The AngloFiles Magazine - Spring 2016- Royal Oak by The Royal Oak Foundation

Spring 2016

THE ROYAL OAK Americans in Alliance with the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland

AngloFiles Magazine The Dorset Issue Your Guide to Scenic Dorset Page 7

Celebrating 300 Years of ‘Capability’ Brown Page 13 Learn More, Taste More: Food and Drink of the National Trust Page 4

FOUNDATION

01 | FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Royal Oak Members and Friends, My greetings and best wishes for 2016! I am happy to be starting the new year with you and appreciate having had the pleasure to get to know many of you in these, my first few, months at The Royal Oak Foundation. For those whom I have not yet met, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lori Brittle, and I am the new executive director of The Royal Oak Foundation. My passion for conservation and historic preservation, cultivated by my undergraduate studies in history at Agnes Scott College and fostered by my time abroad, led me to Royal Oak. I come to Royal Oak after eight years at New York’s historic landmarked waterfront park, Riverside Park, where I served as the Conservancy’s chief operating officer. Prior to my time at Riverside Park Conservancy, I studied international business in Austria and South Carolina, earning dual MBAs from the Vienna University of Economics and Business and the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Being at the helm of Royal Oak is a distinct honor. I have long admired the work of the National Trust, the world’s premier heritage organization, and am excited to lead its American partner. Ours is a mission close to my heart, and it is evident that our mission attracts a dynamic crowd. In my first few months at Royal Oak, one thing has been abundantly clear: our members and supporters brim with enthusiasm --enthusiasm for the UK, enthusiasm for preservation, enthusiasm for history. I am heartened by your passion and am proud to be surrounded by such dedicated Anglophiles! It has been a delight to discover the depth and impact of that passion. Just before Christmas I spent a week in the UK, meeting with our partners at the National Trust and visiting the properties we protect. The experience was awe-inspiring; I saw first hand the impact Royal Oak has made at properties like Knole, Kent. The house is the site of the Nigel Seeley Fellowship (page 2) and the Foundation’s largest-ever grant, and I know it represents just the tip of the iceberg. Everywhere I went I discovered a new Honorary Chairman Lynne L. Rickabaugh

Vice Chairman

Prof. Susan S. Samuelson

Treasurer

Michael A. Boyd

Secretary

Renee Nichols Tucei

THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION 20 West 44th Street, Suite 606 New York, New York 10036-6603 212.480.2889; 800.913.6565 www.royal-oak.org

Executive Director

That growth starts with some exciting news. Our 2015 National Trust Appeal was a success, meeting its fundraising target and yielding $150,000 in support of the National Trust’s world-class furniture collection (page 2). We are extremely grateful to all who contributed. We are also pleased to announce several new travel programs for 2016, including new bike tours of the UK with our partner, The Carter Company (page 8). These tours offer a unique way to experience the UK countryside and mix outdoor adventure with premium accommodation. Many of our new tour offerings visit Dorset, in England’s southwest, as does our upcoming Garden Tour (page 9). Dorset is known for its breathtaking scenery, marvelous beaches, and varied landscape. It truly exemplifies the range of properties in the Trust’s care. Get to know this spectacular region in this month’s centerspread, which highlights some of the special places you can visit with your Royal Oak membership (page 7). You can book your place on one of our tours or carve out an itinerary of your own. This issue also celebrates ‘Capability’ Brown’s life and work (and his tercentenary this summer!), with a piece written by landscape historian Mark Lamey (page 13). If you have the opportunity to visit any of Brown’s designs in 2016, I urge you to make the trip to mark the occasion. I am tremendously excited about what lies ahead for Royal Oak in 2016, and I look forward to meeting more of you in the year to come. I will be at many of our upcoming events (page 6), so I hope to see you there! Yours sincerely, Lori Brittle Executive Director

Lorraine Brittle lbrittle@royal-oak.org Director of Operations & Finance

Marilyn Fogarty mfogarty@royal-oak.org Director of Member Services

Winifred E. Cyrus wcyrus@royal-oak.org Membership Services Associate

Jan Lizza jlizza@royal-oak.org Program Director

Jennie L. McCahey jmccahey@royal-oak.org Assistant Program Director

Kristin N. Sarli ksarli@royal-oak.org Development & Communications Manager

Chelcey Berryhill cberryhill@royal-oak.org Communications Associate

Sam McCann smccann@royal-oak.org Program & Development Assistant

Robert Dennis rdennis@royal-oak.org Foundation Volunteer

The mission of The Royal Oak Foundation is to inspire Americans to learn about, experience and support places of great historic and natural significance in the United Kingdom in partnership with the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Royal Oak Foundation Board of Directors

Mrs. Henry J. Heinz II

Chairman

story, each one pointing to the essential work Royal Oak makes possible. From Ickworth to Stowe, Stourhead to Mount Stewart, the American members of Royal Oak have built a legacy in the UK, one I am eager to grow.

Betsy S. Barbanell David Beal Stein Berre Kathleen K. Buoymaster Prof. Sir David Cannadine John Southerton Clark Tracy Williamson Dart

1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

Robert C. Daum Barbara Eberlein Anne Blackwell Ervin Anne Fairfax Dame Helen Ghosh, DCB Pamela K. Hull Valerie M. Humphrey

Katherine C. Kanaga Thomas M. Kelly Albert S. Messina Marilyn Ross Miles Martha Hamilton Morris Eric J. Nilson Tim Parker

Erwin A. Rezelman Diana Morgan Senior Elizabeth Duggal Taghipour John L. Warden

Cover Photo: Hambledon Hill, Dorset. Photo by Marilyn Peddle

NEWS | 02

Royal Oak Supporters Sustain Furniture Collection Royal Oak is pleased to announce the success of our 2015 Furniture Appeal. Thanks to the generosity of Royal Oak members, we met our goal of $150,000 in support of critical research needs on the National Trust’s world-class furniture collection. The Nigel Seeley Fellow will work with gilded frames and furniture at the Knole Conservation Studio.

Applications Open for Nigel Seeley Fellowship

Photo: © NTPL/Ian Shaw; ©National Trust Images/John Hammond; ©National Trust Images/John Hammond; ©National Trust Images/John Millar

We are now accepting applications for our inaugural Nigel Seeley Fellowship which will send an objects conservator to work with the Knole Conservation Studio this summer. Applications will be accepted until April 29. The Nigel Seeley prize, established by Katherine Singley of Decatur, Georgia, provides training and educational opportunities for individuals with a professional interest in the preservation of historic interiors, finishes, and collections. This year’s fellow will work to devise new protocols for the preservation of gilded picture frames and furniture objects at Knole, Kent. The fellow will focus specifically on less aggressive intervention strategies with an emphasis on methods

using low toxicity and simplicity. The Nigel Seeley Fellow will enjoy a unique professional experience and the opportunity to hone his or her skills at the Knole Conservation Studio while working alongside National Trust staff. He or she will also receive: • $4,000 stipend • $1,500 travel subsidy • $1,500 housing subsidy OR complimentary housing depending on project location • Visits to additional National Trust sites throughout the UK. Read the full application details at www.royal-oak.org/scholarships.

The National Trust protects the finest collection of British furniture in the care of a single institution, comprised of nearly 70,000 pieces that embrace the full range of styles. Thanks to the Royal Oak community, the Trust will be able to enhance the collection’s digital catalogue, which will enable scholars from around the world access to this incredible resource. The funds will also be used to support the appointment of Dr. Wolf Burchard as Furniture Research Curator, and provide research and photography for a definitive new book, Furniture in National Trust Houses, by the Trust’s Christopher Rowell. Royal Oak is grateful for our members and supporters, who make this essential work possible!

Clandon Park: “Our Most Ambitious Conservation Project in a Generation” The National Trust announced its vision for the future of Clandon Park in Surrey, including a plan to restore the principal rooms to their original 18th-century designs. A fire devastated much of the house in April 2015, but many significant historic features and important parts of the collection survived, allowing the Trust to undertake what it calls “our most ambitious conservation project in a generation.” Marble Hall, Speakers’ Parlour and the Saloon are Clandon’s most architecturally important and beautiful spaces. Rather than recreating these rooms as they were the day before the fire, the plan is to instead look at the 18th-century decorative schemes and layout of the house. This approach

means that ultimately the Trust will be able to present a more faithful version of Clandon as it was when it was first built. It plans to do the same with the house’s gardens, while turning otherwise destroyed rooms into event and exhibition space.

during this uncertain time has been tremendous and I hope you share our excitement and enthusiasm for Clandon’s future. I look forward to updating you as these plans continue to develop,” said Victoria Phillips, Trusts and Foundations Manager at the National Trust.

The Trust will be launching a competition later this year to select an architect to bring this vision to life. Members, visitors, specialists and the general public will be encouraged to get involved and comment on a short-list of design options, with details to follow. The project is funded largely through the Trust’s insurance policy, but it is grateful for the outpouring of support it received from the public, including Royal Oak members. “The support of The Royal Oak Foundation

The National Trust plans to restore Clandon to its 18th-century design following last year’s fire.

Spring 2016

03 | NEWS

The National Trust Takes On Climate Change Sam McCann | Communications Associate

Left: Keith Jones presents on the intersection of heritage and climate change. Above: Jones’ home in Wales was hit by floods immediately upon his return from the Paris conference, underlining the urgency of climate action.

The National Trust Attends Landmark Summit On Climate Change Hosted By UN

Photos courtesy of ©National Trust Images/John Hammond; Christopher Rowell

As a world leader in sustainable environmental practice, the National Trust gave voice to heritage concerns during the Paris talks. Environmental Adviser Keith Jones represented the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland during COP21. “Climate change is the single biggest threat to culture and heritage,” Jones said. Yet culture and heritage preservation may hold the key to combating climate change. “In many places around the world older cultural practices are being lost and many of them have answers of how to work within a wetter, dryer, windier world,” Keith says. The interplay between preservation and climate change is precisely why the National

Trust’s presence at COP21 was so important, and Keith is hopeful that the Paris Agreement will provide a platform to implement real change. Ultimately, he was was heartened by the broad agreement at the conference regarding the urgency of action. “I felt all the way through the process that people were looking for an answer to a question they all agreed was real and impactful,” he said. “The only way to get 195 countries to work together was through consensus. This we got. It’s now a matter of doing what we all committed to. Keep the spotlight on the issue. The big weather shift of the last few months really did underline the need to ‘start doing’.” That weather shift hit close to home for Keith. Upon his arrival back in Wales, he was greeted by extreme flooding in the region. Keith’s house (pictured above) does not normally have a river raging in its backyard. However, December storms rocked much of the UK, flooding homes, neighborhoods and historic properties alike, sending

Climate Change Projections in the UK

water surging through his own backyard and through many properties protected by the National Trust. The effects can be devastating. “I am sitting here today after the Christmas break seeing incident after incident reported on [the Trust’s] online system. The damage is mostly from flooding, but there will also be long-term damage from higher humidity.” In spite of the recent violent weather and the threat it poses to Trust properties, Keith remains optimistic. He feels COP21 represents an important moment, and that the National Trust can once again lead the way. “It has put the wind in my sails. We have big plans... Let’s show the world what can be done; and if we can, then there are no excuses for anyone else.”

The National Trust and Climate Change Learn more about the National Trust’s efforts to address climate change: nationaltrust.org.uk/energy Read Keith’s blog on energy in the UK: http://ntenvironmentalwork.net/

Graphic of climate change projections from the National Trust’s “Forecast Changeable” Report, available online. Their projections were derived from UK government findings.

1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

Photos courtesy of Keith Jones; Graphic courtesy of the National Trust

This past December world leaders gathered in Paris to discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP21) culminated in a landmark deal, The Paris Agreement, that introduced global emission reduction targets.

NEWS | 04

Charles Palmer at his vineyard in West Sussex. Palmer Vineyards was named the Overall Drinks Winner at the National Trust’s Fine Farm Produce Awards.

Straight from the Farm

National Trust Celebrates Tenant Farmers’ Outstanding Achievements

Photos ©National Trust Images/William Shaw; ©National Trust Images /Jason Ingram; ©National Trust Images/Gina Smithies

In February you’ll find Charles Palmer in East Sussex, braving wind and frost as he prunes each of his 11,000 vines by hand, ready for the year ahead.

It is a truly artisanal approach to wine making that is earning Charles a reputation as one of England’s most exciting sparkling wine producers. The best part of it all? Charles’ meticulous process takes place on National Trust land, where he’s been a tenant since 1998.

Throughout July he carefully removes 40% of the leaves surrounding the grape bunches by hand, to make sure they receive Charles Palmer Vineyards is just one of the as much sunlight and air as possible. locally-sourced, artisanal institutions fostered Finally, in October when the fruits’ acidity and by the National Trust. Producers rely on the sugar levels are just right, he’s tirelessly harvest- 500,000 acres of farmland in the National ing the grapes (you guessed it, also by hand). Trust’s care to turn out some of the finest food, drink and produce in the UK. All this care and dedication comes together The Trust recognizes the outstanding culiin the bottle, where Charles leaves his nary achievement of their tenants with the wines to slowly ferment for up to three Fine Farm Produce Awards, which celeand a half years before being cellared for brated its tenth anniversary in a ceremony a further six months. this winter in London. Charles Palmer Vineyards took home the Overall Drinks award that evening, a remarkable accomplishment considering 2015 was the first time Palmer entered the competition. “From the outset, it wasn’t just about growing grapes for us,” Charles said. “It was about making top quality wines and selling them. Winning an award as prestigious as this will really help us achieve that.”

Martyn and Lorraine Glover at Ashclyst Farm, Devon.

Charles Palmer Vineyard is just one of the Fine Farm Produce winners, all of whom

Potatoes from Trehill Farm, Pembrokeshire.

contribute to the vibrant culinary scene the National Trust cultivates on its farmland. Pair a Charles Palmer wine with food from other honorees of The Fine Farm Produce Awards! Savor these dishes on your next visit to the UK and experience another side of the National Trust. Best Overall Food Product: Ashclyst Farm Dairy near Exeter in Devon Special Producer of the Decade: Potatoes from Trehill Farm in Pembrokeshire Other noteworthy winners: - Westerham Brewery in Kent - Ardress Canned Bramley apples, from Northern Ireland - Dolaucothi Lamb, South Wales

Learn more, taste more: Find out where you can sample the Trust’s best produce: nationaltrust.org.uk/food Spring 2016

05 | LEARN

Top National Trust Pubs The National Trust protects over 60 pubs, each of which tells a unique story about English life. Here are five you should check out on your next visit: 1. Crown Bar, Northern Ireland 2. George Inn, London 3. The Fleece Inn, Worchestershire 4. The Red Lion, Wiltshire 5. The King’s Head, Buckinghamshire

Watering Hole

The Philharmonic in Liverpool and The Blackfriar in central London are also memorable for their Edwardian Arts and Crafts inspired interiors. All of these pubs date from the “golden age” period mentioned above.

Crown Bar, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Royal Oak Foundation: How has the role of the pub changed over time? Ian Cox: Pubs played an important role in a rapidly changing Victorian society in Britain. They had evolved from the taverns and ale houses of earlier times and though they essentially retained their role as private premises licensed to sell alcohol – their form and function changed to produce new types of establishment different from those that had existed before. For the expanding working classes the pub became not only a place of respite from the deprivations and drudgery of urban life, but an essential place of recreation and leisure at the heart of the community. It would be Victorian pubs that would act as meeting places for infant trade union movements and contribute to the emergence of such Victorian institutions as music halls in London and beyond. Though village pubs in the Victorian period continued their traditional role, in the rapidly expanding towns and cities pubs evolved in response to a range of different types of social change. The emergence of gin palaces, for example, in the early 19th century, a new kind of drinking establishment, challenged the role of the traditional pub, introducing innovatory forms of layout and decoration, very different from that of old style taverns. 1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

The development of new pubs was intimately connected with the development of the transport system in Victorian Britain and as traditional stage coach hubs in places like Holborn in London declined in importance and the pubs near them went into decline, so the emergence of large railway station termini at Euston, Kings Cross and St Pancras led to the building of new, lavishly decorated pubs serving passengers on the newly opened lines. ROF: What is your favorite pub in the United Kingdom? IC: This is a difficult question to answer as I have many in different parts of the country. I still have a penchant for old-fashioned country village pubs which provide excellent destinations for an evening drink or a leisurely lunch by a village green or beside a river – but few of these are of 19th-century origin.

ROF: Why are pubs so historically significant? What role has the National Trust played in their preservation? IC: The history of pubs in Britain is intriguing and those that survive in traditional form today, from different periods, provide us with a visual insight into dimensions of social history not seen in other types of building. This, at a time when pubs have been closing down at a rate of hundreds every year – they are a disappearing feature of the British rural and urban landscape. The National Trust has recognized the important part pubs have played in the development of British society. It owns and administers over 60 pubs of historic interest in England, Wales and Northern Ireland today and the most famous is probably the George Inn in Southwark, London; but this is not of 19th-century origin. The best Victorian pub owned by the National Trust is the Crown Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland and this has retained impressive interiors well worth visiting. Check out Ian’s lectures in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston & Atlanta.

Thinking about the Victorian period, which will be the focus of the Royal Oak lectures in the States, I would have to highlight the Barton Arms in Birmingham which I visit with students every July. Built in the late 19th century, this “Jacobethan” style building has surviving interiors complete with original fixtures and fittings and wonderful installations of stained glass and majolica tiles. There are even pictures of hunting scenes entirely made from hand-painted tiles! The George Inn, London.

Photos ©National Trust Images/John Hammond; ©National Trust Images/Michael Caldwell

Ian Cox is a scholar of that most British of institutions: the pub. We sat down with him to discuss their history and, of course, his favorite spots for a pint.

LEARN | 06

Royal Oak Calendar LECTURES, GROUP TRAVEL & MORE We have a busy 2016 ahead of us, featuring a new season of our Drue Heinz Lecture Series and tours throughout the spring and summer with our travel partner, Albion. To book tickets to our lectures, visit royal-oak.org/programs.

MARCH

15 16 17

Sonia Purnell 11:00 a.m. SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Sonia Purnell 7:00 p.m. SAN DIEGO, CA

Sonia Purnell 7:00 p.m. LOS ANGELES, CA

21 30 31

Sonia Purnell 6:00 p.m. BOSTON, MA Ian Cox 6:00 p.m. NEW YORK, NY

Ian Cox 6:30 p.m. PHILADELPHIA, PA

APRIL

4 5 11

Ian Cox 6:30 p.m. ATLANTA, GA

Ian Cox 6:30 p.m. CHICAGO, IL

Abraham Thomas 6:00 p.m. NEW YORK, NY

12 14 19

Abraham Thomas 6:30 p.m. PHILADELPHIA, PA Abraham Thomas 7:00 p.m. WASHINGTON DC Abraham Thomas 6:00 p.m. Boston, MA

20 25 26

Abraham Thomas 6:30 p.m. Chicago, IL

Helen Rappaport 6:00 p.m. NEW YORK, NY Helen Rappaport 6:30 p.m. PHILADELPHIA, PA

MAY

2 3 5 9

Helen Rappaport 7:00 p.m. LOS ANGELES, CA

Helen Rappaport 7:00 p.m. SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Helen Rappaport 7:00 p.m. WASHINGTON DC Dr. Oliver Cox 6:00 p.m. NEW YORK, NY

JUNE

12 18

Albion Tour A Romantic Journey to Cheshire & the Lakes, UK Albion Tour Poets & Literary Classics of Kent, UK

AUGUST

Albion Tour Hidden Gardens & Historic Houses of London, UK

10 12 15 18

Dr. Oliver Cox 6:30 p.m. PHILADELPHIA, PA

Dr. Oliver Cox 6:00 p.m. BOSTON, MA

Albion Tour In the Footsteps of Shakespeare, UK

Alan Kingshott 6:00 p.m. New York, NY

SEPTEMBER

Albion Tour Aristocrats & Manor Houses of Oxford & the Home Counties, UK

16 19

Albion Tour Inspiring Interiors, UK Albion Tour Castles & Treasure Houses of Edinburgh & Northern Ireland, UK

The Drue Heinz Lecture Series Sonia Purnell The Life of Clementine Churchill Ian Cox The History and Design of the British Pub

Alan Kingshott 6:30 p.m. PHILADELPHIA, PA

Abraham Thomas The Grand(er) Tour and Architectural Imagination

The Duchess of Rutland 6:00 p.m. NEW YORK, NY

Helen Rappaport Queen Victoria, Russia and the Romanovs

The Duchess of Rutland 6:30 p.m. PHILADELPHIA, PA

Dr. Oliver Cox Gentry, Generals and Industrialists: The Thames Valley

19 23 26 29

Albion Tour Jane Austen’s West Country Charms, UK

OCTOBER

Academic Arrangements Abroad Tour Splendors of Sicily SICILY

Please note: Not all lectures are listed here. Please check the website or the printed brochure for final schedule of lectures and tours.

Alan Kingshott Yeoman Warders: Over 500 Years Guarding the Tower The Duchess of Rutland ‘Capability’ Brown and Belvoir Castle: A Lost Landscape

SELECT TOURS Departure dates in blue

To find out more about our travel offerings visit royal-oak.org/travel

Spring 2016

07 | EXPERIENCE

Discovering Dorset

Dorset encompasses the totality of the National Trust. From stately country homes, like Kingston Lacy, to stunning countryside, like the sweeping landscape of Hambledon Hill pictured on the cover, this unique region runs the gamut. Use your Royal Oak membership to explore all it has to offer on your next trip to the UK! Brownsea Island

Brownsea is a pristine natural reserve home to thriving natural habitats, including woodland, heathland and a lagoon. Arriving on its shore feels like stepping into another world, one brimming with wildlife and nature to explore. This one-of-a-kind National Trust property is even an ideal campground during the warmer months!

LEWESDON HILL

BROWNSEA ISLAND

Studland Beach

One of the most idyllic summer spots in the UK, Studland offers sandy beaches and pristine ocean perfect for water sports, castle building and family fun. Take a hike through the woodlands just off the beach, home to an array of wildlife and easily accessible via designated trails.

BURTON BRADSTOCK

STUDLAND BEACH

Kingston Lacy

KINGSTON LACY

MAX GATE

Designed to resemble an Italian palace, Kingston Lacy is packed with treasures (even an “I owe you” note from a king!) and paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel. Other highlights include the remarkable Egyptian Room, home to the largest private collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the UK, and the Tent Room, a wonder of design. Be sure not to miss the Japanese Garden or ample parkland, either.

Corfe Castle

One of Britain’s most iconic and evocative survivors of the English Civil War, Corfe was partially demolished in 1646. Explore these romantic castle ruins with breathtaking views from its perch. Within, discover 1,000 years of history, as Corfe was an important royal palace and fortress. With fallen walls and secret places, there are tales of treachery and treason around every corner.

CORFE CASTLE

EXPERIENCE | 08

STOURHEAD

STONEHENGE LANDSCAPE

Itineraries for Dorset and Beyond Royal Oak is partnering with The Carter Company to bring you exciting new travel opportunities.

CRANBORNE MANOR

SHERBORNE ABBEY

FONTMELL DOWN NATURE RESERVE ST GILES HOUSE

These custom walking and bike tours offer a new way to explore the beauty of the UK while enjoying premium accommodations throughout your visit. The tours are customizable to different activity levels and allow new windows into the many facets of the Trust. What’s included in the tour packages:

. Ensuite accommodation every night . The services of the Carter Company’s friendly local hosts . Breakfast each day . Luggage transfers between hotels . Hybrid bikes and additional accessories . Adventure handbook and

KINGSTON LACY CERNE ABBAS

HARDY’S COTTAGE

MAX GATE

ATHELHAMPTON

much more! BROWNSEA ISLAND

CORFE CASTLE

SMEDMORE HOUSE

STUDLAND BEACH AND NATURE RESERVE

The itinerary below is just one of our new offerings, visiting Dorset and the surrounding landscape. To view details about this trip, or any of our other tour offerings, please visit:

royal-oak.org/travel

Dorset Beaches & the New Forest (7 Days)

Classic accommodation: $1,275 Luxe accommodation (spa): $2,850 Prices subject to change due to exchange rate.

Map courtesy of Emanuel Bowen (1777) Map not to scale. All locations are approximate.

JUST BEYOND DORSET We would be remiss if we did not mention two of the National Trust’s most popular properties, a short trip from Dorset in Wiltshire. Stourhead

Site of our 2014 National Trust Appeal, Stourhead is a masterpiece landscape garden with breathtaking views and a history to match. Explore the grounds and uncover its classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees. Or, pick a spot to lay out a blanket and simply enjoy the picnic of your life.

Stonehenge Landscape The National Trust protects many of the prehistoric monuments around the legendary stone circle, including the Avenue and King Barrow Ridge with its Bronze Age burial mounds. Note: Stonehenge itself is managed by English Heritage, and your Royal Oak membership will not grant you free access to the World Heritage Site.

Photos ©National Trust Images/John Miller; ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey; ©National Trust Images/Beata Moore; ©National Trust Images/Andrew Butler; ©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

Starting in the New Forest, this tour combines forest life at its best with the stunning Dorset coast. With several days of optional cycling, the itinerary is very relaxed and provides plenty of time to discover the many pleasures of this holiday area. The tour visits Studland Beach and Corfe Castle.

Key

National Trust Property Historic Property

Spring 2016

09 | SUPPORT

Far From thecomes from the That advice

Explore Hardy Country James McDonaugh | Scholar, Royal Oak Garden Tour Guide I have been lucky enough to spend much of my life in Dorset. Childhood holidays were spent visiting my grandparents in their beautiful 18th-century Palladian country house. Christmas was always magical: my grandfather would choose a huge Christmas tree for the hall and we would spend days decorating it and piling our presents beneath. My brothers and I fished on the lake, ran through the woods and bicycled into the local village every day. My grandmother would leave gold chocolate coins under our pillows. When my parents moved into the house in 1997 it became my home and aged just eighteen I began to explore this extraordinary county. Dorset is quintessentially English, with its trout-filled chalk streams, thatched cottages, Iron Age hill forts and Saxon churches. King John hunted here with the early barons of England in the ancient I have been lucky enough to spend of forests of Cranborne Chase. Largemuch areas of my life in Dorset. Childhood holidays were the county have been owned by a handspent myfamilies grandparents in theirof ful ofvisiting the same for hundreds beautiful 18th century Palladian country house. Christmas was always magical: my grandfather would choose a huge Christmas tree for the hall and we would spend days decorating it and piling our presents beneath. My brothers and I fished on the lake, ran through the woods and bicycled into the local village every day. My grandmother would leave gold chocolate coins under our pillows. When my parents moved into the house in 1997 it became my home and aged just eighteen I began to explore this extraordinary county. Dorset is quintessentially English with its trout filled chalk streams, thatched cottages, Iron Age hill forts and Saxon churches. King John hunted here with the early barons of England in the ancient forests of Cranborne Chase. Large areas of the county have been owned by a handful of the same families for hundreds of years. The Cecils, Ashley-CooTHOMAS HARDY’S BIRTHPLACE, DORSET 1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org Photo ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

years. The Cecils, Ashley-Coopers, Pitt-Rivers, Bankes, Digbys, Welds and Sturts are just a few of Dorset’s old families. The Industrial Revolution bypassed Dorset and it remains one of only a handful of regions of England with no motorway running through it. Dorset’s most famous son was Thomas Hardy and you need look no further than Tess, Far from the Madding Crowd and The Mayor of Casterbridge to glimpse the people and landscapes of its past. Hardy was born near Dorchester, Dorset’s capital. He came from humble roots: his father was a builder and his mother was a cook. He would become one of England’s greatest writers and poets. He was deemed worthy of a burial in Westminster Abbey, but he chose to be buried in Stinsford, beside the old Dorset Church where he had worshipped since childhood. Hardy invented hundreds of names of towns and villages pers, Pitt-Rivers, Bankes,the Digbys, Welds and to populate “Wessex,” imaginary Sturts are just a few of Dorset’s old families. county of his novels. Some show his wry The Industrial Revolution bypassed Dorset sense of humor (“Sarcophagus College” and it remains one of only a handful of regions of England with no motorway running through it. Dorset’s most famous son was Thomas Hardy and you need look no further than ‘Tess’, ‘Far from the Maddening Crowd’ and ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’ to glimpse the peoples and landscapes of its past. Hardy was born near Dorchester, Dorset’s capital. He came from humble roots: his father was a builder and his mother was a cook. He would become one of England’s greatest writers and poets. He was deemed worthy of a burial in Westminster Abbey, but he chose to be buried in Stinsford, beside the old Dorset Church where he had worshipped since childhood. Hardy invented hundreds of names of towns and villages to populate ‘Wessex’, the imaginary county of his novels. Some show his

Dorset-born scholar James McDonaugh, who is guiding the Spring 2016 Royal Oak Garden Tour. He has some tips on how to lose yourself in the beauty of this unique region.

at “Christminster”), while others show his love of history (“Shaston” replaces Shaftesbury and “Wintoncester” is instead of Winchester). Hardy drew his inspiration of course from Dorset itself where there are endless strange and wonderful village names: “Sixpenny Handley,” “Gussage All Saints,” “Tarrant Monkton” and “Bishop’s Caundle” are a few of my favorites. Dorset boasts beautiful country houses and gardens. While they might not rank as England’s grandest they are full of character and history. Cranborne Manor is one of the longest continually inhabited houses in England; King John used it for hunting in the early 13th century. It was one of the first Jacobean lodge houses – for occasional use as a pleasure retreat. The Cecil family, who have owned the house since 1604, have created a garden of rare beauty and elegance. Kingston Lacy is one of the jewels of the National Trust wryissense of humour (‘Sarcophagus College’ and stuffed with treasures, from Tinat ‘Christminster’), while others show toretto and Rubens, to one of England’shis love of history (‘Shaston’ replaces Shaftesbury and ‘Wintoncester’ is instead of Winchester). Hardy drew his inspiration of course from Dorset itself where there are endless strange and wonderful village names: ‘Sixpenny Handley’, ‘Gussage All Saints’, ‘Tarrant Monkton’ and ‘Bishop’s Caundle’ are a few of my favourites. Dorset boasts beautiful country houses and gardens. While they might not rank as England’s grandest they are full of character and history. Cranborne Manor is one of the longest continually inhabited houses in England; King John used it for hunting in the early 13th century. It was one of the first Jacobean lodge houses - for occasional use as a pleasure retreat. The Cecil family, who have owned the house since 1604, have created a garden of rare beauty and elegance. Kingston Lacy is one of the jewels of the National Trust and is stuffed with treasures, from Tintoretto and Rubens, to one of

Photo courtesy of Steve Casey and Irene Grigoriadis; Chelcey Berryhill and Marilyn Fogarty

Ditch the Mobile

LEARN | 10

earliest collections of Spanish paintings. St Giles House has been recently restored by the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury, who has done a magnificent job repairing a grand 17th-century house which had been left to ruin. I am excited to be showing these houses, among others, to Royal Oak patrons in 2016. A traveller to Dorset will find more than just country houses to explore. The rolling downs of east Dorset are full of ancient burial mounds, stone circles and mosaic floors of Roman villas. Close to my grandparents’ house is the village of Hinton St Mary where one of the earliest representations Christ in of artSpanish was disEngland’s earliest of collections covered on a floor mosaic from paintings. St Giles House has beenaround recently 350 AD.byItthe is now treasures of restored 12thone Earlofofthe Shaftesbury, thehas British Museum. Traveljob further south who done a magnificent repairing and discover the cliffs of the Jurassic a grand 17th century house which had Coast a landscape that gave been leftand to ruin. I am excited to beEngland showsome of its finest building materials: Porting these houses, among others, to Royal land stone and Purbeck marble. Here Oak patrons in 2016. there are dramatic windswept walks with outto toDorset sea andwill quaint pubs Aviews traveller findEnglish more than that serve homemade pies and ale. Those just country houses to explore. The rolling interested inDorset ecclesiastical downs of east are fullarchitecture of ancient can head north to Sherborne Abbey, one burial mounds, stone circles and mosaic of England’s finest churches, and marvel floors of Roman villas. Close to my grandat the beautiful 15th-century gothic St parents’ house is the village of Hinton vaulting and Saxon foundations that Mary where one of the earliest representago back to the 8th century. tions of Christ in art was discovered on a floor mosaic from around 350 AD. It is now one of the treasures of the British Museum. Travel further south and discover the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast and a landscape that gave England some of its finest building materials: Portland stone and Purbeck marble. Here there are dramatic windswept walks with views out to sea and quaint English pubs that serve homemade pies and ale. Those interested in ecclesiastical architecture can head north to Sherborne Abbey, one of England’s finest churches, and marvel at the beautiful 15th century gothic vaulting and Saxon foundations that go back to the 8th century. This church was old when William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066. These ancient sites give an immutable quality to Dorset, which sets it apart from other English counties.

This church was old when William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066. These ancient sites give an immutable quality to Dorset, which sets it apart from other English counties. There is a real sense of travelling back in time when wandering the hidden roads and villages of Dorset. I cannot recommend more leaving the mobile phone behind and exploring Thomas Hardy country on foot, chancing upon beautiful country houses, woodlands and chalk downs. Locals are kind and generous with old-fashioned English manners and a strong sense of community. Families have often lived in the same phone village for mend more leaving the mobile generations and it is not uncommon behind and exploring Thomas Hardy to meet on people have only to country foot,who chancing uponbeen beautiful London once in their lives. It is no country houses, woodlands and chalkwonder withLocals Dorsetare as kind their and home. downs. generous with oldUse fashioned English manners and a to your Royal Oak membership strong sense of community. Families explore Dorset and beyond! Plan your have often lived inor thebook sameavillage for own itinerary trip through generations and it is not uncommon Royal Oak. Just make sure your to membermeet people who havetoonly to Lon- of ship is up-to-date takebeen advantage donall once their lives. It ishas no wonder thein National Trust to offer: with Dorset as their home. royal-oak.org/join

Experience the UK with Royal Oak Book your spot on one of these bespoke tours and explore the National Trust with fellow Anglophiles. Inspiring Interiors: From Tudor Treasures to Edwardian Elegance September 16 to 24, 2016

Discover some of the rich styles that have shaped fashionable home interiors in the southeast of England, learn how these fantastic interiors were created and explore the stories behind their designs. You will also visit one of England’s most fashionable resorts and take a strip into London to uncover some lavish gems.

$4,125 for Royal Oak members Castles & Treasure Houses of Edinburgh and Northern Ireland September 18 to 26, 2016 Explore hidden stories behind some of the iconic buildings of the capital cities of Edinburgh and Belfast. Then traverse rugged coastlines of Northern Ireland and Western Scotland with their wealth of breathtaking scenery plus fine country houses that give a fascinating glimpse of life from a bygone era.

$3,500 for Royal Oak members

There is a real sense of travelling back in time when wandering the hidden roads and villages of Dorset. I cannot recomFall 2015

11 | EXPERIENCE

Quintessentially English Traveling the UK with Albion and Royal Oak

Chelcey Berryhill | Development & Communications Manager Fields of sheep grazing and purple heather as far as the eye can see – it doesn’t get more English than that! I had the pleasure of traveling with Albion Tours this past September on the “Brideshead Visited: Northern England’s Magnificent Mansions” tour. It was my first trip to the UK and I was rewarded with a quintessentially English trip. With fellow Royal Oak members as my travel companions, I explored numerous National Trust sites and even discovered a few privately-run “piles” (houses) with unique histories.

Damien Hirst’s “Saint Bartholomew, Exquisite Pain” at Chatsworth, Derbyshire, part of our “Brideshead Visited” tour with travel partner Albion.

The hotels: Charming and comfortable with tasty meals. The tour leader: Absolutely fantastic! Lynda is an encyclopedia of knowledge and made the coach ride an additional stop on the itinerary. She was always two steps ahead of us with day’s stops and made sure each tour goer had a memorable experience! The traveling companions: All devoted Royal Oak members and National Trust enthusiasts. The wealth of enthusiasm, knowledge and curiosity on the coach was overwhelming, and I feel lucky to have been part of such a wonderful group of travelers.

A trip through the UK with fellow Anglophiles is an experience unlike any other. These three things made the trip an unforgettable experience: See more from Chelcey’s trip: royal-oak.org/anglofiles Discover Royal Oak’s travel programs for yourself. Visit royal-oak.org/travel.

The Year of Magical Visits

65 National Trust Properties 12 Months One Memorable 2015

At the start of 2015, Rajel Khambhaita made a decision: after years of traveling abroad, he would explore the best his UK home had to offer. “For the last 20 years I have traveled widely across the world,” Rajel said. “As a result I generally tended to dismiss many aspects of what the UK had to offer in comparison.”

Ickworth, Suffolk.

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Stourhead, Wiltshire.

“Last year was a truly memorable year thanks to the National Trust,” Rajel said. “As a keen photog- Rajel’s 10 Favorite National Trust Properties rapher, I had a fruitful year capturing unique setPlanning your own National Trust tings and scenery at no less than 65 National itinerary? Here are Rajel’s 10 favorite Trust locations as well as tapping into a wealth of properties from his visits. knowledge among the staff and volunteers who Lyme Park, Cheshire keep the National Trust ticking over smoothly.” Bateman’s, East Sussex Ickworth House, Suffolk Rajel’s photography grasps the grandeur of the Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire National Trust, and his 2015 National Trust visits Stourhead, Wiltshire inspire us to see as many properties as possible in Osterley, West London the year to come. We may not be lucky enough Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire to live just a quick car ride away from the special Powis Castle and Garden, Wales places the Trust protects, but the journey is well Bodnant Garden, Wales worth it when the reward is as sweet as, say, a Scotney Castle, Kent glorious day picnicking at Stourhead or exploring the vast collection of Kingston Lacy. Plan a Read travel stories from Rajel and other trip this year and make your 2016 magical! travel writers on our online AngloFiles Magazine: royal-oak.org/anglofiles

Photos courtesy of Chelcey Berryhill and Rajel Khambhaita

Rajel decided to fix this by exploring the UK in 2015. He left his passport at home and instead grabbed his National Trust membership card. He traded his globe-trotting ways for a series of UK-based “staycations” that took him to new corners of his home. The result: a well-worn National Trust membership card that gained him entry to 65 Trust properties in 2015!

SUPPORT | 12

The Countess of Canapés: Jessie Walker & the Royal Oak Community Sam McCann | Communications Associate Jessie Walker may have been born in Scotland, but her home is with her friends and New York family at Royal Oak’s Drue Heinz lecture series here in the United States. “When I cater a Royal Oak lecture, and I see so many people enjoying my canapés, see so many people discussing English culture, I feel at home,” Jessie Walker says. “I feel like I’m part of this community.” It’s no wonder we have dubbed her the Countess of Canapés. Indeed, Jessie is at the heart of the Royal Oak community and a cherished member of our organization. What started as a volunteer opportunity 24 years ago has evolved into a lifelong passion for Jessie. She discovered the Foundation in 1992 through our Drue Heinz lecture series, and immediately connected with our mission and the people it attracts. By 1993, she was catering a few lectures, and within months she was coming into our office every day livening up the staff with her Scottish flair. Lucky for us, she has not stopped lending a hand since.

She says volunteering “keeps me out of mischief,” a broad smile spreading across

her face. “But really, it’s the people. The people are great and there’s always something going on. It keeps me on my toes.” Through her work at Royal Oak, Jessie has made some of her dearest friends. “I spent Christmas this year with a couple I met through Royal Oak. We bonded over the years and have become close friends. Royal Oak members are such interesting people.” Jessie, of course, is one of those interesting people. A native of Ayrshire, Scotland, she emigrated to the United States in 1957 and lived briefly in Westchester with relatives before finding a position in New York City with IBM. She held various roles at IBM branch offices throughout New York, eventually becoming special librarian. After she retired, Jessie began volunteering at Royal Oak, where she remains an active part of our office and lecture communities. Outside of Royal Oak, Jessie is interested in the arts, especially music: opera, orchestra and ballet are her favorites. She is on the board of Opera Index, a volunteer organization that gives grants to young singers. Jessie’s support of Royal Oak is not limited to her generous volunteer work (or the legendary egg salad she serves after lectures). Indeed, she is also a member of The Royal Oak Legacy Circle, one of the very first people to join. By pledging a gift to Royal Oak, Jessie deepened her lifelong commitment to our mission and gave us yet another reason to be grateful for all she does.

Jessie’s contributions to Royal Oak include her support through the Legacy Circle, her daily volunteering in our office and her legendary catering.

To Jessie, the decision to give was an easy one. “I want Royal Oak to continue to bring people together. It has welcomed me into this wonderful community, introduced me to so many people and I’m happy to know I played a part in our mission.”

The Legacy Circle recognizes those who wish to create a legacy by remembering Royal Oak and the National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland in their estate plans. Benefits of membership in The Royal Oak Legacy Circle include invitations to annual special events in association with our U.S. lecture series, or the National Trust as appropriate, and recognition in our print and digital publications. For more information, contact Executive Director Lori Brittle at 212.480.2889 ext. 206 or lbrittle@royal-oak.org. Or visit the Legacy Circle web page: royal-oak.org/legacycircle

Spring 2016

‘Capability’ Brown CROOME PARK, WORCESTERSHIRE

and the National Trust

2016 marks 300 years since the birth of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (1716 – 1783), perhaps the most legendary landscape designer in history. The National Trust cares for the largest collection of Brown’s work and this year is celebrating his genius at the properties it protects. We at Royal Oak are marking the occasion with a look at Brown’s life and his remarkable work. Use your Royal Oak membership to plan a visit to one of Brown’s designs and discover the magic of the British landscape garden.

Life of a Legend ‘Capability’ Brown sculpted some of the most remarkable properties in the Trust’s care. Mark Lamey, Project Manager for the National Trust’s ‘Capability’ Brown tercentenary celebrations, takes us through Brown’s life and points out his most significant properties.

1741: Brown at Stowe

The first and only place where Brown was employed as Head Gardener, Stowe was where he made his name, learned his trade and was championed by his patron, Lord Cobham, to move on to further projects. During this time at Stowe, he oversaw the implementation of the architect James Gibbs’ designs and is credited by Richard Wheeler, the Trust’s National Specialist in Garden History, with laying out the Grecian Valley, landscaping Hawkwell Field and Deer Park.

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Brown’s work at Croome remains legendary. He designed the house and landscape, including the property’s serpentine lake, a feature that becomes a signature of his future designs. Over the past twenty years the Trust has been returning the use of the land from arable to pasture, as Brown intended and replanting trees at a rate of 500 per year.

1751: Reshaping Petworth

1716: Brown is born Lancelot Brown was born in Kirkharle, Northumberland in 1716. An association with National Trust ownership begins with his school in the village of Cambo, now part of the Trust’s Wallington estate. As a young lad he walks the two miles each way to school and back across a gently undulating landscape carved out by the River Wansbeck, its natural beauty no doubt providing inspiration for his future career.

1749: Brown’s masterpiece at Croome

1751 began Brown’s time at Petworth, but his work did not conclude until five contracts and two decades later. He supresses what is by now unfashionable C17th formality in favor of a natural style. The extent of Brown’s dramatic changes continue to be revealed through archaeological study, and Petworth is one of the Trust’s most scrutinized landscapes. STOWE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Celebrating 300 A Look at Two New National Trust Exhibitions Marking ‘Capability’ Brown’s Tercentenary Design Your Own Landscape Trail at Berrington Hall You’ve got 500 acres, a blank notebook and 30 years to design your last landscape at Berrington. How would you do it? Berrington Hall asks visitors to put themselves into Brown’s shoes as they explore his final landscape design. Follow the family trail to discover some of ‘Capability’ Brown’s top tips and collect a prize at the end.

Daily, July 16 - September 5 ‘Capability’ Brown Exhibition at Petworth Petworth Park today appears to most as natural, timeless and untouched, but nothing could be further from the truth. Drawing on recent archaeological investigations and documentary research, this exhibition will explore the incredible scale and impact of Brown’s work here, sweeping away old traditions and imposing his own bold vision to utterly transform the landscape.

CHARLECOTE PARK, WARWICKSHIRE

Daily, April 2 - November 6 ‘Capability’ Found at Stowe Visit Stowe in 2016 as we celebrate the life and work of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, including talks, walks and an exhibition space in the Temple of Concord and Victory. Here you’ll be able to sit and overlook Brown’s masterpiece at Stowe, while learning more about this important 18th-century self-made man.

April 12 - October 30, 10a.m. to 6p.m. View all of the National Trust’s ‘Capability’ Brown celebrations at nationaltrust.org.uk

PETWORTH, SUSSEX

1782: A remarkable send-off at Berrington Hall

1759: Practical beauty at Ashridge Working on a commission for the Duke of Bridgewater at Ashridge, Buckinghamshire between 1759 - 68, Brown creates one of his most wondrous pieces of landscape in the Golden Valley. Combining both beauty and practicality, it is visually stimulating and capable of returning an income from the cropping of hay, grazing and timber extraction from its upper canopy of woodland.

ICKWORTH, SUFFOLK

CROOME, WORCESTERSHIRE

ASHRIDGE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Brown undertakes what will be his final complete commission with his son-in-law, Henry Holland. Brown shows incredible sensitivity to the setting of the house in its Park and wider landscape, to provide one of the most complete and picturesque examples of his work. The Trust is planning to restore what remains of the unique oval design of the walled garden and continues with a complete restoration of the Park.

1767: Ickworth and Wimpole

2016: Brown’s legacy endures

Wimpole represents perfection in Brown’s design of wooded belts that enclose the Park. The belts focus the eye on the middle ground and pierce occasional views to the horizon. Brown’s work here is a quintessential example of the English landscape garden, and we’re glad that the Trust recently restored its eye-catching Gothic Folley.

On February 6, 1783, ‘Capability’ Brown died in London. But thanks to preservation groups like the National Trust, his legacy lives on.

Brown also designed the grounds at Ickworth, forging a perfect marriage between the grand architecture and impressive parkland.

Photos ©National Trust Images/David Noton; ©National Trust Images/Ian Shaw; ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey; ©National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

300 years after his birth, new research continues to offer fresh insight into Brown’s genius. For instance, 2015 Royal Oak Horan Fellow Justin Kegley edited footage captured through drone photography to showcase Brown properties protected by the Trust (see photo of Charlecote above) and 2014 Horan Fellow Eduard Krakhmalnikov researched Brown’s work at Charlecote. View a sample of Justin’s footage and Eduard’s research at: royal-oak.org/scholarships.

Spring 2016

The Library at Kingston Lacy, Dorset, with painted ceiling by Guido Reni (1575-1642). Read about all you can access in Dorset with your Royal Oak membership in our centerspread, pages 7 and 8 . ÂŠNational Trust Images/John Hammond

Protect a special history and enjoy extraordinary access to over 500 properties. Become a member or renew your membership today: royal-oak.org/join 20 West 44th Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10036-6603 | 212.480.2889 or 800.913.6565 | Fax: 212.764.7234

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The Royal Oak Foundation is an American not-for-profit charity 501(c)3 incorporated in the State of New York. Royal Oakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from Royal Oak or from the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.