felt there was history in its everyday life; that is what is implied by an unchanging landscape. To have maintained an original herd of White Park cattle in their native surroundings for almost 1000 years is almost miraculous. I felt I had the feel of the place.

3. St David’s A city that does not overwhelm visitors; it made me wonder how it could stay like it is in an ever-changing world. If only people could be as relaxed elsewhere! The cathedral was well worth a visit and we benefitted from having the services of a guide who was able tell us about the history of the place and the restoration of the shrine of St David, which was completed in 2012. These are just a few random thoughts about some of the places we visited. Ann Neath

Bolsover Castle – The Pleasure Palace Tuesday 6th October 2015

ur speaker, Ian Morgan, is a volunteer at Bolsover Castle and often acts O as a guide there, but his talk to us centred on the Little Castle originally built by Charles Cavendish and decorated internally by his son, William. Ian Morgan believes that aspects of the decoration deliberately create a puzzle for the viewer to solve. The original castle at Bolsover was built by William Peveril, the eldest illegitimate son of William the Conqueror, who had been granted custody of the King’s new castle at Nottingham together with other lands in the area. It was probably begun around 1086, shortly after William Peveril completed his castle at Castleton. The Estates were subsequently forfeited to the Crown and in 1173 Henry II began to build a Norman keep at Bolsover. During the First Baron’s War, in 1216, the Castle was besieged and the tower was breached. Other buildings were later constructed in the Castle, but by the mid-14th century it was semi-derelict and unusable. In 1553 the manor of Bolsover was bought from the Crown by George Talbot, later 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, who married Bess of Hardwick in 1567. Bess’s youngest son, Charles Cavendish, took a lease of Bolsover in 1608 and acquired the freehold in 1613. Charles Cavendish was a soldier by profession with an interest in music and the arts. He had inherited a number of large mansions, but at Bolsover he wanted to build a smaller family home. He appointed Robert Smythson as his architect and in 1612 the remains of the mediaeval castle were demolished and levelled and work began on the ‘Little Castle’. Charles Cavendish died in 1617 before the internal fitting-out was completed and the Little Castle passed to his eldest son, William. William Cavendish had travelled extensively in Europe with the diplomat Sir Henry Wootton and had been impressed by the etiquette at the Court of Savoy in Turin. Like his father he was fond of music and the arts. He was made Viscount Mansfield in 1620 and in 1628 was created Earl of Newcastle-upon-Tyne but in spite of this he was very conscious that he was descended from common stock rather than being of noble descent. His 19 extremely advantageous marriage in 1618 resulted in his becoming very rich and he determined to turn the Little Castle into a Pleasure Palace. Entry to the Little Castle is through a door at the top of a short flight of steps. Above the door is a balcony accessed from the first-floor Marble Closet. The balcony is supported by a statue of Heracles and a coat of arms. To the side of the entrance hall is a small ante room decorated with a series of wall paintings depicting three of the four classical temperaments – melancholic, choleric and phlegmatic. The fourth temperament – sanguine, meaning high-spirited and sociable - is missing. It is thought that William Cavendish might have stood in the place where the depiction should be to imply that he personified that temperament. There is a clear route through the Little Castle and how far a visitor progressed would depend on his social standing. In the ground floor Hall, used for dining or receiving guests are paintings depicting four of the Labours of Hercules, and in the Pillar Parlour are five paintings showing the five senses. On the first floor is the Star Chamber which was a light and airy formal reception and dining room. It is hung with tapestries and the pale blue ceiling is decorated with gilded lead stars. The frieze at the top of the wall includes the coats of arms of William Cavendish and his wife, his parents, and Bess of Hardwick’s last husband, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, to emphasise William’s noble lineage. The Marble Closet is a withdrawing room with a rich marble interior and hangings, and doors which lead to the balcony over the front door. The final room, to which only the most privileged visitors would have access, was William’s bedchamber. Four closets open off the bedchamber; the most intriguing are those known as the Heaven Closet and the Elysium Closet. The ceiling of the Heaven Closet is decorated with a painting showing Christ ascending to Heaven surrounded by angels. Angels round the edge of the painting play musical instruments, whilst at the corners cherubs hold sheet music of a song about Robin Hood. The Elysium Closet ceiling painting depicts the mythological Olympians, derived from a design at Fontainebleau. Doors lead from the closet to a balcony overlooking the Fountain Garden. Over the doors is a painted banner with the quotation ‘All is but vanitie’. Shirley Read

PROGRAMME FOR 2016

Tuesday 16th February 2016 A talk at Ashford-in-Water by Marjorie Dunn From Slum to Sunshine arjorie Dunn now lives in Chesterfield but she was born and raised in M Sheffield. Professionally she has worked as a secretary and semi- professionally as a puppeteer; she is also a local and family historian and a writer of books for both children and adults. Her latest novel is a historically accurate romance set against the background of the Napoleonic Wars which contains details of many actual events that took place in Chesterfield during that period. Her talk “From slum to Sunshine” deals with the lives of children in late Victorian/Edwardian England and tells how some of these children were taken from their homes in the cities to enjoy and experience the countryside. It will be illustrated by slides taken from original Magic Lantern slides and will give a vivid picture of how people lived over a century ago. Marjorie will also give some insight into researching local and family history. For further information contact: Tony Read, 10 Elmfield, Chapel-en-le- Frith, High Peak SK23 9TZ Tel: 01298 814133 or e-mail: [email protected]

Member £4.00 Guest £5.00 Coffee 10:30 am Talk 11:00 am

Please note that the Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 5th March 2016 at The Leewood Hotel, Buxton. Details to follow.

Wednesday 23rd March 2016 Day trip to Coventry Transport Museum and Coventry Cathedral oventry Transport Museum is home to one of the largest collections of C road transport vehicles in the world. The vehicle collection includes Queen Mary’s 1935 Daimler, Triumph Italia 2000, a 1975 E-type Jaguar and the world land speed record breaker Thrust SSC. There is also a large collection of commercial vehicles, motor cycles and bicycles. The history of vehicle manufacture in the Midlands is very interesting. There is a café at the museum where we will take lunch (at own expense.). We hope to arrive at the museum at 10:00 am and a representative from the museum will board the bus to give us an introductory talk. We will stay at the museum until 12:50 pm, but at that time we will leave the museum and make the 5- minute walk to Coventry Cathedral to be in time to listen to an organ recital at 1:00 pm. The old cathedral was devastated by bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe in November 1940. The foundation stone of the present cathedral was laid by Her Majesty the Queen in 1956 and the completed building was consecrated in 1962. There is a shop on site where guidebooks, gifts, cards and souvenirs can be purchased. The cost of this trip will be £30.50 Pick up times: Chapel-en-le Frith - Thornbrook Road car park 6:40 am Buxton - Park Road Cricket Ground 7:00 am Taddington - School Lane 7:15 am Bakewell - Bridge Street bus stop 7:30 am Matlock - outside the Bus Station 8:00 am

Please make your booking on the booking form at the end of this newsletter and send it, together with your cheque made payable to the National Trust Peak District Centre to: Mrs Carolyn Turner, Lloran Lodge, Combs Road, Chapel-en-le- Frith High Peak, SK23 9UP. Tel: 01298 814851 or e-mail: [email protected]

Thursday 31st March 2016 to Tuesday 5th April 2016 Holiday in Holland Thursday 31st March 2016 his year rather than visit a National Trust property on the outward leg of T our holiday (partly because there are no convenient places to go to, but mainly to allow us the luxury of a more leisurely start) after we have boarded the coach at the times and places listed later in this article we will travel directly to Hull. free from time pressures and with flexibility about the number and length of comfort stops en route, for a 9:00 pm sailing to Rotterdam. Accommodation on board will be in shared lower berth cabins. It would be advisable to bring with you a small overnight bag as all passengers will have to board the ship on foot. Soon after boarding a buffet dinner will be provided, the cost of this is included in the price of the holiday. Friday 1st April 2016 After having disembarked the ship we will travel to the Keukenhof Gardens. The cost of entry is included in the holiday price. The Keukenhof Garden was created by Countess Jacqueline of Daraie in the 15th Century and is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. It started life as a kitchen garden; in fact the name Keukenhof translates as kitchen garden. In 1857 the gardens were landscaped by Jan David Zocher in the style of an English landscaped park. The gardens are spread across 200 hectares, and are particularly striking in spring when seven million bulbs burst into bloom in just one eight week period. After we have taken in the sights of this wonderful garden we will travel to the Princess Hotel Amersfoot, where we will stay for 3 nights’ dinner bed and breakfast. www.princesshotelamersfoot.com/en/index.html) Saturday 2nd April 2016 This is the day we will visit Amsterdam. We will commence our exploration of this fascinating city with a boat trip on its famous canal system, which is

23 the best way to take in the sights of the city. The price of the canal trip is included in the holiday price. After this trip is over it will be time to have lunch (at own expense), and there are many cafés and bars, readily available, catering for a wide variety of tastes. In the afternoon you will have a choice. You could visit the Ann Frank Museum and we will be happy to pre-book for you, but the entrance fee of 9 Euros is not included in the holiday price and will have to be individually met. If you want to pursue this option you will be asked to select this on the holiday booking form. If the Ann Frank Museum is not for you then you could always visit the Rijksmuseum (free entry) or simply choose to wander around the streets taking in the atmosphere or visiting other museums or local cafés or shops. Sunday 3rd April 2016 This should be another fascinating day. After breakfast in the hotel we will travel by coach to Enkhuizen which was once an important trading port, and is the home to the Zuiderzee Museum; it also has one of the largest marinas in Holland. From there we will board the museum ship Friesland to sail to Medemblik which is well known for sailing events and has many picturesque 17th and 18th Century houses. At Medemblik we will board a historic steam train and travel 20 miles by rail to Hoorne where there is a large railway museum. The cost of all these excursions is included in the holiday price. Monday 4th April 2016 Some minor details of Monday’s trip are yet to be finalised, but the big picture is clear. We will be visiting two very different and iconic places. The city of Delft is said by many to be the most beautiful city in Holland. It is world famous for its porcelain; it was the home of the painter Johannes Vermeer and it has so many eye-catching buildings and sights that it is difficult to know where to begin. One thing is certain; a camera is an essential piece of kit for this trip. Our second visit of the day will be to The Hague which is the seat of the Dutch Government and the Dutch Supreme Court. The Hague was founded

24 in 1230 AD and for the last seven centuries has been an important administrative centre. Although very different in size and atmosphere to Delft it too has many striking and historic buildings which are well worth photographing. Tuesday 5th April 2015 After having sailed back from Rotterdam overnight and having disembarked the ship, our last outing of this holiday will be to Beningbrough Hall and Gardens and we hope to arrive there around 11:00 am. Beningbrough Hall is owned by the National Trust, so entry is free to National Trust members, and it is there where we will take lunch. Beninbrough Hall has a rich collection of portraits on loan from The National Portrait Gallery, a working walled garden, grand herbaceous borders, sweeping lawns and parklands and is an interesting place to end our short holiday, Departure details and times We will pick up at all the places shown below. Andrews aren’t able to give us precise times as yet, but these will be clearly set out in your joining documents; It is certain however that nobody will have to make an early start. Chapel-en-le- Frith - Thornbrook Road Car Park Buxton -The Quadrant Taddington - School Lane Bakewell - Bridge Street bus stop Matlock - Outside the Co-op

Booking Information The cost of this holiday is based on a minimum of 30 paying passengers at a cost of £499 per person. If you want an outside cabin there is a supplement of £24 per person Personal Travel Insurance - £45.50 per person Single room supplement in the hotel £98 Please note that there are no single cabins available on board ship. 25

A deposit of £50 + the cost of travel insurance (if required), is needed to secure the booking. Final payment will be due 6 weeks before departure. Please make your booking on the booking form at the end of this newsletter and send it, together with your cheque made payable to Andrews of Tideswell Ltd, to: Tony Read, 10 Elmfield Chapel -en-le- Frith, High Peak SK23 9TZ Please telephone Tony Read on 01298 814133 or Sandy Weedon on 01298 814464 or E-mail tony_read @yahoo.co.uk or [email protected] if you have any queries. Finally please note that this holiday can only take place if 30 people book to go on it. In order to maximise the chances of this happening this holiday is also being advertised by Andrews in their brochure and we may thus be accompanied by some people who are not members of the Peak District Centre. We see this as a possible way of recruiting new members and as a way to maximise numbers; if we do have non-members of the Peak District Centre travelling with us Andrews will also be providing a courier to look after them. Because of this fact the holiday price does not include a driver’s gratuity (which is our usual practice) so a collection will be made amongst all travellers on this particular occasion. Tony Read Social Group Organiser

Wednesday 20th April 2016 Visit to Cannon Hall and Wentworth Castle e will be travelling across the Pennines to South Yorkshire for this W two- centre visit – Wentworth Castle with its house, recently restored Victorian hot house and sixty acre grade 1 listed garden should offer something for everyone. Hopefully we will have timed our visit to coincide with a magnificent display of magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons. The sixty acres of formal gardens show how garden fashions have changed and developed over three centuries. A golf buggy is booked to tour the garden for those less nimble. The gothic follies featured on the first series of “Restoration” and, although not a winner, work is ongoing to restore this property and its historic deer park to its former glory. Our tour will give us an overview of the site and its history and also allow time to explore independently. A short journey will then take us on to Cannon Hall. This 13th century house was extensively remodelled and extended in the 18th century. A number of rooms are open to the public as well as the walled kitchen garden and parkland. There are significant collections of glass, art nouveau metalwork and ceramics on display with the most extensive collection of Moorcroft outside the factory museum. There is also a show farm which has a separate entrance fee (not included) but the farm shop and café are open to us. A garden centre on the site also has a very pleasant bistro. The cost of this trip will be £32 per person The coach will leave: Outside Matlock Co-op 7:00 am Bakewell Bridge Street 7:30 am Taddington, bottom School Lane 7:40 am Buxton Park Road 8.00 am Chapel-en-le –Frith, Thornbrook car park 8:30 am

To reserve your place please make your booking on the enclosed form and send with your cheque made out to the National Trust Peak District Centre to Judith Aizlewood, 6 Meadow Close, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 7BD Tel: 01663 733070 or email: [email protected] 27

Wednesday 27th April 2016 A talk at Chinley Independent Chapel by David Allott Wentworth Woodhouse avid Allott is the house guide at the grade 1 listed Wentworth D Woodhouse. He has also been a National Trust volunteer at Nostell Priory and a house steward at Harewood House. Some of you will be familiar with the story of the decline and fall of the aristocratic Fitzwilliam family and their crumbling and forgotten property from Catherine Bailey’s book “Black Diamonds”. Wentworth claims to be the largest privately owned house in England with the second longest facade in Europe. The estate was blessed then cursed by being located on the Barnsley seam of the South Yorkshire coalfield and the wealth gained from mining and other industrial enterprises enabled the Fitzwilliams to live in grand style. Eighty-four racehorses were once stabled in the Palladian stables designed by John Carr of York – Stubbs’ painting of the Marquess of Rockingham’s racehorse, Whistlejacket, hangs in the National Gallery and is considered one of his finest works. After the Coal Nationalisation Act of 1946, overburden from opencast mining was piled 50 feet high within sixteen feet of the West front of the house destroying the formal gardens in what many consider to be a deliberate act of class warfare by Manny Shinwell. Mining subsidence caused considerable damage to the fabric of the building. In 1999 the house was bought by a retired architect, Clifford Newbold, who started a restoration project and opened parts of the house to the public in 2012. Unfortunately Mr Newbold died in April 2015 and in October 2015 the family decided to put the house on the open market for an asking price of offers over £8 million pounds! It was announced in November 2015 that the house has now been sold to a Hong Kong investment company; they will need deep pockets as repair costs are estimated to run into many millions. David will guide us through the history of the house and the decline and fall of this Yorkshire palace. For further information contact: Judith Aizlewood, 6, Meadow Close, Whaley Bridge. SK23 7BD. Tel: 01663 733070 or email: [email protected]

Member £4.00 Guest £5.00 Coffee 10:30 am Talk 11:00 am 28

Guided Walk to explore Bygone Tideswell Wednesday 11th May 2016

n one of the hottest days of 2013 some members enjoyed a guided O walk in Tideswell where the emphasis was on the origins of the village and its magnificent early 14th century church of St. John the Baptist (the "Cathedral of the Peak"). Today's walk of around 90 minutes will be concerned with the characters, businesses and history of Tideswell over the last 300 years or so. The circular route is along footpaths with no long steep hills to climb. We will meet, ready for a 10:30 hrs start, by the visitor notice board between the church gates and the Co-operative store on Commercial Road. There is ample street parking in the area. Public toilets are further down the road in the direction of Millers Dale. No booking is required - just pay £3 at the start of the walk. Further information if required from: John Boyle 01629 814521 or [email protected]

Wednesday 24th May 2016 An illustrated talk at Ashford in the Water by Keith Blood The Bamford Dams eith Blood originally comes from Ashbourne, but now lives in Mickleover K near Derby. For many years he was employed in the computer department of Rolls Royce involved in aircraft design. He is a qualified Blue Badge guide and registered both nationally and internationally as a professional tourist guide for Derbyshire, East Staffordshire and the Peak District. He is also an accomplished bass/baritone soloist who appears in concerts and gives recitals. He specialises in the classical ballads of the 19th and early 20th Centuries.

His illustrated talk on the Bamford Dams covers the building of the Howden, Derwent and Ladybower Dams. It is split into two parts. The first part of the talk covers the building of the Howden and Derwent Dams, giving the background of the undertaking and detailing the materials used, the methods of construction and the manpower needed to complete this task. The second part of the talk covers the opening of the dams and the construction of the Ladybower Dam and tells the stories of the drowned villages. Both sections of the talk are illustrated by many old photographs and illuminated by a host of interesting stories. For further information please contact: Tony Read, 10 Elmfield Chapel-en-le Frith High Peak SK23 9TZ Tel 01298 814133 E-mail [email protected]

Member £4.00 Guest £5.00 Coffee 10:30 am Talk 11:00 am

Wednesday 15th June 2016 Visit to Helmshore Textile Museum and Gawthorpe Hall oday we will be visiting two contrasting locations on our day out in T Lancashire, one an impressive textile mill and the other a glorious Elizabethan house. The day starts with a visit to Helmshore Mills textile museum. Run by the Lancashire County Council, this impressive mill charts the history of how wool and cotton became yarn. Tucked away in the stunning Rossendale valley it is a place where innovation and ideas carved the way for the industrial revolution. On arrival after tea and coffee there will be a guided tour of the complex where we will discover how wool and cotton were turned into yarn and unravel the stories of inspirational inventors. There are interactive and hands on displays as well as demonstrations on the historic carding and spinning machines. At about 12:30 pm we will travel a short distance to Gawthorpe Hall, a National trust property reopening in 2016 after extensive restoration and 30 refurbishment. It is an imposing house described by Charlotte Bronte as very much to her taste and now affectionately dubbed “the Downton of the north”. It houses an impressive collection of textiles and the North West’s largest collection of portraits from the National Portrait Gallery. The coach house café to date has only sold light snacks and teas; however this may change when it reopens in April. The coach will depart around 4:00 pm. The cost will be £28 per person and includes tea or coffee on arrival at Helmshore. Please note that Gawthorpe at the time of going to press only sells light snacks so if you want something more substantial it may be advisable to bring a packed lunch. Pick up times: Outside Matlock Co-op 7:15 am Bakewell Bridge Street 7:35 am Taddington, bottom School Lane 7:50 am Buxton Park Road 8:10 am Chapel-en-le –Frith, Thornbrook car park 8:30 am

To book a place please fill in the enclosed form and send together with your cheque made out to National Trust Peak District Centre, to Sandy Weedon , 9 Horderns Rd, Chapel-en-le-frith, High Peak, SK23 9ST. Any queries contact Sandy on Tel: 01298 814464 or by email: [email protected].

Thursday 23rd June 2016 An Illustrated talk at Buxton Methodist Church by Brian Stone Derbyshire in the English Civil War

his illustrated talk will explain Derbyshire’s involvement in the English T Civil War 1642-1646. It was a place of considerable strategic importance, and Brian will explain why this was so and then look at the origins of the Civil War and analyse some of its most significant events. In particular he will

31 look in detail at the career of Sir John Gell, the ruthless Parliamentary garrison commander in Derby. Brian is a retired solicitor who regularly gives talks on local history. He is a published author whose works include “Derbyshire in the Civil War” and “Millennium Witness”. Many of you will recall that in May 2015 Brian gave us an absolutely fantastic talk on the subject of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s short invasion of Derbyshire. This incident is now the subject of Brian’s latest book which is entitled “Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Highland Army in Derby.” The good news is that Brian will be bringing copies of this book with him when he comes to talk to us, and copies will be on sale after his talk. He will also happily autograph any book sold. For further information please contact Tony Read, 10 Elmfield, Chapel-en-le Frith, High Peak SK23 9TZ by telephoning 01298 814133 or e-mail: [email protected] Member £4.00 Guest £5.00 Coffee 10:30 am Talk 11:00 am

Wednesday 13th July 2016 A Guided Walk to trace the History of Longshaw Estate from the Bronze Age oodcroft car park - SK266801 - on the National Trust Longshaw Estate W is off the B6055 by the Fox House Inn. It has recently been extended and resurfaced. Parking is, of course, free for our members. Our walk, lasting about 90 minutes, will start at 10:30 hrs from the National Trust information and recruitment caravan at the bottom of the car park. We will follow estate paths which may be uneven and muddy in parts but there are no long steep hills to climb. National Trust rangers and volunteers work on conservation projects on this estate but it is also well used by visitors for leisure or recreational activities. 32

Since at least the Bronze Age the area has been home to many generations of farming communities. It has supported various industries and been crossed by packhorse trails and stagecoach routes. The evidence for all this activity can still be seen so come for a 90-minute walk to explore 4,000 years of the history of Longshaw. There are toilets near the Kitchen Garden, behind Longshaw café, just beyond the National Trust information and recruitment caravan. No booking is required - just pay £3 at the start of the walk. Further information if required from: John Boyle 01629 814521 or [email protected]

Wednesday 3rd August 2016 A trip to Goddard’s and then to the Treasurer’s House in York

oddards House and gardens stands at the edge of York Racecourse. It G is the former home of the Terry family, (think All Gold chocolate and Chocolate Oranges). It is a warm Arts and Crafts house, which is easy to relax in and the gardens of this beautiful property are fragrant and inviting. We will have the advantage of having our own Blue Badge Guide for the day, David Holt, who will be able to tell us all about the Terry family and this stunning period property.

After our short stop at Goddard’s we will board the coach to travel to our second destination of the day which will be the Treasurer’s House in York. David will travel with us on the coach. The coach will drop us off at a drop off point in the city centre, and then David will lead us on a short walk past the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, through the Museum Gardens and along the outside of York Minster to arrive at the Treasurer’s House. This is a house 33 that was transformed from a near derelict slum into a mansion by Frank Green in 1897. He left the property to the National Trust in 1930 and since that date ALL of the rooms have been left, on his instructions, exactly as they were then. This property has a first rate restaurant where we will take lunch (at own expense) and David will be on hand to explain the history of the house to us and answer any questions. He will then lead us on a conducted tour of the house. There is also a lovely walled garden which provides excellent views of York Minster. The cost of this trip will be £30 per head (which includes the cost of having our own Blue Badge Guide for the day.)

The coach will leave: Matlock - Outside the Bus station 7:30 am Bakewell - Bridge Street bus stop 8:00 am Taddington - School Lane 8:10 am Buxton - Park Road Cricket Ground 8:25 am Chapel - Thornbrook Road Car Park 8:45 am

To reserve a place please make your booking on the form at the end of this newsletter and send this together with your cheque made payable to the National Trust Peak District Centre to:

Tony Read 10 Elmfield, Chapel-en-le- Frith, High Peak SK23 9TZ Tel: 01298 814133 or e-mail: [email protected]

NB Please note that we will need 30 people to book on this trip otherwise it cannot run. If you are interested please book early so that we can gauge the level of interest.

Wednesday 7th September 2016 A talk at Chinley Chapel Sunday School by the Farm Girl Team he team will talk to us about the ups and downs of setting up and T running a small family farm specialising in rare breed products on the edge of the Peak District near Chapel-en-le-Frith. The present team are the third generation farmers who are bringing the farm into the 21st century. They sell their products at local markets and from their farm which it is possible to visit by arrangement. More details of this talk will appear in the next newsletter. For further information contact: Sandy Weedon, 9 Horderns Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, SK239ST Tel: 01298 814464 or email: [email protected]

Member £4.00 Guest £5.00 Coffee 10:30 am Talk 11:00 am

Monday 19th September – Friday 23rd September 2016 Holiday in Scotland Monday 19th September Our journey north takes us to Stirling where we stay at the 4* Stirling Highland Hotel. The building dates back to 1854 when it was a high school and it is just a few minutes’ walk from the attractions of the town. It has an ancient observatory and a 120 year old telescope. The leisure facilities include an indoor pool, gym, spa pool, sauna and steam room. There is also an on-site whisky shop and the opportunity to do your detention in the Headmaster’s study bar! We hope to arrange a visit to the observatory during our stay. 35

Tuesday 20th September We leave the hotel to travel the short distance to Stirling Castle in its prominent position overlooking the town. It is a great symbol of Scottish independence with a long and turbulent history associated with great figures from Scotland’s past such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. We will have lunch at the castle before our journey continues beside the river Forth crossing the Forth Road Bridge to return on the opposite bank via Hoptoun House. This house is one of Scotland’s finest stately homes set in magnificent parklands. It was designed by two prominent architects, Sir William Bruce and Robert Adams, between 1699 and 1707. The house is run by a charitable trust but is the home of the Earl of Hoptoun (Marquis of Lithinglow). There is a tea room on site. Wednesday 21st September Today we head west via the Rob Roy visitor centre in Callander at the gateway to the Trossachs. Rob Roy MacGregor is Scotland’s own Robin Hood – hero or outlaw, cattle trader or rustler? Our scenic route follows the shores of Loch Venachar to Loch Katrine. Here we will have the opportunity to enjoy the ever-changing Trossachs’ landscape aboard a classic cruiser. We then travel on past the bonny banks of Loch Lomond to Hill House overlooking the Firth of Clyde. Hill House is regarded by many as Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s finest domestic creation and also features textiles designed and made by his wife Margaret Macdonald. Thursday 22nd September After breakfast we make the short journey to the Falkirk Wheel via the Kinkardine Bridge. This millennium link project was completed in 2002 and reconnected the waterways link between Glasgow and Edinburgh by joining the Forth and Clyde and Union canals after the flight of 11 locks declined and were dismantled in 1933. We will have the opportunity to enjoy this 21st Century engineering marvel up close on our boat trip via the rotating boat lift which will include a light lunch. Our visit also includes the Kelpies, the largest equine sculptures in the world.

Our return is via the Royal Burgh of Culross; the most complete example of a Scottish Burgh. As you walk the cobbled streets and old buildings this time warp will transport you back to the 16/17th century. You can visit the beautifully refurbished palace as well as learning about the working lives of the Hammermen of Culross. Friday 23rd September Our return home will be via the new National Trust for Scotland’s Bannockburn Battle and Heritage Centre. This experience harnesses 3D technology to bring Scottish history to life telling the story of how Robert the Bruce faced down the English army of Edward the Second in 1314. Departure details and times: Matlock 7:30 am Bakewell 7.30 am Taddington 8:10 am Buxton 8:30 am Chapel-en-le-Frith 9:00 am

Booking information: The cost of this holiday is based on a minimum of 30 paying passengers at a cost of £489 per person. Single room supplement £160 per person. Hotel web site www.thehotelcollection.co.uk/hotels/stirling-highland-hotel Travel insurance if required is £24.50 per person (payable with deposit) A deposit of £50 per person plus the cost of travel insurance (if required) is needed to secure the booking. Final payment is due 6 weeks before departure. Please indicate if you have specific access requirements as the hotel has a number of ground floor rooms.

Please make your booking on the form at the end of this newsletter and send it together with your cheque made payable to Andrews of Tideswell to: Judith Aizlewood, 6, Meadow Close, Whaley Bridge, High Peak. SK23 7BD. Please contact Judith Aizlewood (01663 733070 [email protected]) or Carolyn Turner (01298 814851 [email protected]) if you have any queries about this holiday.

Tuesday 4th October 2016 An Illustrated talk/ presentation, and perhaps so much more! he precise nature of this talk/presentation remains to be finalised, and T full details will appear in our July 2016 newsletter but what is likely to be on offer to Peak District Centre members could be exceptionally interesting and exciting, and maybe there will be a chance for us all to do some investigating. The talk that members will hear at one venue or another is entitled “Hidden Gems” and will be delivered by photographer Bernard O’Sullivan and retired teacher and current church warden Paul Black. They will show us how much we miss in iconic buildings, such as St John the Baptist’s Church in Tideswell, which like many ancient buildings has a very high dark ceiling. Bernard will explain how after about 30 days of photography and computer image processing he discovered a host of architectural details which had remained largely forgotten for centuries. Carvings of mythical beasts and creatures which were half man and half animal came to light, and some of the stained glass windows also had forgotten tales to tell. The original suggestion was that Bernard and Paul would give this talk at Ashford in the Water on the 4th October 2016, but Bernard has now offered the possibility of holding this talk in the church itself, giving us the chance to see with our own eyes his discoveries and perhaps combining this 38 presentation with the reading of Biblical texts and the playing of organ music, in which case the Vicar of Tideswell and a number of other people will become part of the presentation team. Bernard is a multi-award winning photographer who has won 54 major, and 51 lesser awards, so stunning pictures are guaranteed. Paul is a retired history teacher who can guide us through the centuries old history of this fabulous church. In whatever form it finally takes it will be a talk to remember.

Friday 7th October 2016 Trip to RAF Cosford and National Trust property “Sunnycroft” he RAF museum at Cosford is an exciting and fascinating place. Seventy T aircraft of international importance are housed in its three hangars. Among the exhibits are the world’s oldest Spitfire, a World War II Lincoln bomber, and in its £12,500,000 exhibition hall the Valiant, Victor and iconic Vulcan bombers are on display as well as many other aircraft from around the world. But there is much more to Cosford than just planes. Fascinating insights are available into the lives of aircraft pioneers and record breakers as well as details of ordinary men and women who served their country in a time of warfare. There is a large, well-appointed restaurant where we will take lunch and from where tea/coffee and mid-morning snacks could be obtained if required. If the weather is especially nice there are also outside picnic tables that we can use. There is also a museum shop which contains many interesting items. We will stay at Cosford until 2:00 pm but then we will travel the very short distance to Sunnycroft which is a suburban villa and has been correctly described as an “Edwardian time capsule.” It is packed with original contents

and is a beautiful example of Country House lifestyle in the first decade of the 20th Century. It also has a small tea room where cakes, ice-cream and beverages can be purchased, and a large and attractive garden. The cost of this trip will be £23. Lunch at the museum and teas and coffees throughout the day are at your own expense. The coach will leave: Matlock - outside the Bus Station 6:35 am Bakewell - Bridge Street bus lay by 7:00 am Taddington - School lane 7:10 am Buxton - Park Road 7:25 am Chapel-en-le-Frith - Thornbrook Road car park 7:45 am

To reserve a place please make your booking on the form provided and send this, together with your cheque made payable to the National Trust Peak District Centre, to: Tony Read, 10 Elmfield, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak. Tel: 01298 814133 E-mail: tony_read @yahoo.co.uk

Monday 7th November 2016 An illustrated talk at Buxton Methodist Church by David Hurrell The work and achievements of the Peak and Northern Footpath Society avid Hurrell lives in the Deepcar area of Sheffield and he is the Vice D Chairman of the Peak and Northern Footpath Society. His working life was spent in the Sheffield Steel Industry but his spare time was to a large extent taken up by his involvement with the Peak and Northern Footpath Society. He is passionate about footpaths and has been for many years, and

40 he still is one of the Society’s footpath inspectors. He has extensive knowledge of the footpaths of North Derbyshire and the Peak District. His talk will cover different aspects of the Society’s work ranging from footpath inspections to sign post erection and he will also tell us how the Society deals with Local Authorities and the legal remedies that are available to the Society if footpaths are wrongly obstructed or diverted. His talk will last for around 45 minutes and there will be an opportunity for members of the audience to ask questions; it will be illustrated by slides showing various aspects of the Society’s work. For further Information please contact: Tony Read, 10 Elmfield, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak SK23 9TZ Tel 01298 814133 or e-mail [email protected]

Member £4.00 Guest £5.00 Coffee 10:30 am Talk 11:00 am

CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2016 A t the time of going to press, the arrangements for this event have not yet been finalised. Full details will appear in the July 2016 Newsletter.

BOOKING FORMS FOR THE

DAY TRIPS AND HOLIDAYS

ARE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES

Wednesday Wednesday 23 March 2016 23 March 2016 Day Visit to VISIT TO COVENTRY COVENTRY No of places required ………... @ £30.50 per person

Enclosed £………………. Booked NAME: ADDRESS: POSTCODE: Paid E-MAIL: Tel No: Mobile No:

PLEASE CIRCLE JOINING AT (please circle) YOUR JOINING POINT CHAPEL BUXTON TADDINGTON BAKEWELL MATLOCK Bookings to: Mrs Carolyn Turner, Lloran Lodge, Combs Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, SK23 9UP Tel: 01298 814851 E-mail: [email protected] Cheques payable to: THE NATIONAL TRUST PEAK DISTRICT CENTRE

Wednesday Wednesday 20 April 2016 20 April 2016

Visit to VISIT TO CANNON HALL AND WENTWORTH CASTLE Cannon Hall and Wentworth No of places required ………... @ £32.00 per person Castle Enclosed £………………. Booked NAME: ADDRESS: POSTCODE: Paid E-MAIL: Tel No: Mobile No:

PLEASE CIRCLE JOINING AT (please circle) YOUR JOINING POINT CHAPEL BUXTON TADDINGTON BAKEWELL MATLOCK Bookings to: Judith Aizlewood, 6 Meadow Close, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, SK23 7BD Tel: 01663 733070 E-mail: [email protected] Cheques payable to: THE NATIONAL TRUST PEAK DISTRICT CENTRE

BOOKING FORM

DAY VISIT TO COVENTRY Wednesday 23 March 2016

BOOKING FORM

DAY VISIT TO CANNON HALL AND WENTWORTH CASTLE Wednesday 20 April 2016

HOLIDAY TO HOLLAND Thursday 31 March to Tuesday 5 April 2016

COMPLETED BOOKING FORM TO BE RETURNED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to: Tony Read, 10 Elmfield, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, SK23 9TZ

Mr/Mrs/Ms ……….. First Name/s ………………………..Surname …………………………………………….

Address...…………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………..Post Code ......

Telephone No …………………………………… Mobile No ………………………………….…………………………

E-mail ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Joining Point: Chapel-en-le-Frith Buxton Taddington Bakewell Matlock (Please tick box)

Type of Room Required Double Twin Single (Please tick box)

ANY SPECIAL REQUESTS………………………………………………………………………………..…………………

PLEASE NOTE: Price is £499; Single supplement £98; Outside cabin £24 (all prices are per person)

I would like to share my room with ..………………………………………………………………………………..

I require* / do not require* an outside cabin at a supplement of £24 per person.

Special Diet (Vegetarian or other )……………………….……

I require* / do not require* holiday insurance at £45.50 pp (*Please delete as applicable)

Optional extra: Please tick the box if you wish to book for the Ann Frank Museum

I enclose Deposit (£50 per person) £……………………..... Insurance (if required) @ £45.50 per person (Must be paid at time of booking) £……………………..... ______

Total Amount enclosed £………………………..

Please make all cheques payable to Andrew’s of Tideswell Ltd Balance to be paid by 18 FEBRUARY 2016 45

BOOKING FORM

HOLIDAY TO HOLLAND Thursday 31 March to Tuesday 5 April 2016

Wednesday Wednesday 15 June 2016 15 June 2016 Day Visit to VISIT TO HELMSHORE TEXTILE MUSEUM and GAWTHORPE HALL HELMSHORE & GAWTHORPE No of places required ………... @ £28.00 per person HALL Enclosed £………………. Booked NAME: ADDRESS: POSTCODE: Paid E-MAIL: Tel No: Mobile No:

PLEASE CIRCLE JOINING AT (please circle) YOUR JOINING POINT CHAPEL BUXTON TADDINGTON BAKEWELL MATLOCK Bookings to: Sandy Weedon, 9 Horderns Road, Chapel-en-le- Frith, High Peak, SK23 9ST Tel: 01298 814464 E-mail: [email protected] Cheques payable to: THE NATIONAL TRUST PEAK DISTRICT CENTRE

Wednesday Wednesday 3 August 2016 3 August 2016 Visit to VISIT TO GODDARD’S and TREASURER’S HOUSE, YORK Goddard’s and Treasurer’s No of places required ………... @ £30.00 per person House, York Enclosed £………………. Booked NAME: ADDRESS: POSTCODE: Paid E-MAIL: Tel No: Mobile No:

PLEASE CIRCLE JOINING AT (please circle) YOUR JOINING POINT CHAPEL BUXTON TADDINGTON BAKEWELL MATLOCK Bookings to: Tony Read, 10 Elmfield, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, SK23 9TZ Tel: 01298 814133 E-mail: [email protected] Cheques payable to: THE NATIONAL TRUST PEAK DISTRICT CENTRE

BOOKING FORM

VISIT TO HELMSHORE TEXTILE MUSEUM AND GAWHORPE HALL Wednesday 15 June 2016

BOOKING FORM

VISIT TO GODDARD’S AND TREASURER’S HOUSE, YORK Wednesday 3 August 2016

HOLIDAY TO SCOTLAND Monday 19 September to Friday 23 September 2016

COMPLETED BOOKING FORM TO BE RETURNED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to: Judith Aizlewood, 6 Meadow Close, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, SK23 7BD

Mr/Mrs/Ms ……….. First Name/s ………………………..Surname …………………………………………….

Address...…………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………..Post Code ......

Telephone No …………………………………… Mobile No ………………………………….…………………………

E-mail ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Joining Point: Chapel-en-le-Frith Buxton Taddington Bakewell Matlock (Please tick box)

Type of Room Required Double Twin Single (Please tick box)

ANY SPECIAL REQUESTS………………………………………………………………………………..…………………

PLEASE NOTE: Price is £489; Single supplement £160;

I would like to share my room with ..………………………………………………………………………………..

Special Diet (Vegetarian or other )……………………….……

I require* / do not require* holiday insurance at £24.50 pp (*Please delete as applicable)

I enclose Deposit (£50 per person) £……………………..... Insurance (if required) @ £24.50 per person (Must be paid at time of booking) £……………………..... ______

Total Amount enclosed £………………………..

Please make all cheques payable to Andrew’s of Tideswell Ltd Balance to be paid by 8 AUGUST 2016

BOOKING FORM

HOLIDAY TO SCOTLAND Monday 19 September to Friday 23 September 2016

Friday Friday 7 October 2016 7 October 2016 Visit to VISIT TO RAF COSFORD AND NT PROPERTY “SUNNYCROFT” RAF COSFORD & NT PROPERTY No of places required ………... @ £23.00 per person “SUNNYCROFT” Enclosed £………………. Booked NAME: ADDRESS: POSTCODE: Paid E-MAIL: Tel No: Mobile No:

BOOKING FORM

VISIT TO RAF COSFORD AND NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTY “SUNNYCROFT” Friday 7 October 2016