Visit to Guildford 17th April - TrustNews Jun 12
I have been on a number of local walks organised by the City of Winchester Trust but never on an away day. I had a cold brewing and the weather looked dire but I decided to chance my arm and am delighted that I did so. From start to finish, the day provided a feast of delights, well worth it in every way.
We began in the genteel setting of the Guildford Country Club where the local chairperson gave an introduction to the work of their Trust and its activities – there were some interesting similarities and some differences. We then walked to the main parish church of the town and thence to the Royal Grammar School where we had a privileged glimpse of their chained library kept in a room that also functioned as the headmaster’s study!
On to Abbots Hospital, a venerable almshouse, where the Master himself gave us a lightning tour and introduced the charming buildings (a kind of mini Hampton Court) and their splendid chapel with windows by the van Linge brothers. After lunch we continued first to the Guildhall, then to St Mary’s church, both atmospheric in their different ways.
The day concluded with an ascent of the castle and a riverside walk and I would like to offer my thanks to our hosts and to Iain Patton for his flawless organisation. We seemed to get the pick of Guildford’s guides, had a well organised tour of the highlights of the town and got entry to places not normally open to the public. I would warmly recommend future events of this nature to readers.