July 2025 - Speke Hall

In July our group visited Speke Hall, a rare timber-framed manor house surrounded by the remains of a huge moat situated close to the River Mersey. This impressive house, dating back to 1530 was built and inhabited by the Norris family and boasts as least one priest hole. Speke Hall fell into disrepair and decay in the 18th and 19th centuries before being refurbished in Victorian times and further developed by a tenant, Frederick Leyland, a patron of the Arts & Crafts movement, who invited Rossetti and Whistler to stay and paint there. The interior of the hall hosts an eclectic mix of Tudor, Elizabethan, Victorian Gothic Revival and Arts & Crafts rooms and furnishings all brought to life by the welcoming and knowledgeable guides. We were further treated to a fascinating tour of the exterior of the Manor by our guide Marion who explained the history and construction methods of the house and gave us an enthusiastic and interesting potted-history of England with its relevance to residents of Speke Hall.

May 2025 - Shrugborough

Our May visit was to Shugborough, a Georgian mansion set in beautiful landscaped parkland and ancient woodland where Southdown sheep and Longhorn cattle graze amid monuments and follies. We learnt about the exploits of the  two Anson brothers who travelled the world and brought back the global treasures which adorn the mansion and we explored the complete airy servants quarters. Finally, we visited the apartment of Patrick Lichfield, 5th Earl, which hadn’t been changed since the 1960s, where we saw Princess Margaret’s favourite guest bedroom and a variety of photographs taken by Patrick of members of the royal family and stars of rock, screen and fashion.