Stratford-upon-Avon
Decorative and Fine Arts Society

SADFAS arranges several day visits and other social events during the course of each year. Members have priority in booking and this normally opens two months before the day of the event. Payment can only be made by cheque payable to SADFAS.

Reports on visits are on the News and Information page.

Each year a tour lasting several days is arranged to places of interest to SADFAS members. The tours alternate each year between a British and a European destination.

• SADFAS Tour of the Houses and Gardens of Kent – 6 to 10 July 2012. This trip is now full
  
  

  
  
  

  Sissinghurst
  
  

  
  

  Leeds Castle
  
  

  We have arranged an exciting 5 day, 4 night visit to Kent in July 2012 in conjunction with Brookland Travel. Kent is often referred to as “the Garden of England” and is a county containing many wonderful houses and gardens of architectural and historical importance.

  Our itinerary begins with a Connoisseur Tour of Dorney Court, one of the finest privately–owned Tudor manor houses in England. After lunch, we travel to Penshurst Place with its interesting collections of tapestries, paintings and furniture with time to explore the outstanding gardens.

  Our second day will begin with a visit to view the Marc Chagall stained glass windows at All Saints Tudeley en route to Standen, an “Arts and Crafts” family home designed by Philip Webb. In the afternoon, we shall visit Hever Castle and its award-winning gardens. This childhood home of Anne Boleyn was imaginatively restored by the American millionaire, William Waldorf Astor in the early 20th century.

  On the third day, we shall spend time at Chartwell, the family home of Sir Winston Churchill – a place giving insight into the life of Sir Winston outside the political arena. Later, we shall have the opportunity to explore Ightham Mote independently. Ightham was the subject of the largest conservation project ever undertaken by the National Trust.

  Our fourth day is spent visiting two of the famous, iconic places in Kent, namely, Canterbury Cathedral and Sissinghurst, the famous garden created by Vita Sackville–West and her husband, Harold Nicholson.

  On our return journey to Stratford upon Avon, we shall enjoy a private tour of Leeds Castle, notable for its interior collections and gardens. Our final visit will be to Squerryes Court to see Old Master paintings, porcelain, furniture and tapestries from the 17th and 18th centuries of Italian, Dutch and English schools.

  We shall be staying at the 4 star Ramada Jarvis Hotel just outside Tunbridge Wells. Meals will include a full English breakfast and a 3 course dinner each evening.

  The cost is £529 per person sharing a twin/double en–suite room (National Trust members) or £569 for non NT members.
  The single room supplement is £80.

  For further information and booking forms, please contact Susanne Eastwood at tours@sadfas.org.uk