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 1.30pm 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 from 12noon, and be in your seats in the Saloon shortly after 1.00pm. The talks are 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 ticket holders.

Dates for your diary  

07 September 2011

Joe Hawkins, Head Gardener

“The Thomas Wright Tercentenary: Walking the Wright Way”

As Head Gardener, Joe is one of our regular speakers. In 2010 he undertook an epic 300-mile sponsored walk to visit gardens and landscapes in the north of the country that were associated with Thomas Wright. He slept every night in a grotto, temple or other feature with Wright associations, and he has many an anecdote to relate. The presentation will describe this walk, other events for the Thomas Wright Tercentenary, significant Wright motifs and architectural features to be seen at Shugborough (The Shepherds’ Monument, The Cat’s Monument, and The Ruin), and the real significance of Thomas Wright’s influence at Shugborough. The proceeds of the sponsorship will be used to finance new planting around The Shepherds’ Monument, which had become smothered by rhododendrons, to reflect 18^th Century history, philosophy and style, to provide more suitable surroundings for the monument, and to enhance the estate’s biodiversity. There will be a short tour afterwards in the gardens to discuss landscape changes made at Shugborough during 2010 and 2011 and to view the autumnal colours.

05 October 2011

Graeme Clarke

'Who turned out the lights? - Conservation versus access at Shugborough'

Graeme has an MA in Heritage Management, and has had experience at Saint Nicholas Place in Kings Norton (a high-profile winner of the second BBC Restoration Series), at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, and at the City Gaol and Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum in Lichfield. At Shugborough Graeme is Operations Officer for the Mansion House, and he is particularly looking forward to presenting the Earl’s Private Apartments and preserving the collections for future generations.

Opening a stately home to the public requires managing a constant balance between what is good for the collection and what is good for the visitor.  A collection will survive much longer if it is locked in a dark room away from people, but visitor numbers may suffer!  Through this talk, Graeme will explore the arguments for and against greater public access to historic collections in general, and how this manifests into the day-to-day decisions required as Operations Officer at Shugborough.