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Members Visit to Broughton Castle near Banbury Thursday, 16th May 2013 at 11am

24 Stratford Society members were made very welcome at Broughton Castle on Thursday morning, 16 th May.

Broughton Castle which is situated between Wroxton and Banbury is the home of Lord and Lady Saye & Sele, whose family seat this has been since 1377. A medieval manor house, which was later transformed into a Tudor mansion is surrounded by a wide moat and parkland. Broughton was a parliamentary rallying place in the 17 th century, besieged by the royalists in the Civil War. Arms and armour of the period are on display around the castle.

On a beautiful sunny day, members also had the opportunity to view the stunning gardens and surrounding parkland from the roof.

Broughton has been used by many film companies when making films such as Shakespeare in Love, Madness of King George, Scarlet Pimpernel and Three Men and a Little Lady. Members were shown where very clever dummy stonework had been used to cover up the radiator pipes in the Great Hall so that films could be kept ‘in period’. It was also used as the setting for one of the Morecambe & Wise Christmas shows.

Members Visit to Ettington Park Hotel Wednesday, 24th April 2013

On Wednesday, 24 th April, in glorious Spring sunshine, over 20 members from Stratford Society were made very welcome at Ettington Park Hotel.

Ettington Park is a spectacular neo Gothic mansion which is still in the ownership of the Shirley family, whose roots date back to Norman times.

Damon Cornock, the Concierge, gave members a very entertaining presentation of the history of the Shirley family, the house and its evolvement over hundreds of years. Members were also shown the 57 coats of arms displayed in the Oak Room restaurant and reputed to be of Robert Shirley’s children (27 legitimate and 30 illegitimate) . Members were then given a tour of the church which commemorates Shirley ancestors, and more recent members of the family. He also spoke of Shakespeare’s links with the Shirley family. This was followed by a walk in part of the extensive grounds.

The tour concluded with morning coffee and cakes which were served in the Great Drawing Room.

Members Social Event - Friday, 7th December 2012 at 7.30pm

Stratford Society Christmas Party

Over 100 guests attended the Stratford Society Christmas Party on Friday evening, 7 th December 2012. Members and their guests were welcomed at the Town Hall with mulled wine and canapés.

A highly entertaining selection of Christmas readings and poems, devised by Pat Friday, were given by local actors Sunny Ormonde, Robert Lister, Mark Carey and Tash Cotran They were joined by Kenny Fu who played piano.

Members Visit to All Saints Church, Sherborne, near Barford -Thursday, 18 October 2012

Members of the Stratford Society were privileged to have a guided tour of Sherborne (All Saints) Church, a Grade II listed building, on Thursday 18 October. The Churchwarden, Mr David Hill, gave a detailed and fascinating talk on the history of the site – previous churches having been built in the 14th century (the remaining relic of which now sits within the body of the church) and again in the 18 th century, before the present church was built by gift of the philanthropic Ryland family in the 19 th century.

Miss Louisa Ann Ryland decided to build the present church in 1864 and commissioned Sir George Gilbert Scott to design it He was at the time involved in designing Salisbury Cathedral. In fact, the spire at Sherbourne is a smaller replica of the one at Salisbury. No expense was spared in the design and construction of this beautiful building, which is renowned for the quality of the stone and wood carvings, the stained glass windows, and the inlaid flooring (to a design by Augustus Pugin). The reredos to the rear of the altar and the column capital (all individual, and representing the woodlands and flora surrounding Sherbourne) are particularly fine carvings. Also of special interest is the font, the support of which is formed from coloured Sienna marble, holding a basin of pure white marble inlaid with highly coloured mosaics. A large proportion of the work in the church was undertaken by local artisans.

The two-manual organ sitting behind a pair of elaborate wrought iron gates has also been highly celebrated.

Alongside the organ is a plaque to commemorate a young man called Henry Maudsley who came from Sherbourne and was the youngest Squadron Leader in the Dambusters who lost his life during the attack on the Mohne Dam in 1943 aged 21.

Members were also privileged to be shown the four different altar clothes - all of which were made one hundred and fifty years ago, beautifully embroidered with gold thread, and still in spectacular condition.

The afternoon ended with delicious tea and cakes provided by Maureen Tweedie.

Members Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Fish & Chip special - 6 October 2012

On 6 th October, 14 Stratford Society members spent a very enjoyable afternoon on the ‘Fish and Chip special’ with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.

Arriving at Winchcombe Station you could not fail to be impressed by the standard of the station buildings all of which had been lovingly restored by a totally dedicated team of volunteers. The scale of the work carried out was truly amazing!

The Station ticket offices, cafe and shop had been carefully transported from Monmouth Troy Station in the 1980’s with each brick and boulder being carefully numbered and rebuilt in Winchcombe. The former Hall Green, Birmingham, signalbox was also re-built at Winchcombe The building and platform were immaculate and set off by the wonderful hanging baskets and tubs of flowers everywhere – again all tended by volunteers.

The Station Master was resplendent in his immaculate uniform and was there to greet us on arrival.

The steam train ‘chugged’ in to the station and we were shown to our reserved seats in preparation for our journey. Whilst on board more volunteers made us feel welcome and took our orders for drinks (including bottles of ‘Rail Ale’). The Ticket Inspector and Guard who walked up and down the train were also immaculate and stopped to offer advice about the route. We were taken back in time listening to the ‘clickety click’ of the wheels on the track. Such happy memories!!

We later tucked in to fish and chips which were brought on board the train at Cheltenham Racecourse Station.

To complete this happy experience it was all enjoyed on a beautiful sunny Autumnal day.

Members Visit to Ashorne Hill - 14th September 2012

On Friday 14 th September, in Autumn sunshine, a party from Stratford Society were made very welcome at Ashorne Hill.

Ashorne Hill is a Grade II Arts and Crafts inspired mansion built in 1890 and has enjoyed a colourful history. It is now a conference and training centre which also provides a civil weddings venue.

Stephen Upton, Business Development Director, treated members to a presentation of 1000 years of Ashorne Hill history. Stratford Society members, John and Sue Lampitt, were able to impart local knowledge to connect a number of loose ends. This was the first time such a presentation had been made to an outside group, and it may have provided inspiration for other similar visits.

During the war years Ashorne Hill became the administrative centre for the iron and steel industry in Britain and due to its operational secrecy has been dubbed the “Bletchley Park of the steel industry”. Members were able to tour the grounds and viewed some of the original 1940’s operational huts.

After a brief walk through the gardens (which comprise some 35 acres, with an additional 200 acres of parkland), members were treated to afternoon tea in the Great Hall.

Stratford Society Chairman’s Summer Garden Party - 6th July 2012

Following a day of relentless rain on Friday 6 July, members of the Stratford Society and their guests enjoyed an evening of very welcome sunshine in the Charlecote Park Orangery. A few intrepid folk even took up the challenge of various lawn games, while many were able to spend the evening on the patio.

Charlecote staff were very attentive serving drinks and canapés, while Lisa, the Parks and Garden Manager, was on hand to answer any questions regarding the park and gardens. It was particularly interesting to know that the Park now has its own on-site shop selling Charlecote lamb, venison, and honey.

In all a most enjoyable, informative, and dry, evening!

Visit to Stanway House - 13th June 2012
on Wednesday, 13 th June 2012 at 2pm 30 members of the Stratford Societyenjoyed a private, guided tour of the house, tithe barn and gardens outstandingly beautiful Jacobean manor house of the Stanway House nr Broadway Stanway House is the home of the Lord Neidpath and several members saw him working in the Library as the Library remained open to visitors. The house has a very much lived in feel and is home to some wonderful pieces of furniture including a Charles I working shuffleboard which has been in the house since it was built. There were also two wonderful Chippendale day beds in the main drawing room and regular visits are made by connoisseurs of Chippendale furniture from all over the world to see them. One of the more quirky items we saw was a wonderful screen which was a family tree of the family’s dogs. Members were later served tea and cakes in the Audit room, where tenants still pay their rents today. After tea, and in glorious sunshine, the magnificent fountain was ‘turned on’ and we were able to see the magnificent fountain, the tallest in Britain, in all its spendour.

Visit to Honington Hall - 16th May 2012

On Wednesday, 16 th May 2012 at 2.30pm members of the Stratford Society enjoyed a private tour of All Saints’ Church and Honington Hall, escorted by Mr Benjamin Wiggin, the owner of Honington Hall

Apart from the West Tower of the church, which dates from the 13 th century, the main part of the church was constructed around 1680 by an unknown architect, but in the style of churches in the City of London that were reconstructed after the Great Fire. There are memorable features within the church – notably, the fine carvings on the pulpit, the lectern with large calf-bound bible, the organ, and the stained glass. There are also fine monuments dedicated to members of the Townsend family, one of whom, Mrs Mary Elizabeth Townsend, founded the Girls Friendly Society in 1875, which still continues to do excellent work.

A short step from the church is the Hall, a fine manor house built around 1682, the east façade of which has six of a total of twelve marble busts of Roman Emperors, each displayed in a stone niche. The interior of the house displays very fine plasterwork throughout, particularly on ceilings, and also on wall panels and cornices. The Salon was of particular note with a glorious vaulted ceiling rising up to an octagonal painting, and fine plasterwork in the eight angles of the room and over the doorways. Mr Wiggin explained how, in the mid-1970s, extensive work had been necessary to eradicate dry rot. While this resulted in the absence of some detailed gilding, the high quality of replacement work in no way detracted from the beauty of the whole. The room also has long windows that give a fine vista through cedar trees down to the river Stour.

The visit took place on a day of unexpected sunshine, which added to the undoubted pleasure in the visit.

Exclusive visit to the studio in Radway of sculptor - 23 April 2012

James Butler MBE, RA

Monday, 23 April 2012 at 10.30am

His work which includes the Stratford Jester in Henley Street is one of many fine works by this prominent artist which include carvings and designs of the Queens Beasts in Kew Gardens, the Royal Seal of the Realm, and commissions in Africa, USA, Singapore and Saudi Arabia

This was a unique opportunity to see commissions currently being undertaken by this world renowned sculptor.

25 Society members thoroughly enjoyed a visit to sculptor James Butler’s studio in Radway. James spent over 2 hours with members showing them around his workshop and studio explaining how commissions had come about, how they had developed and finally been installed. It was a fascinating insight in to his work which was backed up with lots of stories.

James told the story behind his commission to sculpt the last Great Seal of the Realm in 2001.

‘When I arrived at the palace for the sitting, I was told that we couldn’t use the real orb and sceptre as there was no one to available to go to the Tower to collect them,’ he said. ‘So an aide produced a couple of mock-ups wrapped in silver paper and with a cardboard cross.

‘I thought the Queen would refuse to hold them, but she was totally professional. She didn’t bat an eyelid and simply said, “How would you like me to sit?” ‘

The Great Seal, used also to proclaim royal marriages and ratify treaties, is made of 8.5lbs of silver from two 6ins matrices. The first was made for Edward the Confessor in the 11t century and is replaced when it shows signs of wearing out. The monarch then ‘destroys’ the previous seal by tapping it with a specially made hammer.

Since our visit James has issued a further invitation to members saying ‘ When some of my recent commissions are beginning to take shape, I shall let you know and maybe you would like to come and see a work in progress’. Please form an orderly queue!!