Outing to NT Upton House and Hook Norton Brewery
Two in one! We first visit the NT house at Upton with it’s extensive art collection. Then we visit the working Victorian brewery at Hook Norton.
Upton
The coach will take us into the Cotswolds, a little beyond Banbury. The National Trust house and gardens at Upton are impressive. They were left to the NT after the second World war by a former chairman of Shell, Lord Bearstead. He built up an impressive art collection, which is displayed in the house. This property has the usual café, NT shop, and bookshop. The NT’s Upton website gives more information.
The collection includes paintings by: Bosch; Breugel; Constable; Canaletto; Gainsborough; Hogarth; Raeburn; Rembrandt; Stubbs. There is also quite a collection of ceramics , including a Sèvres grand dinner service.
The gardens are substantial in their own right, with a large level lawn, and great view over the ha-ha. The lower gardens and large lily pond are charming.
Members will have until early afternoon to wander around the house and gardens, visit the café and bookshop and so on.
Hook Norton
A short journey will take us to the charming town of Hook Norton with its Victorian brewery. This is in full working order, with much of its original equipment from the days of steam. It is well known to Oxfordshire’s beer afficionados.
The brewery tour is a pre-bookable optional extra, and it takes us round the whole brewery. Over a period of nearly 2 hours, we can expect to see the whole brewing process and equipment. The tour concludes with a complimentary visit to the tasting room!
The alternative (to the brewery tour) is to visit the (free) on-site small local history museum, and/or giftshop or and / or café / restaurant. Members might also be able to see the brewery’s Shire Horses in their stables or field. A stroll around the town itself is always an option.
Lunch
Members will be able to buy themselves lunch at the Upton House NT café, or (for those not partaking in the brewery tour) the brewery’s restaurant, which serves a full menu until late afternoon.
Please note – limited accessibility
The optional brewery tour unfortunately cannot accommodate those who use mobility aids. It involves a total of approximately 100 steps, and some of the stairways (five flights) are narrow or steep. Sensible flat shoes must be worn – no open-toed ones or sandals. Participants will be on their feet for about 90 minutes. Some further details are available via the brewery’s website.
The brewery restaurant and shop are level access, but the museum is above the shop, via a 15-step normal indoor staircase.
To see lower ground floor artworks at Upton House involves normal indoor staircases totalling about 30 steps. Some of the gardens can only be accessed via many stone steps or a sloping stony path – the lowest point is some 30 metres below the house.
Prices: Coach to Upton and Hook Norton: £24.50 per person
Optional Brewery tour an additional £25 per person (Note Max 24 people)
Expected timings:
Depart: 9.00 am. Bus stop at bottom of Spinfield Lane
9.05 am. Liston Road bus stop (A4155 opposite Liston Hall)
9.10 am. Bus stop outside Britannia, by Bobmore Lane junction
Arrive back in Marlow: 6:15pm – 6:30pm
To book this outing please complete the form below or fill out the paper form in the July newsletter.
Bookings close Saturday 12 September or earlier if sold out.
Organised by John Pearce