A diverse new series of lunchtime presentations for 2010.
Shugborough covers much more than the historic and authentic presentation of gardening, farming, milling, dairying, housekeeping, cooking, laundering, brewing and estate management processes: in its heyday it was also a centre for art, architecture, design and ideas.
We introduce a new series of speakers who have studied Shugborough from various points of view and are now anxious to share their knowledge with you. Talks will be presented in the Saloon (in the Mansion House) starting at 13:30pm on the 1st Wednesday of each month April – October during the season, unless otherwise indicated below. The 30-45 minute talks with visual aids may be followed in some cases by more extended visits to locations in the House or Estate for practical demonstrations (in the latter case the presentations will not continue beyond 3:00pm). If you are intending to take lunch beforehand please ensure that you do so in time to take your seats the mansion house Saloon shortly after 1:00pm
The talks are extremely popular, accommodation is limited to 40 persons, and unfortunately when the seating is full or if you are late you will be turned away. Talks are free for all Season Pass Holders, National Trust members, and day ticket holders.
Dates for your diary
04 August 2010
Dan Charlesworth - Head Walled Gardener
“IN the Walled Garden”
Shugborough’s walled garden (1805) was once a horticultural centre of excellence renowned across the country for its revolutionary gardening techniques. The Eden-like garden grew an enormous range of produce using the very latest in technology. Gardeners travelled from great houses across the country just to train at the estate’s cutting-edge facility.
The earliest plans for a walled kitchen garden at Shugborough date from 1800. By 1805 William Pitt described the gardens as “well stored with the choicest of fruit trees and many other varieties of hot-house fruits, flowers and plants”. A gardener's house was added and the walled garden was surrounded by a Ha-Ha, within which trees were planted. Today the gardener's house remains, and the garden is gradually being restored.
Dan will give us a conducted tour of the Walled Garden, and explain the philosophy of the work programme there and plans for the future. Meet Dan in the Walled Garden at 1330, and NOT in the Saloon.
01 September 2010
Stephen Dean, County Archaeologist
The Staffordshire Hoard: “Trusting the Ground with the Treasure of Warriors”
In 2009 a metal detector working on fields to the southwest of Wall uncovered the largest find of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever found in this country. The Staffordshire Hoard has become internationally renowned as experts from around the world develop a multitude of theories as to why it was buried there, what was its purpose, and whose hoard was it? Archaeologists from the Sustainability and Cultural Environment team at Staffordshire County Council were some of the first people on the scene and were closely involved in its excavation. In this talk one of those archaeologists gives a first-hand taste of what this was like and what it means for Staffordshire.
06 October 2010
Guy Corbett-Marshall, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
“The Wolseley Centre: home of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust”
Guy is Director of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and is normally to be found at the new SWT Headquarters, the Wolseley Centre at Wolseley Bridge. The Trust manages 29 wild life reserves in Staffordshire, the nearest reserves to Stafford being Bickford Meadows, Allimore Green, Doxey Marshes, Radford Meadows, Pasturefields, Colwich Brickworks and George’s Hayes.
The talk will be a virtual tour of the HQ and Visitor Centre of Staffordshire’s leading environmental charity; the building's history and recent evolution will be discussed and its relationship to the Cannock Chase AONB will be explored.
Programme arranged by Dr John Wilcock
