Out and About
Co-ordinator Peter Calver
When: Various. Where: Various. Cost: See visit details below. The Out and About group is now up and running again. Peter Calver is the nominally the co-ordinator but he is equally assisted by Angela Reid, Juliet Hancox and Judy Hornigold.
The purpose of the Group is to visit local places of interest (by public transport or self drive) as well as coach excursions. This group is open to all members of the Balsall Common u3a and all activities will be advertised to the whole membership.
If you have any suggestions for visits, either local or afar, please email the Co-ordinator, or telephone 07836 230464.
Future Visits:
- Tuesday 26th September 2023 Stoneleigh Abbey.
We have arranged a guided tour of Stoneleigh Abbey, near Kenilworth, starting at 11:00 am on Tuesday 26th September. Following the tour of this historic building you will have tea/coffee and either cake*, or scone, jam and cream*. After the refreshment you will be able to spend the afternoon exploring the extensive grounds. The cost of this visit is £18:00 which includes the refreshments.
With humble beginnings as a Cistercian Monastic house in 1154,
Stoneleigh Abbey was converted at the dissolution into a comfortable family home. One of the seats of the Leigh Family, Stoneleigh has played host to several people of note, including King Charles I, Queen Victoria and Novelist Jane Austen.
The fine Grade 1 listed English mansion is comprised of two halves. The first half is made out of red sandstone, is a fine example of a Jacobean county house. The second, the West Wing, was designed by the famous architect Francis Smith of Warwick in the Baroque Style.
In 1909, Sir Humphry Repton, the famous landscape gardener, made his suggestions for alterations to the land surrounding Stoneleigh Abbey. His hand-painted Red Book provided Reverend Thomas Leigh, owner of Stoneleigh Abbey at the time, with ample ideas for improvement.
Note: Non-u3a members are welcome on this visit. Those with mobility issues will be able to cope with this visit. A disabled parking bay is available a short distance from the ticket office. Wheelchair users should be aware that the paths around the Abbey are gravel and that they are permitted to travel over grassy verges as necessary. A flat route is available to the House and to the Orangery Tea Room. The distance from the Ticket Office to the Orangery is around 200 yards. They can also offer a pre-booked loan of a wheelchair.
A lift is available to all floors of the house that are open for public viewing. There is free car parking on site.
It is recommend you allow at least 4 hours, for the house tour, refreshment and the rest to explore the grounds.
If you wish to join us on this visit please email petercalver@outlook.com or tel/text 07836 230464 with the number of people you are booking for.
When booking * will you please specify whether you want cake, or scone, jam and cream.
I will send you payment details in due course.
Please contact petercalver@outlook.com.
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