VISIT to WITLEY COURT & GARDENS & GREAT WITLEY CHURCH, nr WORCESTER
Thursday, 22nd May, 2014
Depart Stow Town Square - 09.15 a.m.
Arrive Witley Court – 10.30 a.m.
Full guided tour of Witley Court & Gardens - 11.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Buffet lunch - 1.00 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.
Guided tour of Great Witley Church - 2.15 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.
Depart Witley Court - 3.30 p.m.
Return to Stow - approx. 4.45 p.m.
100 years ago Witley Court, a Grade I Listed building, was one of England’s great country houses. Belonging to the
Dudley family, many extravagant parties were hosted there making it one of the most fashionable and talked about
houses of its time. However a disastrous fire in 1937 changed its fortunes overnight. Today it is a truly remarkable
ruin and we have the opportunity to be guided round the spectacular remains on a private tour around the house
and magnificent landscaped gardens (including a lake, woodland and formal French parterre gardens with paths
throughout) culminating with the firing of the very special Perseus and Andromeda fountain, one of the most
impressive gravity-fed fountains in the country which was described in its day as making ‘the roar of a steam engine’
when fired! You may have seen Witley Court featured recently on the BBC “Countryfile” programme.
Do you remember our first talk of the season last October given by Howard Robinson on Great Witley Church? Well
we are truly delighted that after lunch Howard has kindly offered to give us a private guided tour of this restored
church which is a riot of splendour containing exquisite gilded decorations throughout, wonderful painted glass
windows, highly decorative carvings and a very special organ said to be the one on which Handel himself played.
This wonderful baroque church, the only one of its kind in the country, has astonishing interior decorations that
really have to be seen to be believed and Howard suggests members might like to bring binoculars with them if
possible to enjoy the work to the full. He will also take us down into the atmospheric but well-lit crypt which houses
stories of the Dudley family and their servants.
Between the tours our visit will include a home-made sandwich buffet lunch with tea/coffee to follow in the
conservatory of the private Garden Tea Rooms in the lovely grounds of Witley Court. There is a little walking
required on this tour, with steps leading up each side of the house and a 5-10 minute gentle walk from the house to
the Church and Tea Rooms but all is on a hard path with seating readily available around the site and we have a
leisurely visit planned.
Cost = £30 per person (includes Pulham’s coach travel, entry to Witley House and gardens with private guided
tour, sandwich buffet lunch and private guided tour and entry to Great Witley Church).
Maximum 25 people.
BOOKING FORM
VISIT to WITLEY COURT & GARDENS AND GREAT WITLEY CHURCH – Thursday, 22nd May 2014
To:
Rachel Surman
Tel: 01451 833783
“Zephyrs”, Fosse Lane, Stow-on-the-Wold, GL54 1EH
I/we enclose a cheque made payable to “Stow & District Civic Society” for £ ..........................
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