Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

2 day, 1 night tour, Fri 11 & Sat 12 March 2016, staying in hotel on the outskirts of Stafford. Cost £115 (single supplement £32.50)

This tour will visit the county towns of two adjacent counties which encapsulate a wide variety of topography – from the bleak moorlands of the High Peak District to the lowlands and industrial areas of the Midlands, via beautiful rolling hills. Within this area, standing above the now peaceful Churnet valley, is located Alton Towers which is now well known as a theme park, but which was at one time a home to the Earls of Shrewsbury.

The architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1/5/1812 – 14/9/1852) – a Roman Catholic convert – came to this area in 1832 under the patronage of John Talbot the 16^th Earl of Shrewsbury, another Catholic who was sympathetic to Pugin’s ideas. The tour will aim to give some understanding about Pugin’s work. The Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 had removed many earlier restrictions on Catholic designs and practises and Pugin set about designing buildings in the area for the Earl, and within which he sought to incorporate the principles of Gothick architecture. He also wanted to reintroduce the colour and flamboyance which had been present in past times in the interiors of many religious buildings. Pugin believed that, over time, there had been a shift to simplified and plain interiors, of which he disapproved. Pugin is seen as a leading figure in the Gothick Revival in Britain.

Day 1

Leaving York at 8.30 a.m. by coach we travel to the Denby Pottery in Derbyshire where refreshments may be bought and shops visited before we enjoy an included factory tour. We continue to Staffordshire to Denstone Hall farm shop where a simple lunch is included. After lunch we make the short drive to nearby Alton Castle designed by Pugin and now a Catholic conference centre where we shall have a guided tour of the buildings (Note not Alton Towers). We continue to St Giles church, Cheadle for an included tea and guided tour. The church, with its highly decorated interior, is widely considered to be Pugin’s masterpiece. After Cheadle we go to our hotel on the outskirts of the small county town of Stafford.

Day 2

Free time in Stafford centre where artwork exhibits may be viewed and the old courtroom and cells may be visited (free) at the Shirehall Galleries. Nearly opposite is The Ancient High House (free), one of the finest Tudor town houses in the country. Plenty of places to buy coffee, etc. Then we rejoin the coach for the short journey to Stafford Castle Visitor Centre. Stafford Castle, which began as a timber fortress atop its hill by the year 1100, was replaced by a stone building in 1347, and was ruined and rebuilt several times during its chequered lifetime. Audio visual presentations and information panels in the modern Visitor Centre tell the story of the history of Stafford Castle which is considered to be one of the best surviving examples of Norman earthworks in the country.

There will be a stop at Dobbies Garden Centre at Gailey where lunch may be bought, before we continue via Cannock Chase to Derby, where there will be free time during which members can choose between visiting the unusual Pugin designed church of St Mary, the “Museum of Making” in a disused silk mill, the city Art Gallery and Museum, the Cathedral, or – slightly further to walk –  Pickford’s House Museum

The tour includes visits and meals as outlined above. Our hotel will be the comfortable Best Western Tillington Hall Hotel, Stafford (Tel. 01785  253531) on a D.B.& B. basis. Rooms en-suite with tea/coffee making facilities.

We hope you will feel like joining this tour, in which case please complete the form below and return it as soon as possible to the Lodge together with a cheque for the full cost of the tour made out to “Yorkshire Philosophical Society”. The full cost is required due to the short time before the tour date. Numbers are restricted on this tour. Places requested after 19 February cannot be guaranteed as we have to pay the hotel in full at least a fortnight before arrival.

Alan Owen   Tour Organiser  (Tel.  01904  791543)

YPS Booking Terms & Conditions

Booking

To book an event, complete and return a booking form together with the full sum due (for short visits), or the stipulated deposit (for tours), as appropriate.  A receipt will be issued.  This is not a guarantee that the tour is viable and will run.

When the number of people booking reaches the point at which the tour / visit becomes viable (viability point) you will be sent a confirmation of your booking and that the event will run, subject to booking numbers remaining above the viability point. This will confirm the date by which any balance payment must be made. Balance payments should reach the Lodge at or before the stated due date.

In the case of day or part-day visits, no refunds will be made in the event of cancellation after a visit has been declared viable.

 Cancellations

By YPS    YPS will endeavour to offer an alternative event of equal or greater value than the one cancelled. Where that is not possible all moneys paid against the cancelled event by the member booking will be repaid in full.

By the person booking  Cancellation charges will be made as follows –

• All cancellations will incur an administration charge of £3/person/day of event or tour. Liability for this charge will occur from the date of booking. No administration charges will be made in the case of an event failing to attract the numbers of people needed to become viable, and all moneys sent with a booking form will be returned in full.
• A cancellation made after the notified viability date will lead to the loss of deposit.
• A cancellation after the date set for balance payments, or any set refund cut-off date, as appropriate, will lead to the loss of all moneys paid out by the person booking.

Insurance        

The YPS accepts no responsibility for any loss or injury suffered while taking part in one of its visits.  Participants are advised to consider taking out appropriate travel insurance, which should include cancellation cover.

To download this information and booking form as a word document, click here:-Tour to Stafford & Derby and Pugin

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To Alan Owen,  YPS,  The Lodge, Museum Gardens, York YO1  7DR

 A tour to Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and insights into Pugin

Please reserve ………places for me on this tour.

Preferred accommodation –            Double           Twin               Single        (pl. circle as appropriate)

A cheque for …….. (£115 / person for couples/sharing, £147.50 singles) is enclosed

 

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

 

Address    ………………………………………………..               Tel.No.  ………………………….

 

………………………………………………..               email  ……………………………

 

………………………………………………..

 

Special dietary requirements    ……………………………………………………………………………..

Reservations will be acknowledged by email. Please enclose a SAE if a receipt is required by post