Wednesday evening
Private dinner with wine and talk by an expert - either Dr Anne Anderson, Dr Mary Greensted or Peter Cormack – “William Morris – and his continued legacy.”

Thursday
Visit Kelmscott Manor, William Morris’s country home from 1871 until his death in 1896. Kelmscott contains an outstanding collection of works by Morris and his associates. After morning coffee/tea is served, enjoy a private visit with an introductory talk. After a light lunch (included) we visit Buscot Park where, in the music room, Burne-Jones' ‘The Legend of the Briar Rose’ is displayed. Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, a lifelong friend and collaborator of Morris' drew the inspiration for this work from the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. Evening lecture by your expert host “The Arts & Crafts Movement” followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Friday
Visit to Rodmarton Manor, where the owner, Simon Biddulph, will show you around this handsome Arts & Crafts home; completed in 1929, and one of the last great country houses in England to be built using traditional methods of construction. After a light lunch of sandwiches and tea/coffee (included), you will visit All Saints Church, Selsley, where your expert host will give a brief talk on this fine Gothic Revival church by G.F. Bodley and its remarkable stained glass windows all supplied by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., the famous Firm, in the 1860s. Tea and cake will be included in your visit here. Return to the hotel at about 5pm.

NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 49 passengers.

William Morris Experts
ExpertsOn this tour you get to enjoy a private visit to the home of William Morris, Kelmscott Manor, and talks by the experts Dr Anne Anderson or Mary Greensted. Dr Anne Anderson is a recognised authority on the Arts & Crafts movement and is Hon Research Fellow, Exeter University and the Huntington. A writer and broadcaster Anne was a senior lecturer on the Fine Arts Valuation degree courses at Southampton Solent University specialising in the Aesthetic Movement, Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau. She is a NADFAS lecturer and some of her academic papers have appeared in the Journal of the William Morris Society, Journal of the Pre-Raphaelite Society and many others. Her recent projects include reconstructing the original interiors of Lord Leighton’s studio-home and her television credits include BBC’s Flog It! Mary Greensted is a freelance curator, lecturer and writer. She worked at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum for many years and built up its nationally important Arts and Crafts Movement collections. In 2008 she organised a major exhibition Craft & Design: Ernest Gimson and the Arts & Crafts Movement for Leicester Museum, has written widely including: Wonderful Furniture of a Commonplace Kind and is a trustee of the Court Barn Museum, Chipping Campden and chairman of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen. Tour Managers / support guides Dr Scott Anderson is a Senior Lecturer in the History of Art and Design, who was a professional archaeologist for ten years before his interests shifted to the world of art, antiques and auctioneering. In 1994 he joined the team at Southampton Institute (now Southampton Solent University) as a Lecturer in Fine Arts Valuation, the only BA (Hons) degree course of its kind to look at the commercial art world. He also has a particular interest in architecture and in recent years has taught courses on the history and theory of interior design, and art and design history. Now, as a Senior Lecturer, he concentrates on teaching, research and publication. Scott has written extensively, in learned journals and popular magazines, on both ancient and 19th-century ceramics, Roman archaeology, and Victorian and Edwardian art and design. He is an Honorary Fellow of the National Association of Valuers and television credits include BBC’s Flog It! Mike Stone is a popular Travel Editions guide, an archaeologist and experienced Blue Badge Guide and, before his recent retirement, was Manager of Chippenham Museum for over 20 years. His knowledge and passion for archaeology and history has taken him too many places such as Libya, Egypt, Rome and Pompeii. He has written books about archaeology and history on Chippenham and the West Country and has broadcast for Radio and TV.

Blunsdon House Hotel, Swindon
Located on the edge of the Cotswolds in the village of Broad Blunsdon near Swindon, the 4-star family owned Blunsdon House Hotel offers comfortable, individually decorated and tastefully furnished bedrooms with ensuite bathroom, TV, mini bar, safe and tea & coffee making facilities in the room. Other facilities at the hotel include 2 restaurants, bar, and a health and lesiure club including gym and swimming pool.