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Monday 27 October 2025 – Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere and Shaw House, Newbury
Booking Months: Contact Visit Secretary
Cost: £34
Travelling by coach, we will leave Wantage around 9.30 am.
Our morning visit is to:-
Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere – to see the wonderful collection of paintings by Stanley Spencer, linked to his experience of the First World War, Salonika campaign in particular.
Although the Chapel is a looked after by the National Trust, they will be opening for us especially that morning, we will have a guided tour, by the art guide. There will also be a chance to view the exhibitions in the almshouses nearby.
Following the artist’s request, the painting are viewed by natural light only.
Access to the gardens will be rather limited by maintenance that day.
Most of the pathway and the Chapel itself are on one level, with just three steps at the front of the chapel, a portable ramp is available if required.
Our afternoon visit is to:-
Shaw House, just outside Newbury.
Shaw house is a handsome Elizabethan manor, which is now run by West Berkshire Heritage.
It is now a multi-use building, which also contains a registry office.
The interior is very well equipped for accessibility. There is a short walk from the car park.
We will have a guided tour, which will include areas not usually seen by the public.
The tour also includes a cup of tea/coffee in the cafe.
A lunch of sandwiches/cakes can be supplied as an inexpensive extra.
We should be boarding the coach back to Wantage around 4pm
Costings for the day include:-
Coach travel
A guided tour of Sandham Memorial Chapel – £8.50 per person
(entrance to the Chapel is free to NT members, an additional £10-45 for non-members, TO BE PAID DIRECT TO NT ON THE DAY)
A guided tour of Shaw House + tea/coffee – £12 per person
(it will also be possible, nearer the time, to book sandwiches/cake for £6.50 per person, more details to follow).
The price for both guided tours and the coach is £34 per person. (additional costs not included).
Due to the next lecture meeting not being until the end of September, booking will be on a first come, first served basis payable online or cheque.Our morning visit is to:-
Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere – to see the wonderful collection of paintings by Stanley Spencer, linked to his experience of the First World War, Salonika campaign in particular.
Although the Chapel is a looked after by the National Trust, they will be opening for us especially that morning, we will have a guided tour, by the art guide. There will also be a chance to view the exhibitions in the almshouses nearby.
Following the artist’s request, the painting are viewed by natural light only.
Access to the gardens will be rather limited by maintenance that day.
Most of the pathway and the Chapel itself are on one level, with just three steps at the front of the chapel, a portable ramp is available if required.
Our afternoon visit is to:-
Shaw House, just outside Newbury.
Shaw house is a handsome Elizabethan manor, which is now run by West Berkshire Heritage.
It is now a multi-use building, which also contains a registry office.
The interior is very well equipped for accessibility. There is a short walk from the car park.
We will have a guided tour, which will include areas not usually seen by the public.
The tour also includes a cup of tea/coffee in the cafe.
A lunch of sandwiches/cakes can be supplied as an inexpensive extra.
We should be boarding the coach back to Wantage around 4pm
Costings for the day include:-
Coach travel
A guided tour of Sandham Memorial Chapel – £8.50 per person
(entrance to the Chapel is free to NT members, an additional £10-45 for non-members, TO BE PAID DIRECT TO NT ON THE DAY)
A guided tour of Shaw House + tea/coffee – £12 per person
(it will also be possible, nearer the time, to book sandwiches/cake for £6.50 per person, more details to follow).
The price for both guided tours and the coach is £34 per person. (additional costs not included).
Due to the next lecture meeting not being until the end of September, booking will be on a first come, first served basis payable online or cheque.
Website:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/sandham-memorial-chapel
https://www.westberkshireheritage.org/shaw-house
Thursday 12 June 2025 – Coventry
Booking Months: March and April
Cost: to be decided
Guided tour of the Cathedrals, St Mary’s Guildhall, the Herbert Art Gallery & museum – and other historic buildings
Travel by coach
Website:
