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VISITS & WALKS 2014
APRIL Wednesday 30th
VISIT TO THOMAS WARE’S TANNERY, BEDMINSTER, BRISTOL
A group 27 members stepped into a piece of living industrial history with a guided tour of the largest remaining traditional tannery in Britain, led by director Barry Knight. We learned the processes by which the hides are treated, stood by the tanning pits in which they soak and watched the machines that roll them. Not to mention the powerful smells that are a by-product of some of the treatment! At the end we watched elbow grease in action and held some of the finished products. The company has outlasted its rivals by turning from shoe leather to niche products where the Made in Britain label counts for more than the lowest price. This was an evening that everyone will remember.
VISIT TO THOMAS WARE’S TANNERY, BEDMINSTER, BRISTOL
A group 27 members stepped into a piece of living industrial history with a guided tour of the largest remaining traditional tannery in Britain, led by director Barry Knight. We learned the processes by which the hides are treated, stood by the tanning pits in which they soak and watched the machines that roll them. Not to mention the powerful smells that are a by-product of some of the treatment! At the end we watched elbow grease in action and held some of the finished products. The company has outlasted its rivals by turning from shoe leather to niche products where the Made in Britain label counts for more than the lowest price. This was an evening that everyone will remember.
MAY - Wednesday 14th - WITLEY COURT AND LEDBURY
JUNE Saturday 7th - MIDFORD – CANAL AND RAILWAY WALK
JULY Saturday 5th
CHIPPING SODBURY – GUIDED WALK
Local historian Jim Elsworth led a group on fascinating tour of a small town with a long and varied history. The main streets contain a huge number of buildings that have changed much over the centuries but still stand; it takes an expert eye to spot the many alterations and added facades. Further from the town centre, we saw the remains of mills and evidence of past industries.
CHIPPING SODBURY – GUIDED WALK
Local historian Jim Elsworth led a group on fascinating tour of a small town with a long and varied history. The main streets contain a huge number of buildings that have changed much over the centuries but still stand; it takes an expert eye to spot the many alterations and added facades. Further from the town centre, we saw the remains of mills and evidence of past industries.
A group of thirty-five enjoyed a varied day, starting with a visit to one of Britain’s two Victorian transporter bridges. There was a choice between crossing on the suspended gondola or walking the steel gantry 200ft above the River Usk. We then moved on to Tredegar House, now owned by the National Trust, where we had an “Upstairs Downstairs” tour and discovered how successive generations of the Morgan family accumulated great wealth and then lost it. The day was rounded off by a short stop at Tintern in warm sunshine.
SEPTEMBER Saturday 6th
WELLS, SOMERSET – GUIDED WALK
Sixteen members and friends enjoyed a walk around the Cathedral precincts and the Market Place, guided by Society member Bob Porton. With a knowledgeable guide to point out the details, the richness and significance of the hundreds of figures carved on the magnificent West Front of the Cathedral became apparent. Around the corner, we learned the story of Vicars’ Close, the oldest residential street in England; it was built to make sure that young assistant clergymen had somewhere secure to live, so they had no excuse for being late for early morning services!
WELLS, SOMERSET – GUIDED WALK
Sixteen members and friends enjoyed a walk around the Cathedral precincts and the Market Place, guided by Society member Bob Porton. With a knowledgeable guide to point out the details, the richness and significance of the hundreds of figures carved on the magnificent West Front of the Cathedral became apparent. Around the corner, we learned the story of Vicars’ Close, the oldest residential street in England; it was built to make sure that young assistant clergymen had somewhere secure to live, so they had no excuse for being late for early morning services!
We travelled by coach to the magnificent ruins of
Witley Court in Worcestershire. This stately home was
badly damaged by fire in 1937 but more destruction
was wrought by the scrap merchants and salvage
dealers who owned it subsequently. An excellent
guide explained the history of the house and owners
the Earls of Dudley before giving us the opportunity to
watch the hourly display of one of the most ornate
fountains in the country. Some members took the
opportunity to visit the adjoining Great Witley Parish
Church, which is decorated in the baroque style,
uniquely for a country church. We returned via the
Malvern Hills and spent an hour in the charming town
of Ledbury with its street of half-timbered buildings.
Society member Richard Dyson took a small group of
members on a walk that stretched some to their limit! First we
explored the remains of the Somersetshire Coal Canal at
Midford, then walked along the line of the canal to Tucking
Mill, where we saw the real home of geologist William Smith
(which is not the one with the plaque). After climbing up to the
cycle path built recently along the track-bed of the Somerset
and Dorset Railway we walked through both the Two Tunnels,
the first being over a mile in length, before returning to our
cars near Bloomfield Road.
AUGUST Wednesday 6th - NEWPORT – TRANSPORTER BRIDGE AND TREDEGAR HOUSE
