Members' Visit to Red House and Eltham Palace - TrustNews Mar 19
Wednesday 5 June 2019 [note change of date].
A coach trip starting from Winchester Park & Ride South at 8:45 am to travel anti-clockwise along the M25 to the Red House in Bexleyheath designed by Philip Webb for William Morris in 1859. Although the house is unfurnished it still retains many fixed items and wall paintings by Morris and his circle. We will have a guided tour of the house in the morning before it is open to the public.
We then travel 5 miles further to Eltham Palace for a guided tour of this 14th century royal palace which was a favourite royal residence for more than 200 years but eventually fell out of favour and into disrepair. It found a new lease of life as a country home for the wealthy Courtauld family who purchased it in the 1930s and had a new modern home designed and built to complement the magnificent great hall constructed for Edward IV in the 1470s. Since 1995, English Heritage have been systematically restoring the interiors of the 20th century Art Deco house and the 19 acres of gardens.
Before our tour of Eltham Palace we will be served a sandwich buffet lunch and afterwards there will be time to explore the gardens before we return to Winchester.
Cost: £65 per head to include coach and sandwich lunch. However, National Trust members will receive an £8 discount on the tour of the Red House, and English Heritage or Art Fund members will receive an £11.50 discount on the tour of Eltham Palace.
This makes the task of administering the trip rather complicated, so members are asked to provide full details of their relevant memberships when completing the application form. The trip can only offer 24 places and members are asked to return their application forms to the Secretary by 30 March. Once it is clear what discounts are appropriate you will be asked to pay by cheque or BACS transfer.
