Sunday 28th February 2010
2pm Meet at Whittington Court, an Elizabethan manor with a somewhat convoluted history which conceals within its walls many fascinating architectural details, not least its magnificent three storey staircase, and a collection of glass and ceramics.
4pm Arrive at The Hotel in time for afternoon tea
7pm Meet in the Lounge for a short introductory talk by your host Nicholas Merchant.
7.30pm Dinner

Monday 1st March 2010
8.00am onwards Breakfast.
9.30am Masterclass; Cheltenham Art Gallery, contains one of the finest collections in Britain of Arts and Crafts Movement furniture, silver and design generally. A curator will be with us to talk particularly on “The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds”.
10.30am Coffee.
11.00am Nicholas Merchant; Queen Mary, “My One Great Hobby” Probably the most assiduous collector in the royal family since George IV, Queen Mary did much to organise the royal collection, as well as adding objects which particularly appealed to her.
Rest of the day free
7.30 Dinner

Tuesday 2nd March 2010
8.00am onwards Breakfast
9.00am Depart by Coach for all-day visit to two of Gloucestershire’s lesser known houses. Firstly, Chavenage, owned by the Lowsley-Williams family.
10.00am Arrive Chavenage. We shall have a private visit to this family home which has evolved since Elizabethan times, followed by Lunch. (included).Thereafter we move on to an entirely different type of house, Frampton Court, a gem of an 18th century baroque house, which we will explore with the aid of one of the resident family, the Cliffords, who have lived hereabouts since the Norman Conquest
4.30pm return to Cheltenham.
Rest of afternoon free
7.30 Dinner

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
Guests depart after breakfast.