Mediaeval trial and triumph in the West Country
From 519 to 927AD, Wessex grew from modest beginnings to become the most powerful kingdom in the land, its heartland encompassing the modern counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Dorset and Somerset. Critical to our understanding of early medieval English history, Wessex was at the core of Alfred the Great’s kingdom and was pivotal in the establishment of the kingdom of England. Alfred’s reform of the region established a network of fortified settlements to better protect against invasion and to ensure that no one was ever more than a day’s ride from safety. It was thanks to such strong governing foundations that in 927 King Æthelstan, Alfred’s grandson, was able to unite the kingdoms of England under one banner for the first time. The notion of Wessex was re-established after the Danish king Canute’s conquest of England in 1016, when he created an earldom of Wessex for his faithful henchman, Godwin. The Norman invasion of 1066 marked the final elimination of Wessex as a political power, but a notion of the region lingers in the collective consciousness to this day. This is perhaps largely thanks to poet and writer Thomas Hardy’s ‘dream-country’, based on the historic Kingdom of Wessex, in which his works are mostly set. Join Art Pursuits on a fascinating new tour and discover a region littered with the vestiges of England’s long and complex history, that palpably reverberates with legend, antiquity and folklore.
Your Tour Includes
- Private coach travel for transfers and excursions
- 3 nights’ bed and breakfast at the 4-star The Crown Manor House Hotel, Lyndhurst
- 2 evening meals with wine at the hotel
- Services of the Tour Leader and Hosts
- Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
Dr Richard Plant
Richard is an Architectural historian specialising in the Middle Ages and with a strong interest in the modern. After reading English at Cambridge, he obtained an MA in the History of Art and a PhD on English Romanesque and the Holy Roman Empire at the Courtauld. He went on to teach at the Courtauld, as well as at University College and Queen Mary College, London, where he taught both medieval and modern architectural history. He was formerly the Deputy Academic Director at Christie’s Education. He has published on English and German architecture.
Itinerary
To use our NEW itinerary, simply click a day below and a detailed overview will appear.
Overview
Independent travel to Lyndhurst in the late morning, where our tour begins. Transfer by private coach to Romsey, where a light lunch will be followed by a visit to Romsey Abbey, a Benedictine monastery until Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Founded in the 10th-Century, the substantial abbey that stands today was built under Norman rule and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Southern England. Return to Lyndhurst, where some time to relax will be followed by a group dinner in our hotel.
Included Highlights
Overview
A day in Winchester to explore the treasures of Alfred the Great’s capital. Our first stop is the mighty Winchester Cathedral, which was founded in 1079 but extensively remodelled over the ensuing five centuries. It displays a wealth of architectural styles, from an early Norman crypt to the lavish Renaissance chantry chapels and the Gothic nave, the longest of any Gothic cathedral in Europe. Our visit will allow us to thoroughly explore both exterior and interior, including a viewing of the Winchester Bible, an exquisitely illuminated 12th-century example. Break for some free time and an independent lunch in Winchester before walking via the 15th-century Buttercross Monument to the Winchester Great Hall. The only standing remains of Winchester Castle, it is considered to be one of the finest surviving examples of a mediaeval aisled hall from the 13th-century. Transfer by coach to St Cross Church, which lies on the outskirts of Winchester. Described by Simon Jenkins as ‘a Norman cathedral in miniature’, the impressive structure is all that remains of the Hospital of St Cross, which was founded by Henry of Blois between 1132 and 1136. Return to Lyndhurst for an evening at leisure.
Included Highlights
Overview
Morning visit to Christchurch Priory. A parish church of remarkable stature – its nave is more than 311 feet in length – the current building dates back to 1094 but stands on the site of a 7th-Century Saxon priory. The structure is swathed in legend, most notably its Miraculous Beam, a critical structural error that was astonishingly fixed by a mysterious carpenter, said to be Jesus Christ. Continue to Wimborne Minster, where some free time for lunch will be followed by an exploration of Wimborne Minster, which retains interesting elements of its Saxon and Norman incarnations. Coach to Breamore to visit St Mary’s Church, one of the most important Saxon churches in England. Most likely founded by King Ethelred II c.1000AD, it was probably constructed to serve a royal estate. Particularly special is the Saxon inscription over the south porticus. Return to our hotel where we will enjoy a meal together in the evening.
Included Highlights
Overview
By coach to Old Sarum, the enormous earthwork raised in c.400BC. It was continuously occupied throughout the Roman period, although little is known about this period and the ensuing Anglo-Saxon period. It was William the Conqueror who left the greatest mark on the site, establishing a cathedral, a motte, and a huge outer bailey, suggesting that the hillfort was modified for use as an army base in the early stages of the Norman conquest. Neither castle or cathedral remain, although the foundations of the latter can still be seen, it was superseded in 1226 when the cathedral was moved to Salisbury. Make the short journey to Salisbury, where we will examine Old Sarum’s ecclesiastical successor. An exquisite example of Early English Gothic architecture, amongst its many wonders, Salisbury Cathedral boasts the tallest spire in Britain and the best-preserved example of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta. After an independent lunch, our final visit will be Salisbury Museum. Set within a handsome mediaeval building, exhibits narrate 500,000 years of history, providing an excellent opportunity to contextualise all that we have explored on our visits. In the afternoon we return to Lyndhurst, where the tour concludes. ImageId: 0
Included Highlights
Accommodation
You will be staying in the perfectly located Crown Manor House Hotel, Lyndhurst
The Crown Manor House Hotel
The Crown Manor House Hotel is perfectly located in the heart of Lyndhurst Village, capital of the New Forest. Designed for the 21st-Century with contemporary fixtures and fittings yet remaining sympathetic to the beautiful 15th-Century Grade 1 listed building it occupies. Enjoy a full English breakfast in the morning, evening meals are all prepared using locally sourced products and are served in the Bar & Grill. Enjoy a refreshing drink in the library or the garden terrace.
Hotel Facilities
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General
- 4 Star
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
Hotel
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
