VISITS
Enriching Lives Through The Arts
Enriching Lives Through The Arts
Our wonderful visits, three a year, are carefully chosen to give members and their guests an opportunity to see very special places and learn more about the history of the houses, gardens and museums than are generally available.
WEDNESDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2019
DOWNSIDE ABBEY AND BRADLEY HOUSE
Downside Abbey is the home to a Community of Benedictine monks. It is probably the least known major Gothic Revival building in Britain. The Abbey Church is Grade 1 listed, impressive both in scale and its wealth of fittings, monuments and art work. Work started in 1814 by Leonard and was completed in 1929 by Giles Gilbert Scott. The Library hosts 450,000 highly valuable rare books and materials from the archives.
Bradley House is the seat of the Dukes of Somerset. The house itself is a surviving fragment of a much larger early 18th century house. What remains is approximately one eighth the size of the original house but remains a handsome Grade 11 listed property with fine furniture, fireplaces and paintings. The Dukedom is the second oldest after the Dukes of Norfolk. Nearby is the Grade 1 listed All Saints Church with 12th century origins, it is the principal burial place of many of the Duke’s Ancestors.
This visit is restricted to 30 members.
Click here to download the booking form to go on the waiting list.
Visits Secretary:
Tricia Duncan: T: 01672 810443