Visits - Trust Annual Report 1980
No. 1 Royal Cresent, Headquarters of the Bath Preservation Trust
The broad interest and diversity that seems to characterise the Trust's activities was reflected again in our visits. These began in May with an evening visit to Basingstoke to Gateway House — the modern office premises of Wiggins, Teape Ltd. — to see the fascinating landscaped roof terraces which have featured prominently in architectural journals.
In June, there was a whole day excursion to Bath. Expertly escorted around the lesser known attractions of the Georgian city by Dr. Mary Ede and her husband of the Bath Preservation Trust, and warmed by a rare summer sun, it was possible to enjoy the unique flavour of this stone built city. The tour ended with a visit to No. I, Royal Crescent, a fine Georgian house given to the Bath Preservation Trust and magnificently furnished and decorated in its original style.
In July came the first of two evening visits to Winchester Cathedral. The most popular of guided tours — and inmany ways the most unusual — took members up narrow stone turrets to the tower and then along a catwalk through the vast timbered roof of the nave to give a rare insight into the skills of medieval construction. This tour, so much in demand, is a perennial favourite and one for which the Trust is most grateful to the Dean and Chapter and their guide, the Cathedral Architect.
Just as it is pleasing to be guided to new places, it is no less a pleasure to be host to others on our home ground as we have been this year for the Reading Civic Society. It was a privilege to see Winchester through others eyes — the City's varied attractions and also those amenities (or lack of them) which meet the eager visitor on a Sunday.
The programme of visits provided a fine opportunity for members to meet informally in pleasant and interesting surroundings and it is hoped that this part of the Trust's activites may be extended next year. The Committee would always be glad to receive suggestions from members for future visits.