The University of Virginia has organized a program in Oxford, England, for
Easter week, 1999, that will be very informative and enjoyable for anyone
with an interest in English architecture, gardens, culture, and social and
political history. The program description follows.
If you have a vehicle for disseminating information about programs such as
this, I would appreciate it if you would share word of THE ENGLISH COUNTRY
HOUSE program. The program web site can be found at:
http://uvace.virginia.edu/cup/english_country.htm
If you have any questions, or if you would like me to add any names to our
mailing list, please call me 800-346-3882.
Best regards,
Tom Dowd
Program Director
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SEMINARS AT OXFORD, ENGLAND
THE ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSE
April 4-10, 1999
Trinity College, Oxford, England
ENTER THIS CHARMED WORLD
England's country houses represent a visual history of 600 years of
English architecture, culture, and social and political change. Rising and
expanding, or falling into decay, in accordance with the fortunes,
character, and changing tastes of their owners, the English country house
presents the late 20th century observer with messages both engaging and
thought-provoking. In April 1999, come to Trinity College in the heart of
Oxford for lectures, tours, and lively discussions designed to increase
your understanding of and appreciation for the complex stories these houses
have to tell.
During a program designed for instruction and delight, you will:
-visit and explore six important country houses, many with superb gardens,
within easy reach of Oxford
-attend informative lectures given by expert faculty who are knowledgeable
about the houses and gardens you'll be visiting
-tour Oxford itself, tracing the development of the medieval courtyard house
-discuss how the English country house illustrates the timeless process of
adaptation to changing circumstances
-study the British aristocracy as it evolved from the Middle Ages through
the late 19th century, and how its development was influenced by political,
intellectual, economic, and social changes
-compare the country house styles of 19th century British gentry and
ultra-rich Americans of the Gilded Age
-examine how English country houses have fared in the economic and
political climate of the 20th century and discuss the long-term prospects
for these important symbols of England's architectural and cultural heritage
-attend a performance in the Holywell Music Room, Europe's oldest
purpose-built concert hall
-enjoy living in a beautiful Oxford college and dining out at a country pub,
-and more . . .
PROGRAM FEATURES
The week is a lively mix of activities for a group whose size is purposely
limited. There are interactive sessions led by experts, small group
discussions with faculty, and guided walking tours of Oxford and Trinity
College. You will dine "in Hall" at Trinity College for most meals, with
the college silver in use for the closing dinner as a highlight. During
the program you will travel beyond the dreaming spires to tour magnificent
country houses and gardens within easy reach of Oxford. There is free time
to relax in the gardens and courtyards of Trinity College and to explore
the many attractions of Oxford. Participants often comment on how much
they enjoy feeling like residents, not tourists, during their week in Oxford.
Dress for the week is casual. You will want to bring comfortable walking
shoes and a sweater or jacket for cool evenings.
THE SETTING - TRINITY COLLEGE
Your home for the week is Trinity College, the most central of Oxford's
colleges, where you will live, study, and dine. Founded in 1555, Trinity
is noted for the excellence of its architecture and gardens and its
pleasant atmosphere for living and learning. Among Trinity's "old boys"
(women were first admitted in 1979) are Lord Baltimore, the Prime Ministers
William Pitt and Lord North, John Henry Cardinal Newman, and Lord Kenneth
Clark.
While "up at Oxford" both faculty and participants live "in college."
Each person has a private single bedroom with a refrigerator and a sink
with hot and cold taps. Many feature an attached sitting room. Bathrooms
are shared. There are a limited number of double occupancy rooms. During
your stay, the College beer cellar, squash court, and laundry facilities
are available for your use.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
You, if you would enjoy discovering new perspectives on the English
country house, the complex history of its development and flowering, and
what the future has to hold for these remarkable repositories of England's
architectural and cultural heritage.
This program is perfect for those who are seeking intellectual stimulation
in an informal, collegial environment. Past participants have represented
a wide range of experiences, ages, and educational backgrounds. Join us
and discover that, as one past participant wrote, "spending a week with an
extraordinary faculty in a beautiful Oxford college studying a stimulating
topic is a transcendent experience, and downright fun."
OXFORD, ENGLAND - CITY OF DREAMING SPIRES
Oxford, home to England's oldest University and smallest cathedral, is
located on the north bank of the River Thames, fifty-six miles northwest of
London. Frequent bus connections to Heathrow and Gatwick airports and
extensive bus and train connections to London make it very easy to travel
to and from Oxford. Before the program begins, you will be sent
comprehensive information about getting to and enjoying Oxford.
THE HOUSES AND GARDENS
Among the houses and gardens you will visit are:
BROUGHTON CASTLE
Standing on an island surrounded by a 3-acre moat and approachable only
across a bridge and through an embattled gatehouse, Broughton Castle is
lived in by Lord and Lady Saye and Sele and their family. Much remains of
the original medieval manor house, built in 1300, and the buildings have
not changed materially in appearance since splendid enlargements and
embellishments were made in the late 16th century. These embellishments
include magnificent ceilings, splendid paneling, and fine fireplaces. This
house is crucial to the story of the English Civil War, the 8th Lord Saye
and Sele opposed Charles I's efforts to rule without Parliament and used
Broughton as a secret meeting place for the King's opponents. The planting
designs of Gertrude Jekyll were used in the gardens.
CANONS ASHBY HOUSE
Built in the 1550s by the Dryden family, this manor house was added to and
altered in the 16th, 17th, and early 18th centuries. It remains largely
unaltered since ca1710. The impressive wall paintings and plasterwork
gracing the interior of the house and the cobbled internal courtyard, with
rough and irregular walls set with leaded windows, add special charm. The
house also has a rare formal garden from the early 18th century and 70
acres of parkland. The property houses one of the very few churches in
England to be privately owned, the remains of the Augustinian priory which
gave Canons Ashby its name.
HONINGTON HALL
One author has written: "...Honington will seem to be the 'perfect' English
country house: dignified in conception, comfortable in scale, and secluded
in a park, with the village church almost at the door and the River Stour
flowing just below the garden." This impressive manor house was built in
the 1680s for a rich London merchant, Sir Henry Parker. Modified in the
first half of the 18th century, the Hall's interior contains exceptional
Georgian plasterwork and a domed octagonal Saloon, the only one of its kind
in England. Exceptionally tall chimneys and niches that hold marble busts
of the twelve Caesars give the exterior an unexpectedly metropolitan feel.
Honington Hall is still a private family home but special arrangements have
been made for our group to visit in April.
BLENHEIM PALACE
One of the greatest baroque palaces in Europe, Blenheim Palace was built
for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, with land and partial funding
donated by a grateful nation in recognition of his 1704 victory over the
French at the battle of Blenheim. Designed by John Vanbrugh as a monument
as well as a house, the Palace's immensity rivals Versailles. Among the
specialists of the time who worked on the house were Thornhill and Laguerre
for decorative painting and Grinling Gibbons for stone carving. The Palace
grounds reflect the evolution of grand garden design. The original walled
garden displayed the work of Queen Anne's gardener, Henry Wise; the Italian
Garden and the Water Terraces were built by Achille Duchêne; and the
landscaping of 'Capability' Brown dominates the 2100 acres of parkland.
The birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is now the home of the
11th Duke of Marlborough.
STOWE HOUSE AND LANDSCAPE GARDENS
One of the greatest neoclassical houses in England, the building of
palatial Stowe was begun in 1715 by Viscount Cobham and completed in the
1770s by Richard Grenville, Earl Temple, then thought to be the richest man
in England. Among the architects associated with Stowe House and landscape
gardens are John Vanbrugh, James Gibbs, William Kent, Robert Adam, and
Giovanni Battista Borra. Around the house, now Stowe School, is one of the
first and finest landscape gardens in Europe. The historically important
gardens cover over 325 acres and contain six lakes and thirty-two garden
temples. It was at Stowe during the 1730s that William Kent laid out the
Elysian Fields, one of the first 'natural' landscapes, initiating the style
known as 'the English Garden.' Lancelot 'Capability' Brown worked as head
gardener here from 1741-1750.
WADDESDON MANOR
Waddesdon, a French Renaissance-style château, was built for Baron
Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1889 to showcase his collection of
French 18th century decorative arts. The house, renowned for its elegance
and grandeur, contains French Royal furniture, Savonnerie carpets, Sèvres
porcelain, portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds, and works by 17th
century Dutch and Flemish masters. The paneling collection, carved in the
18th century in France for great houses in Paris and reassembled at
Waddesdon, is famous for reproducing rooms as they had been during the
reigns of the Louis's. The gardens date from 1874 to 1881 and are formal
near the house, informal beyond. Included in the garden is a Rococo-style
aviary of cast iron with a shell grotto.
THE PROGRAM FACULTY INCLUDES
JEREMY BLACK: Professor of History, University of Exeter, England, and one
of the most prolific of British historians. His publications span the
foreign policy, domestic politics, and intellectual culture of Britain,
Europe, and America. Among his books are "Europe in the Eighteenth
Century" and "A History of the British Isles."
CHRISTOPHER DAY: University Lecturer in Local and Social History,
University of Oxford, and Fellow of Kellogg College. He has written
extensively on the city and county of Oxford, and is a contributor to the
official "History of the University of Oxford."
JAMES MURRAY HOWARD: Curator and Architect for Thomas Jefferson's
Academical Village, the heart of the University of Virginia. The first
decade of his curatorship brought him the 1995 Institute Honor award from
the American Institute of Architects (AIA). His specialty in 19th-century
European stylism prepared him well for a career with Jefferson's relics in
the United States, steeped as they are in Europeanism. He also teaches in
the University's School of Architecture and lectures and writes about his
work in America and Europe.
ROBERT MACHIN: studied history at Merton College, Oxford, in the early
1960s. After teaching Architectural and Social History for thirty-five
years in the adult education departments of the universities of Bristol,
Leeds, and Oxford, he took early retirement. This enables him to indulge in
a variety of pleasures - one of which is introducing England's
architectural heritage to American visitors.
WEEK AT A GLANCE (subject to change)
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 4
Individual arrivals at Trinity College. Check-in from 9:00 am - noon.
Lunch is followed by a program introduction, a first look at the history of
the English country house, and a tour of Trinity College. An opening
reception and dinner bring the day to a close.
MONDAY, APRIL 5
Following morning lectures, you will go on a guided walking tour of Oxford.
Visits to several colleges will help explain what the University of Oxford
was and still is, and illustrate the concept of the medieval courtyard
house. Enjoy a free evening.
TUESDAY, APRIL 6
After a morning at Broughton, a moated medieval castle, you will view
Sulgrave Manor, the Washington family home, and then travel on to Canons
Ashby, an unusual Elizabethan house. A special concert in the Holywell
Music Room by pianist Jack Gibbons ends the day.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7
A drive down a pretty country lane on the edge of the Cotswolds takes us to
Honnington Hall, a delightful late 17th-century house. After lunch at a
country pub, the afternoon belongs to Blenheim Palace, standing proud and
imperious: 'Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.'
THURSDAY, APRIL 8
A morning visit to Stowe house and landscape garden displays the work of
some of the greatest architects and gardeners of the 18th-century.
Following lunch at Stowe, it's on to Waddesdon Manor, where you will feel
as if you have arrived at a château in the Loire Valley.
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
Morning sessions will summarize the lessons of the week and look at the
future of the English country house. Your afternoon is free to explore or
join informal tours. The day ends with a closing reception and dinner.
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
After breakfast, the morning is yours to enjoy . Check-out time is noon.
FEES, REFUNDS, AND CANCELLATIONS
The all-inclusive program fee of $1750 per person includes: six nights'
private lodging at Trinity College, all meals, all guided tours, an Oxford
guidebook, a copy of "The Fate of the English Country House" by David
Littlejohn and other instructional materials, and a ticket to a performance
at the Holywell Music Room. If you would like to arrive early or stay
late, extra nights of lodging will be available at a very reasonable cost.
Before February 22, 1999, a $300 per person deposit (or the full fee if
you choose) is due with your registration. After February 22, the full
program fee is due. If you cancel in writing before February 22, 80% of
the fee will be refunded. In the event cancellation is necessary after
this date, there will be no refund but another person may attend the
program in your place.
To cover nonrefundable costs incurred when travel must be postponed on
short notice, we strongly encourage you to purchase travel cancellation
insurance as soon as you register (to cover pre-existing conditions).
Contact your travel or insurance agent for details and options.
REGISTRATION
Register by telephone, 800-346-3882, or FAX, 804-982-5297, using VISA or
MasterCard; or by mailing the attached registration form to Seminars at
Oxford, England, University of Virginia Continuing Education, P.O. Box
3697, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
Please notify University of Virginia Continuing Education when you
register if you have any physical or medical conditions which may interfere
with walking at a normal pace or negotiating stairs, or if you have any
dietary restrictions. Every effort to accommodate you will be made. A
registration form can be found at the end of this message and on the
program web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Call Tom Dowd, 800-346-3882, FAX 804-982-5297, e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Program web site: http://uvace.virginia.edu/cup/english_country.htm
OTHER UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PROGRAMS OF NOTE:
-THE ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSE: April 4-10, 1999, Trinity College, Oxford, England
-EXPLORING THE NEW MEDIA: April 8-10, 1999, Washington, DC
-GARDENS OF VIRGINIA: May 26-30, 1999, Charlottesville, Virginia
-CIVIL WAR INSTITUTE - "Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah": June 2-6,
1999, Bridgewater, Virginia
-SUMMER ON THE LAWN: June 6-10, 1999, Charlottesville, Virginia
-VIRGINIA ARCHITECTURE OF THE 17th & 18th CENTURIES: June 12-15, 1999,
Williamsburg, Virginia
-SUMMER PUBLISHING INSTITUTE - DEMOCRACY: June 13-19, 1998,
Charlottesville, Virginia
-THE JEFFERSON SYMPOSIUM - JEFFERSON IN FRANCE: June 19-22, 1999,
Charlottesville, Virginia
-THE UNITED STATES & REGIONS IN CONFLICT: July 29-August 2, 1999
Charlottesville, Virginia
-NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR: August 15-21, 1999, Trinity
College, Oxford England
REGISTRATION FORM
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SEMINARS AT OXFORD, ENGLAND
THE ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSE
April 4-10, 1999
Trinity College, Oxford, England
Please Print
Mr. __ Ms. __ : _____________________________
Name for Badge:
Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Zip/Postal Code:
Phone: Daytime: Evening:
FAX: E-mail:
PROGRAM FEE:
______ $1750 per person.
Before February 22, a $300 per person deposit (or the full fee) is due with
your registration. After February 22, the full program fee is due. If you
cancel in writing before February 22, 1999, 80% of the fee will be
refunded. In the event cancellation is necessary after this date there
will be no refund but another person may be substituted without penalty.
FEE INCLUDES
- six nights private lodging
- all meals (beginning with lunch Sunday; ending with breakfast Saturday)
- all tours and trips
- a concert at the Holywell Music Room
- extensive instructional materials
Method of Payment (check one):
Check payable to University of Virginia (in US Dollars): _____
MasterCard: _____
VISA: _____
Card Number: _____________________________
Expiration Date: ______________
Signature: _________________________________
______________ Total Enclosed
Mail registration form to
1999 Seminars at Oxford, England
University of Virginia Continuing Education
Center for University Programs
P.O. Box 3697
Charlottesville, VA 22903-0697 USA
or register by
FAX: 804-982-5297
Phone: 800-346-3882 or 804-982-5252
Program Director: Tom Dowd, [log in to unmask]
University of Virginia Continuing Education reserves the right to require
any participant to withdraw from the program at any time if such action
would best serve the health, safety, or general welfare of the individual
registrant and/or the other participants in the program.
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