NB  This visit has been cancelled due to insufficient numbers booking.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the careers of the two greatest British landscape painters, seen – as they often were in their own time – side by side.

J.M.W. Turner and John Constable were great rivals. Born within a year of each other – Turner in 1775, Constable in 1776 – the art critics of the day compared their paintings to a clash of ‘fire and water’.

Raised in the gritty heart of Georgian London, Turner quickly became a young star of the art world despite his humble beginnings. Meanwhile Constable, the son of a wealthy Suffolk merchant, was equally determined to forge his own path as an artist but faced a longer, more arduous rise to acclaim. Though from different worlds, both artists were united in their desire to transform landscape painting for the better.

With the two painters vying for success through very different but equally bold approaches, the scene was soon set for a heady rivalry within the competitive world of landscape art. Turner painted blazing sunsets and sublime scenes from his travels, while Constable often returned to depictions of a handful of beloved places, striving for freshness and authenticity in his portrayal of nature.

Marking 250 years since their births, this landmark exhibition explores Turner and Constable's intertwined lives and legacies. Discover unexpected sides to both artists alongside intimate insights seen through sketchbooks and personal items.

With over 170 paintings and works on paper, you can experience many of the artists’ greatest works. Highlights include Turner’s momentous 1835 The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, not seen in Britain for over a century and The White Horse 1819, one of Constable’s greatest artistic achievements.

Click here for booking form and schedule for the day.

Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I.  Much of what you see in the castle today is the result of the remarkable efforts of a later owner, the wealthy American, William Waldorf Astor, who used his fortune to restore and extend the Castle in the early 20th century. You will have an audio headset to guide you around the castle.

The Castle gardens are set in 125 acres.  There is an Italian Garden with classical statuary, a giant Topiary chess set in the Tudor Garden, two mazes and over 5,000 roses in the English Rose Garden.  There is also a 38 acre lake providing a tranquil location to take a peaceful walk.

Timetable:            

08:30 Sharp!    Depart Sudbury Long Stay Car Park (next to Waitrose) 

10.30 (approx.)  Arrive at Hever Castle. In your own time, explore the Castle, its Gardens and the Autumn Craft Fair.  

15.30                 Depart for Sudbury

17.30 (approx.)  Return to Sudbury

Click here for details and booking form. 

This visit is timed to include access to the major exhibition "The Great Mughals: Art Architecture and Opulence" which celebrates the extraordinary creative output and internationalist culture of the golden Age of Mughal Court (1560 - 1660) during the reigns of its most famous emperors Akbar, Jahangir & Shah Johan.

The V&A Museum is the world’s largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts & design, housing 2.8 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Timetable:          

08:30                     DEPART Sudbury Long Stay Car Park (next to Waitrose) SHARP

11:00                     ARRIVE V&A. There is hourly timed entrance to the exhibition. Groups of 12.

Lunch                    Can be enjoyed in either The Main Café or The Garden Café

15:30                     PROMPT DEPART for Sudbury, returning about 18:00.

COST: £40.00 pp including all travel and entry fee to the exhibition.  Free time to explore the many varied and fascinating displays: Embroidery, Fashion and even Underwear! There is reasonable wheelchair access.

Please click here for full details and application form.

A cancellation means that one place has now become available for thisa visit.  Please use the booking form to apply. 

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world,and has remained in almost continuous use since it was built by William 1st, in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest.The original wooden castle was erected on a bluff above the River Thames and was part of a ring of fortifications around London. The Castle was a typical Norman design with parts added or rebuilt in stone in 1225, but the essential outline of the Castle has remained the same ever since.
The rooms contain some of the best examples of their genre in the world, with pictures by Holbein, Leonardo, Bruegel, and Canaletto.The sumptuous interiors and  banqueting sets are still used on many ceremonial occasions. The famous Queen Mary’s Dolls House was designed by Sir Edwards Lutyens, and is exquisite.

St George’s Chapel the resting place of our late Queen, is acknowledged as the architectural glory of medieval Windsor. It was built during the reign of Edward lV and completed by Henry Vlll during his reign 1509-1547.

Please click here for a full desription and booking form.

All places now filled, no further places available.  Details shown for information only.

Six day visit to Yorkshire: June 16th to 21st 2024     Cost £925.

Costs are based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room (single supplement £230 for single occupancy in a twin or double room).

The holiday includes all travel, dinner, bed and breakfast for 5 nights together with entry costs and tours for most venues (supplement for non- members of National Trust £10, National Art Pass

£10, RHS £12).

We are staying in the Double Tree Hilton Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. Built in 1889, the hotel sits in eight acres of landscaped gardens in the heart of Harrogate. The spa features six beauty treatment rooms, a steam room, sauna, and indoor pool.

The itinerary is shown below but for a full colour version, with photographs, click here.

Sunday 16th June (outward bound) 08:00 Depart Sudbury (Long Stay Car Park).

After a pickup in Long Melford we’ll have a coffee stop on the way to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park where we plan to arrive at about 12:30 for a free flow lunch. You will then have time to explore the current exhibitions and meander around the many and varied outdoor installations. After our visit we’ll depart at 3:45pm and arrive at our hotel in Harrogate at about 5:15 pm

Monday 17th June (Harewood House and RHS Harlow Carr)

Harewood is one of the finest Treasure Houses in the UK where we have an extended tour of the extensive art collections and wonderful Chippendale furniture in the Robert Adam designed interiors. Explore the Capability Brown landscaped gardens and the newer Himalayan garden that was remodelled out of the old Rock Garden. However, be careful how much you eat at lunchtime as when we move on to the RHS Harlow Carr Garden near Harrogate, there is a branch of the renowned Betty’s Tea Room. This café has views over the magnificent gardens, where much of the planting was designed by the well-known gardener and author Geoffrey Smith.

Tuesday 18th June     Leeds Art Trail

We begin with a visit to the Leeds Art Gallery where we will spend the morning. We’ll start with a talk about one of the current exhibitions and then spend our time between looking at their eclectic mix of galleries.

Later we move to Temple Newsam House, a Tudor-Jacobean house, the birthplace of Lord Darnley, the husband of Mary Queen of Scots.  This houses a treasure trove of paintings, furniture, textiles, silver and ceramics all wrapped up in with gardens, a lake and a working farm.

Wednesday 19th June (York Minster, the Treasurer’s House and shopping/exploring)

No trip to Yorkshire would be complete without a visit to York Minster with its Rose window. We start with a tour of the world renowned magnificent York Minster. It has been at the centre of Christianity in the north of England since the 7th century. Next there is a short walk to the Treasurer’s House, named after the Treasurer of York Minster, where the size, splendour and contents are a true surprise. The rest of our day in York can be spent at your leisure. Opportunities are the National Railway Museum, Fairfax House, Clifford's Tower, and the Shambles. Otherwise just do some shopping or explore other of York’s many delights.

Thursday 20th June (East Yorkshire)

Today sees us travelling a little further to explore two gems of East Yorkshire. We start with a visit to Scampston Hall and Walled Garden. The hall is a quintessential Regency Country House with period decoration. Most of the artwork comes from this period and there are several pictures by Thomas Gainsborough. The walled garden, completed in 2005, is a beautiful contemporary garden, quite unlike any other. It was designed by the renowned Dutch plantsman, Piet Oudolf, and features modern perennial meadow planting alongside areas that are more traditional. Afterwards we move on to Burton Agnes Hall, an Elizabethan house with Award winning gardens. Fifteen generations have filled the Hall with treasures since the early 1600s including French Impressionist paintings and magnificent carvings. It is “a perfect English House and one of the twenty best English houses” according to their entry in Simon Jenkins’ England’s Thousand Best Houses.

Friday 21st June (Homeward bound)

We depart from Harrogate and set off home with a stop in Wakefield at the Hepworth Gallery for refreshments, a free flow visit and lunch. The Hepworth Wakefield is home to Wakefield’s art collection – an impressive compendium of modern British art, including works by Ben Nicholson, Patrick Heron, L.S. Lowry, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore as well as work by significant contemporary artists such as Frank Auerbach, Maggi Hambling, Anthea Hamilton, Martin Parr and Eva Rothschild.

After a refreshment stop on the way home, we aim to arrive back in Sudbury at approximately 6:30pm after a drop off in Long Melford.

All places for this visit are now taken  and a waiting list has been started.  To join the waiting liust please contact Louise Pollock, whose detail are on the booking form below.

Houghton Hall and Gardens is an historic Palladian Mansion in North Norfolk.  Built for Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole in the 1720s, Houghton Hall is now home to the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, a descendant of Sir Robert.

 There is much to see at Houghton with: its extensive parkland, contemporary sculpture exhibition, with works by Anish Kapoor and a special solo exhibition by Antony Gormley of 100 of his famous iron statues.  There are spectacular gardens, its model soldier museum and especially Magdalene Odundo’s splendid exhibition of ceramics reflecting her recent residency at Wedgewood.

Timetable           08.30     DEPART Sudbury Long Stay Car Park (next to Waitrose) SHARP

10.15     ARRIVE Houghton Hall for an introductory talk with coffee, tea and cookies

FREE TIME to explore the House, gardens, Sculpture Park, Exhibition and Museum.

15.30     DEPART for Sudbury.

17.15ish. ARRIVE in Sudbury.

COST: £45.00 pp including all travel, entry fee to house, garden, park and museum, morning coffee, tea and cookies. Lunch can be taken in The Stable Cafe or bring a picnic. There is good wheelchair access.

Enquiries: email - wizpollock@gmail.com                                             Telephone - Louise 01787 312890

Please reserve ………….  place (s) at £45.00 per person for Houghton Hall Visit

Name (s) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Email (s) ……………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………….

Clearly legible email address please – this is how you will be sent your booking acknowledgement.

Landline No………………………………………………… Mobile No…………………………………………………………………
PAYMENT: EITHER: I have paid by Bank Transfer :      £……………….…… Date Paid…………..…………………

Sort Code: 60-21-03          Account No. 48686662    Account Name: The Arts Society Stour Valley

Ref: Enter the letters HH in the reference box and confirm by email to wizpollock@gmail.com

OR,  I enclose a cheque made payable to The Arts Society Stour Valley for £…………… (£45.00 p.p.)

AND send to Louise Pollock, Dunn House, The Green, Long Melford CO10 9DU

Wednesday 10th April 2024 – 5pm to 7:00pm

At St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Lavenham

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz !…. And our society is holding a Spring Social to celebrate this, together with a musical soirée performed by a superb trio from the Lavenham Sinfonia.

We will be offering glasses of Fizz or a soft cordial.  And of course, there will be a buffet selection of finger food

All members of The Arts Society Stour Valley are invited and we are requesting a contributory donation of £5 towards expenses. 

Places will be limited to 100 members only and the closing date is March 31st.

Car Parking is in the Lavenham car park almost opposite the church, or on the road by the church.

Enquiries – Email:  TASSV2021@gmail.com                            Tel: 0789 987 2222

Please reserve ...... place(s) for the: Spring Social event at Lavenham Church

Name(s): ........................................................................................................................................................

Email(s): .........................................................................................................................................................

Landline No: ........................................................ Mobile No: .................................................................

To Pay, EITHER:  I have paid by Bank Transfer:  £........................    Date paid: ................................

Sort Code: 60-21-03         Account No:  48686662          Account Name:  The Arts Society Stour Valley

Ref:   Enter the code  Social24  in the reference box  and  confirm by email to:    TASSV2021@gmail.com

OR,  I enclose a cheque made payable to:  The Arts Society Stour Valley  for   £ ..............    (£5 pp)

AND  send to:  John Ashton, The Edge, Skates Hill, Glemsford, CO10 7SH

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VISIT IS NOW SOLD OUT.  HOWEVER, YOU CAN STILL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR A FLYER AND JOIN THE WAITING LIST IN CASE OF CANCELLATIONS

Burghley House in Lincolnshire is one of the grandest surviving houses of the 16th century and a wonderful example of the Elizabethan prodigy house.  Conceived by William Cecil, Burghley is a testament to the ambition and vision of the most powerful courtier of the first Elizabethan age.  The exterior largely retains its Elizabethan appearance, but most of the interiors date from remodelling before 1800. 

The gardens are a feast for the eyes and senses, with the park laid out by Capability Brown. The Garden of Surprises, created in 2007 featuring water traps, shell grottos and a mirrored maze, was inspired by the Elizabethan fascination with astrology, astronomy and classical civilisations.  Capability Brown’s lost lower gardens, rediscovered in 1994 contain an ice-house and hidden pathways to a natural limestone gully.      

Timetable:         

08.30                     Depart Sudbury Long Stay Car Park (next to Waitrose) – Sharp!

11.00                     Arrive at Burghley for an introductory talk with coffee, tea and biscuits

                    Free time to explore the house and gardens

15.30                     Depart for Sudbury        

17.30 approx          Arrive Sudbury

Cost: £40 per person includes travel, entry fee to the house and garden, morning coffee, tea and biscuit.  For lunch, choose from the Garden Cafe, the Orangery restaurant or bring a picnic.

CLICK HERE FOR FLYER AND BOOKING FORM

The visit will be based at the New Continental Hotel in central Plymouth. The hotel has a swimming pool, fitness suite & spa. The restaurant has always had a deep loyalty to artisan local producers and offer a wide range of both traditional classics and unique culinary delights and use the finest, freshest seasonal ingredients.

The outward journey will include a visit to Tyntesfield House, near Bristol.  In Cornwall the visit will include the lost garden of Heligan, Charlestown Harbour, Tintagel, Prideaux Place, the Eden Project and Saltram House.  A day will be spent exploring Plymouth and the return journey will take in Stourhead House.

Full details can be found by clicking here and a booking form by clicking here.  Please also see the King's Coaches booking conditions, referred to in the booking form, by clicking here.

Kew Gardens is a botanic garden in South West London, that houses the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological (study of fungi) collection in the world.

It was founded in 1840 from the exotic garden at Kew Park.  The origins of Kew Gardens can be traced from the merging of the Royal estates of Richmond and Kew in 1299.

Timetable:     

08.00                     Depart Sudbury Long Stay Car Park – Sharp!

11.00                     Arrive at Kew for coffee and cake.

11.30                     Guided tours of Gallery commence.

15.30                     Depart for Sudbury.       

18.30 approx      Return to Sudbury

Cost: £40 per person includes travel, entry fee, coffee & cake and a 1 hour guided tour of Marianne North Gallery of flower paintings.    If the weather is gorgeous, why not bring a picnic lunch.   Click here for a flyer and application form.  

This major new exhibition, which opens at the Sainsbury Centre in September, will feature over 150 works drawn from collections in the UK and internationally.  It will consider how ancient Egypt has shaped our cultural imagination. From antiquity, when the Great Pyramid was revered as a wonder of the ancient world, to the Cleopatra of Shakespeare’s stage, this ground-breaking exhibition explores this ongoing engagement with ancient Egypt and charts its many forms across centuries of art and design. The exhibition examines how the iconic motifs and visual styles of Egypt have been re-imagined and re-invented over time – revealing a history closely entwined with conquest and colonial politics.

This guided visit, which will include a light lunch will cost  £40 per person.  Click here for further details and application form.  Please note that this visit is now fully subscribed, but you may ask to be put on the waiting list to replace anyone who has to drop out.