The 2018 visit to West Stow Hall followed by Columbine Hall, in Stowupland was judged to be a great success.

West Stow Hall is a must visit place as it is steeped in history and the owners are incredibly knowledgeable and each took a group around the house. We were then given a superb lunch. We then went to Columbine Hall which has an extraordinary garden created by the present owners, and their gardener was on hand to explain what she has done since she arrived there several years ago. Lovely moated garden, and house, with several different contrasting areas of garden.

2019 Wednesday 12th June

We will be going to Peckover House, near Wisbeach, then on to Clifton House, King’s Lynn. The coach will only take 34 people and I have chosen the smaller coach so that we can go round Clifton House in two groups of 17 which is the number preferred by the owners. You can read about the history of the two houses in the 2018 Magazine.

Peckover House is National Trust (NT) so those of you who are NT Members need to bring your Membership cards. Entry is currently £7.70 and I do not have the figure for 2019. If you forget your card you can always reclaim your cost of entry from NT. There is a restaurant where you will have lunch, which is included in the cost.

After lunch we will go to Clifton House where we will have a conducted tour followed by tea and cakes in the kitchen. Clifton House involves a LOT of stairs and is TOTALLY UNSUITABLE for anyone with any form of walking disability. The cost of the visit, which includes coach hire, lunch and Clifton House visit, followed by tea and cakes, will be £53 per person. (2018 cost was £50.00) Non NT Members will have to pay to go round Peckover House.

I am anticipating a full coach, and as usual those of you who came in the previous year have been given precedence ahead of the full membership. I will start a waiting list once 34 people have signed up. I will open envelopes in the order they are received by me at Black Swan House. I suggest that those of you reading this for the first time in the Magazine contact me to find out if there are spaces still available.

Email mark@markpadawson.co.uk or telephone 01473 824550