A Folly Fellowship Event – The Folly Fellowship

Lake District Trip (3 day event)

May 12, 2022/in A Folly Fellowship Event/by admin

Start date: September 2, 2022 - End date: September 4, 2022

Time: 00:00 - 00:00

Location: Ambleside

The FF’s first ever visit to this picturesque region in North-West England, to be based in Ambleside in the South Lakes. Jonathan Holt has devised a fascinating tour to be conducted by minibus or the limited (3 cars maximum) option of following in your own car at a reduced rate. Minibus option limited to the first 16 takers. Highlights include:

The Bridge House, symbol of Ambleside

The Tower of Beauty & Friendship, Eller How

Claife Viewing Station: an artists’ viewpoint over Lake Windermere

John Longmire’s Folly, Wray Castle

Conishead Tower and Priory, the latter now the headquarters of the Buddhist Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre with its extravagantly decorated temple.

The Sir John Barrow Monument, Hoad Hill, Ulverston

The Dog Kennel, Coniston

Penrith Beacon

The Countess Pillar

Brantwood, the home of art critic and philosopher John Ruskin with its intriguing gardens.

The Larch Cottage Nurseries with its sham chapel, gatehouse, arches and amazing statuary.

…and to cap it all, a boat trip on Windermere!

Each day’s trip will depart from Ambleside, so staying close to the town is advised. No other place of pick-up is offered.

Minibus option – limited to 16 people: Members: £70, Non-members: £85

Price includes all entries, boat trip, fuel, services of chauffeur, but not food & drink.

Driving own car option: limited to 3 cars to accommodate 12+ people. Car sharing encouraged: Members £45, non-members £55

Price includes all entries and boat trip, but not food & drink.

Enquiries to jonathanholt3@gmail.com

Options

Minibus Member £70.00 GBP
Minibus Guest £85.00 GBP
Car Member £45.00 GBP
Car Guest £55.00 GBP

Gunton Park, Norfolk (preliminary information -not bookable yet)

April 9, 2022/in A Folly Fellowship Event/by admin

Date: September 25, 2022

Time: 12:00 - 16:00

Location: Gunton Park, Norfolk

This visit to Gunton Park in north west Norfolk will be on Sunday the 25th September. We will see the outside of Gunton Hall which was designed by Matthew Brettingham, the inside of a neoclassical Church St Andrew’s designed by Robert Adam, the outside of a couple of towers as well as a working Sawmill set within a restored parkland. The restoration of the parkland recently won a Georgian Group Architectural Award.

We will meet at a pub at lunchtime (where you could have lunch) before setting out across the parkland. The driveway across the park is flat and there are attractive views with the possibility of seeing the deer grazing. We will be given a talk about the condition and restoration of the park and its buildings. We will then visit the church, and see the early 19^th sawmill in operation. On returning to the pub the bar will be open. The pub has a contemporary art collection and behind it there is an obelisk.

We will walk about four or five miles during the day. If sufficient people book we may hire a minibus. Visit will be approximately £12 per person plus the cost of the minibus.

if you are interested in coming, please let me know numbers at peter.a.cooke@outlook.com and indicate if you are happy walking or would if you would prefer a lift.

Visit to Shugborough and Weston Park – June 21st

March 26, 2022/in A Folly Fellowship Event/by admin

Date: June 21, 2022

Time: 00:00 - 00:00

Location: Staffordshire

We will visit Shugborough, near Stafford, in the morning and then Weston Park, near Telford, in the afternoon. Shugborough has an interesting range of follies – Tower of the Winds, Lanthorn of Demosthenes, Hadrian’s Arch, Chinese House, Doric Temple and The Ruin. At Weston Park there is the Roman Bridge, The Knoll Tower and the Temple of Dianna where we will have an exclusive view of the interior. Shugborough to Weston Park is 17 miles.

The cost is £12 for members, £14 for non members, this includes admission to Weston Park but not Shugborough. Shugborough is a National Trust property, free to NT members, £12 to non members. Tea is available at Shugborough but not included in this price.

Further details from: Peter Godfrey 0117 9087375

pfgodgfrey@gmail.com

Options

Member £12.00 GBP
2 Members £24.00 GBP
3 Members £36.00 GBP
Guest £14.00 GBP

“What foolishness: how six cushions in a London garden led to a five-sided folly with gothic windows, castellations, a pyramid, and a lantern round which the eight Greek winds blow.” by Jane Dorner

February 18, 2022/in A Folly Fellowship Event/by admin

Date: March 12, 2022

Time: 20:00 - 21:00

Location: Online

A zoom talk by new member Jane Dorner who has recently created her own folly .

Potsdam, Germany

February 18, 2022/in A Folly Fellowship Event/by admin

Start date: May 27, 2022 - End date: May 30, 2022

All-day event

Location: Potsdam (Berlin)

10 miles south west of Berlin, is dotted with royal palaces, follies and garden buildings, in particular Frederick the Great’s palace Sanssouci. We will try to see as many follies as possible!

Friday 27^th – afternoon visit to Peacock Island – Lustschloss, gothic dairy and menagerie

Saturday 28^th – Sanssouci park – pagoda, belvedere, Chinese tea house

Sunday 29^th – Babelsberg and the New Garden – grotto, gothic library, Flatowturm

Monday 30^th – morning walk to the Russian village and Ruinenberg

There are a lot of follies and the parks are large so there will be some walking, possibly up to 4 or 5 miles in a day, although shorter routes are possible. This is a ‘pay as you go’ trip, you pay for your accommodation and travel. The parks are free but there is a charge for entrance to the palaces and some of the follies. There will be an administration charge of £15 per person to cover organisational costs.

To register your interest and for further details contact Peter Godfrey pfgodfrey@gmail.com or 07974357351

Options

Member £15.00 GBP
2 Members £30.00 GBP
3 Members £45.00 GBP

Enville Hall, Staffordshire (SOLD OUT!)

February 13, 2022/in A Folly Fellowship Event/by admin

Date: April 27, 2022

Time: 14:00 - 16:30

Location: Enville is on the A458 between Stourbridge and Bridgnorth

Enville is not normally open to the public and this is rare opportunity to see the follies and garden buildings. The highlight is this 18th-century garden building, the work of Sanderson Miller, known variously as the ‘Gothick Greenhouse’, the ‘Gothick Summer-House’, the ‘Billiard Room’ and most recently as the ‘Museum’. We will have a guided tour including the Museum, the lake, Shenstone’s chapel, and the gothic gate, and this will be followed by tea.

For further information please contact Peter Godfrey 01179087375 or pfgodfrey@gmail.com

Please not this tour is limited to 30 people.