May 17th
Saturday
09.45am

AIA Regional Conference at Bristol

This year the conference is to be organised by BIAS who are based in the Bristol area. Full details can be
obtained from our Chairman or Secretary. Cost of the conference is to be announced.
 

May 18th
Sunday
2.00pm

Afternoon visit to Bransford Chapel (Cancelled last year)

This is a tiny little Norman Chapel tucked away off the Bransford road near Leigh. We also visit the site of a former “hop pickers” settlement. Make sure you wear sensible shoes, as there will be a short walk across the fields. Meet at the church car park at the end of the lane. Take the A4103 and turn just before the Bank House Hotel into Chapel Lane. Follow the lane until you come to a “T” junction and take the left turn up a “No Through Road”. From here you can see the chapel, the car park is at the end of the lane. Map ref: - OS 150 797516.
 

MAY 22nd & 29th
Thursday
7.0pm

May 22nd Fully booked
Westwood House, Droitwich

We have the opportunity to visit one of Worcestershire’s finest country houses. The original hunting lodge, built by Sir John Pakington (1548 – 1625), was on the site of a former C12 priory. There will be a charge of £5 per person, payable on the night. In anticipation of a good response I have booked two visits, please indicate your preference on the reply slip. Parking is restricted at the house; you MUST park at the adjacent Leisure Centre, using the rear car park where we will double up on passengers. From the junction of the A38 by-pass and the road to Ombersley, take the road to Westlands. At the “T” junction turn right across the bridge and down the hill to the Leisure Centre. There is a large car park, on the left beyond the Leisure Centre where we will fill up the cars. A short drive back the way you have come will bring you to the entrance gate. Map ref: - OS 150 887632 for the car-park.
 

June 7th
Saturday
10.00am

Coach to Long Marston Depot Open day/Hidcote Manor

This is a very rare opportunity to visit the former MOD depot at Long Marston, near Evesham. The site has several miles of railway track, which served the former army camp and is now home to a company called Motorail Logisitics. This company store new rolling stock and locomotives, prior to them going into service for the several rail companies. The site is also the headquarters of the Stratford and Broadway Railway Society and as part of their activities on the day we will be able to travel a 3mile circuit by rail around the depot. As this is an exceptional open day there will be many other activities of interest.  Clearly the visit is best suited to a coach tour as we will be altogether with a guide and viewing will be so much better. There is an entry fee to the event of £15 per person, which is then donated to The Vale Wildlife Fund, additionally a fare of £6 for the coach will be charged. For members who like to visit country gardens this area has both Kiftsgate Court and Hidcote Manor (NT) very close by, it is only 5 minutes walk between the two. Coach drop off and collection will be arranged. The coach will leave from the New Inn, Ombersley Road, Worcester, at 10.00 am and return about 6.00 pm. Parking is available but restricted, double up if you can. Please complete and return the reply slip.
 

June 22nd
Sunday
10.00am

Coach to Wellesbourne Mountfield Airfield/Charlecote Park

This visit to the site of the former RAF Wellesbourne Mountfield Airfield (£5 entrance) coincides with the planned taxiing display of Avro Vulcan Bomber XM655. This aircraft is undergoing restoration to restore it to non-flying glory and it occasionally makes a high-speed dash along the runway. Also on the site is a small museum (£2 entrance) established in the former underground emergency wartime command and control bunker.  Following the visit to the airfield we will move on to Chedham’s Yard in Wellesbourne. This is an almost intact former blacksmith and wheelwright’s yard, which was established in the C19 and only ceased trading when Bill Chedham locked the door in the 1970s.  The site won the BBC restoration project for the Midlands in 2006. Coach fare will be £6.00 per person and should be sent to me with the reply slip. Other entrance fees may be payable on the day. For members who like to visit country gardens this area has Charlecote Park (NT) very close by. Coach drop off and collection will be arranged. The coach will leave from the New Inn, Ombersley Road, Worcester, at 10.00 am and return about 6.00 pm. Parking is available but restricted, double up if you can.  Please complete and return the reply slip.
 

July 6th
  Sunday
12.00 Noon

Afternoon visit  & Picnic at Avoncroft Museum of Buildings

Avoncroft has many lovely areas to set up your picnic, and if needed refreshments and toilets are close by. There is an ever-increasing display of “buildings” and brand new for this year is a wartime Anderson Shelter recreated adjacent to the pre-fab building. You will also be able to partake in a spell binding conducted tour, by yours truly, of the fabulous National Telephone Kiosk collection. As an additional bonus, later in the evening, an open-air performance of one of Shakespeare’s early comedies will be performed by the “All and Sundry Theatre Company”. The performance for this starts at 7.30 pm and an additional charge of £8.00 (concessions) will be charged. Tickets must be obtained from Avoncroft in advance (tel. 01527 831363). Entrance fee to Avoncroft at group rates will be £4.40. Meet at the telephone kiosk display at 12.00.
 

July 18th - 19th
 Friday-
Saturday & Sunday

Fully booked

Weekend visit to Cambridge

See separate leaflet for full details.
 

August
14th & 21st  Thursday
7.00pm

Fully booked
The Bishop’s Palace, Deansway, Worcester

This evening will give us the chance to see this lovely old building, which is tucked away in the heart of Worcester. We will have a guided tour with our old friend Frank Bentley who you may recall took us around St Oswald’s Almshouses a couple of years ago. This again may be a tour that is oversubscribed so I have arranged two visits to cater for the numbers. Please note your preference on the reply slip. Entrance fee is £2 per person, collected on the night. Meet in the car park of the Old Palace in Deansway, the entrance is on the Cathedral side at the top of the hill. Map ref: - OS 150 848546
 

August 16th
Saturday
10.00am

Severn Valley Railway & Highley Engine House

This is a repeat visit to the railway following last summer’s disastrous floods. However we have a bonus now in that the new engine house at Highley will be ready to receive visitors. I would suggest therefore that as before we meet at Kidderminster Station and travel on to Highley. I am advised that if we purchase a return ticket to Bridgnorth there is a significant discount to be had on the entrance fee to the new Engine House. All being well we shall have the added benefit of our own Severn Valley supremo, Ralph Dunham, who is now working at the Engine House arranging school visits etc. By obtaining a full return fare ticket members can come and go on the route to suit their own itinerary. Meet at Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster at 10.00 am to board the 10.30 am train. Use the SVR car park, it is cheaper.
 

September 7th
 Sunday
09.30am

Coach Trip to Swansea Waterfront Museum etc.

We will head for the recently opened and much acclaimed National Waterfront Museum (free admission), housed in the heart of Swansea’s Maritime Quarter. The museum is based on the story of Industry and Innovation of the South Wales area. Following the visit we will meet up with a guide from the South West Wales Industrial Archaeology Society who will show us a couple of the best IA sites in the locality. Coach fare will be £9.00 per person and should be sent to me with the reply slip. The coach will leave from the New Inn, Ombersley Road, Worcester, at 9.30 am and return about 7.00 pm. Parking is available but restricted, double up if you can.  Please complete and return the reply slip.