Salisbury Civic Society

SALISBURY CIVIC SOCIETY OPEN DAYS
TIMETABLE
Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 September 2010

SALISBURY CIVIC SOCIETY OPEN DAYS
Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th September 2010

THE CATHEDRAL CLOSE

Bishop Wordsworth’s School, 11, The Close

Old courtyards, passageways and gardens, with an 18th Century plane tree. Views of the back of the original buildings. Unique close-up view of the back of the Exeter Street Close Wall, ramparted and studded with carved stones from 12th Century Old Sarum.
Opening: Ticketed Tours on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th September at 2pm and 3pm. Book and collect free tickets beforehand at Salisbury Tourist Information Centre in Fish Row, behind the Guildhall.
Access: Located on the southern side of the Close, at the eastern end of the North Walk.
An archway leads into a small courtyard. Meet in front of the door marked Reception at the day and time specified on your ticket.

The Cathedral School, The Close

Grounds and gardens at the side and back of the former Bishop’s Palace, one of the first buildings in the 13th Century Close and rich in history. Unusual views of the Cathedral and Chapter House, scene of one of Constable’s paintings. He said it was ‘the most difficult subject in landscape I ever had on my easel.’ Wildlife pond.
Opening: Ticketed guided tours on Saturday 11th September at 10.30am, 12noon and 2.30pm. Book and collect free tickets beforehand at the Salisbury Tourist Information Centre in Fish Row, behind the Guildhall.
Access: Located in the far southeast corner of the Close, at the southern end of Bishop’s Walk. Enter through the gates and go along the short driveway to be met in the front of the School at the time specified on your ticket.

Leaden Hall School, 70 West Walk, The Close

Gardens and grounds of Georgian house, originally the 13th Century dwelling of Elias de Dereham, the architect of the Cathedral. One of Constable’s paintings of the Cathedral shows his wife sitting in the corner of the garden, near the River Avon.
Opening: Thursday 9th and Friday 10th.September. Ticketed Tours at 2.30pm. Book and collect free tickets beforehand at the Salisbury Tourist Information Centre in Fish Row, behind the Guildhall.
Access: Located at the southern end of the West Walk. Enter through the wooden gate and meet in front of the School at the day and time specified on your ticket.

Sarum College, North Walk, The Close

Sarum Theological College was established in 1860 in the house, the older part of which dates back to 1677 and is attributed to Sir Christopher Wren. In the 1870’s another wing was added by William Butterfield, who designed Keble College, Oxford. In 2010, the College marks its 150th Anniversary of theological education and its 15th anniversary of ecumenical learning. It provides an ecumenical centre for Christian Study and Research and a peaceful place to stay, with unrivalled views of the Cathedral.
Opening: Tours of the grounds and a brief peep into neighbouring open spaces from a vantage point upstairs in the College will be available with Sonia Woolley at 11am and 2pm on Friday 10th and Sunday 12th September. On Saturday 11th September, the grounds only are open, without a guide.

Access: For the tours, meet at the Reception, through the main door of the College.

Myles Place, 68 West Walk, The Close

An exceptional house built in 1718 by William Swanton, who was Town Clerk of Salisbury in 1714. It stands on the site of a medieval canonry. The historian Sir Arthur Bryant lived here for many years until his death in 1985. The current owners occupy it as a family home and are kindly allowing visitors to enjoy their garden with its spectacular views of the river meadows, the Cathedral and the graceful back of the house.
Opening: Thursday 9th and Friday 10th September, 10am to 12noon.
Access: Located on the West Walk. A Steward will meet you at the gate and show you where to go.

The Wardrobe, 33, The Close

Now the Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum, but originally a medieval canonry. In the gift of the Bishop, it was presented to William Scammel in 1277. Alterations were made in 1588, 1762 and 1776. A Gatehouse was demolished in 1807. It was an annexe to the Training College before being restored in 1979 to become the Museum of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment. The building has its name because in the early days the Bishop’s Robes were housed in the oldest part. Open Days visitors are invited to see the riverside garden and the back walls of the house, as well as going into a fine room upstairs which is not normally open to the public.
Opening: Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th September, 10am to 4pm.
Access: Located at the southwest corner of Chorister’s Green. Call into Reception through the normal Museum entrance, and let them know you are an Open Days visitor so that you are not charged for visiting the garden and the Upper Room. If you wish to visit the rest of the Rifles Museum at the same time, the normal entrance fee will apply.

ST. ANN’S STREET AREA

Prospect Place

This intriguing old passageway lies between the medieval houses Nos. 60 and 66 St. Ann’s Street and leads down past the back garden of No.60 and the front of Cottage No.7 to the garden of Cottage No.8. There are views of the back and rooflines of historic St. Ann’s Street, including the medieval Joiners Hall.
Opening: The gates of Prospect Place will be open on 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th September from 10am to 4pm. There may be opportunities to enjoy views from the gardens of No.60 and Cottage No.8 between 10am and 12noon and 2 to 4pm on these days, and refreshments will be available at one of the Cottages in the afternoons.
Access: Go along St. Ann’s Street to about halfway from the town. The gates to the passageway are on the right-hand side, and the Cottages are at the far end. Look for posters concerning access to gardens, refreshments etc.

Marsh Chequer (via Trinity Street)

The only interior space of Salisbury’s 13th Century Chequers which has not been built on. A labyrinth of quirky paths and secret gardens, with unique views of the back of the varied architecture in the surrounding streets. Peace in the middle of the city.
Opening: Thursday 9th, Friday 10th and Saturday 11th September 9.30am - 5 pm and Sunday 12th September 10am – 4pm
Access: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, call into the Douglas McLeod Period Frame Shop (Lacewing) for access to the chequer behind. Sunday, ring the bell of No.46 Trinity Street to be let through the gate.
Refreshments will be available.

NEAR THE BUS STATION

Gore’s Chequer (via No 1 Salt Lane)

Recently opened-up large section of 13th Century Gore’s Chequer, with views of the backs of 18th Century houses, the medieval Pheasant Inn, Frowde’s Almshouses and old roof-lines.
Opening: Thursday 9th September, 10am – 12noon, Friday 10th September 2 – 4 pm
Saturday 11th September, 10am –12noon and 2 – 4 pm,
Sunday 12th September, 2 – 4.pm.
Access Ring the bell of the front door of No.1 Salt Lane.

NEAR THE RAILWAY STATION

Numbers 10 and 16 Churchfields Road

Both of these houses were built when the road in front of them was a country lane. With the coming of the railway and, much later, the Churchfields Industrial Estate, the houses’ outlook changed from a leafy lane to thundering lorries and a busy railway station. However, the riverside pastoral scene at the back of the houses remains pretty and peaceful. As one owner put it: ”We are like a Lowry painting at the front and a Constable at the back.”

Opening: No. 10: Friday 10th September, 10am – 12noon and 2 – 4pm.
                  No. 16: Friday 10th September, 10am – 12noon and 2 – 4 pm,
      Refreshments available in the afternoon at No.16..
Access:     Please use the side gates of each property for access.

3, Mill Race and St. Clement’s Churchyard, Mill Road.

The garden of No.3 Mill Race appears to be all on show… but take a little walk to the left behind the wall of the bridge! Look behind the cottages and then walk a little further along the road to the Churchyard gate on the right of the Mill Race Cottages. You will be surprised by this interesting open space created when St Clement’s Church was demolished in the middle of the 19th Century to build the larger St.Paul’s Church nearer to the town
Opening: Friday 10th September, 10am –12noon and 2 - 4pm..
Access: A Steward will be at the Churchyard gate to show you where to go.

The Old Rectory, Lower Bemerton

The south aspect of the house is still much as George Herbert, famous poet and priest, restored it when he became Rector in 1630. There are views of the water meadows which once formed part of the Glebe, and the site of the Roman Road River Nadder crossing.
Take a look too in the little St. Andrew’s Church over the road. Members of the George Herbert Society will be happy to give you more information there about the poet’s life and work.
Opening: Friday 10th September, 10am – 12noon
Access: Lower Bemerton is at the far end of Churchfields Road. The Old Rectory is about half a mile along Lower Road, on the left-hand side, opposite the small St. Andrew’s Church. A steward will be at the large green doors to the left of the Rectory.

Members' Meetings

In accordance with its aims, the Society is committed to arranging activities for its members. There is normally one meeting a month, which may fall into one or more categories. Please refer to the current programme, and a listing of past lectures and visits to see the activities of the Society organised for members over the last five years.

Social Party; for New Year at which the Society presents its Awards
Outing; and country pub supper
Lectures; Speakers with a range of specialisms give members the opportunity to gain an insight into facets of our man made environment. Four or five lectures are organised each year. When possible, there is a linkage between lectures and visits
Visits; Places of interest may be either historic or new developments, local to Salisbury or further afield. Mainly scheduled for the summer months, the visits vary from all day to half day or evenings. Our visits are extremely popular with members, and are frequently oversubscribed
Planning Forum; An annual event, when members have the opportunity to discuss an issue of current interest.
Business AGM; Held in June.

Programme for 2010

Past Lectures and Visits

1996-2009

2009
Feb: Planning Forum: Wiltshire Council - Planning, Conservation & You’
Mar: History of Methodism in Salisbury
Apr/May: Five Spring Lectures: Georgian Salisbury
......A First Great Revolution: Agriculture & the Water Meadows
......The Romantic Villa & Salisbury
......Transport: Roads, Canals, Railways & Coaches
......Church Music & the Rise of Dissent
......Romanticism, Architecture, Landscape Gardens & Salisbury
Jun: AGM & The Studio Theatre: the Phoenix Rises
Sep: Cathedral Rocks
Nov: Colourful Characters of the Nadder Valley
Dec: Open Meeting - Housing Estates

2008
Jan: Planning Forum to discuss Conservation Areas
Feb:History of the Woodfalls Band
May: The Two Great Ladies of Wilton
Jun: The Development of Salisbury Market Place
Sep: Ponies & People of the New Forest
Nov: Ham Hill Stone in Salisbury

2007
Feb: Planning Forum to discuss the Salisbury Vision
Feb/Mar: Five Spring Lectures: Aspects of Heritage
......Cathedral Vault Paintings
......Chantry Chapels in Salisbury
......Harold Peto and his Gardens
......Wandering Architects
......The Sarum Use
Apr: We mustn’t frighten the readers: Salisbury in the age of Cholera
Jun: Palaces, Patronage & Pills
Sep: Women’s Suffrage in South Wilts
Nov: Where was Old Sarum?
Nov: Open Meeting: World Heritage Sites

2006
Jan: Launch of Society's Streetscape Survey
Feb: The Longford Estates
Mar/Apr: Five Spring Lectures : Aspects of Heritage
.....Too Many Churches in Salisbury?
.....The Cathedral Choir Stalls
.....Conservation of the West Front
.....Licensed to Sell
.....The Cathedral Stained Glass
Jun: Music & Entertainment throughout the Ages
Sep: The Issues of providing a Rural Bus Service
Oct: Sewerage
Nov: Open Meeting: Saving the Planet without Costing the Earth

2005
Feb: Beyond the Playhouse Footlights
Mar: Planning Forum - Vision for Salisbury
Apr: The Fovant Badges
Jun: AGM & Talk: Plague, Pestilence & Poverty
Oct: The Economic Benefits of Restoring Historic Buildings
Nov: Open Meeting: Water, Water, Everywhere?

2004
Feb: Wyatt, Pugin, and the Gothic Revival
Mar: Planning Forum - "A Vision for the Future" – Magna Carta Centre, Salisbury Cathedral
Apr: Thatch and Thatching
Jun: AGM & Talk: Ghosts in Salisbury
Oct: The Work of the Historic Houses Association
Nov: Open meeting - "Streets for All"

2003
Feb: Landscape Design
June: Mompesson House
October: Waste and Waste Management
November: Oxford Traffic Forum

2002
Feb: Palladian Architecture Around Salisbury
May: Salisbury Markets
June: Policing Wiltshire
October: Trees in Salisbury

2001
Feb: Salisbury /Saintes Twinning Association
March: A Stone Mason's 23 years of repairing Historic Buildings
May: Flood Protection Schemes
June: Redundant Churches in the Salisbury Area and Beyond
October: Managing Salisbury. City Centre Management Board

2000
Feb: Editing the Salisbury Journal
May: Stonehenge World Heritage Site management Plans
June: Barrows Pits and Ancestors - Martin Green
A History of Almshouses

1999
March: Members' Planning Forum: Salisbury City Centre - the Future
April: Talking with Music. Music in Salisbury
May: History and Topography of the Water meadows at Harnham
June: AGM + History and Restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal

1998
Jan: Use of Lime in Historic Buildings
Feb: The Future of National Trust
March: The Hazards of managing Household Waste
May: AGM + The Theatre in Salisbury
Oct: Financial Management of the Cathedral
Nov: The Civil War in Wiltshire

1997
Jan: Wren hall - past and present
Feb: Rural Development Commission
March: Restoration of Wilton House
April: Farming Around Salisbury for the last Forty Years
December: Salisbury Industrial Heritage

1996
Jan: Running the Salisbury Festival
Feb: Textile Conservation - Sharon Manitta
March: Excavations of medieval Salisbury
April: History of the Post Office
Oct: Updating Pevsner in New Forest, Romsey and Avon valley
Nov: Old and New Buildings in Salisbury

2009
Mar: Studio Theatre "Afterwards"
Jun: Special Access Visit to Stonehenge plus breakfast
Jul: Walk "Turner in Salisbury"
Jul: Don & Judi Cross Mystery Visit & Supper
Aug: Higher Stavordale Farm
Sep: Society Open Days

2008
Apr: Visit to Devizes
Jun, Jul & Aug: Themed Walks in the Close Area - Artists, Literature, Architecture
Jun: Visit to Cathedral Flower Festival
Jul: Chairman General Purposes Committee’s Mystery Visit to Milton Abbey
Aug: Stonehenge Project Excavations

2007
May: Weald & Downland Museum
Jun: Ginger Piggery at Boyton Farm,
Jul: Chairman’s Mystery Visit to Norrington Manor & St Mary Church Alvediston
Aug: Wilton House - parts of Gardens not normally open to the public
Oct: Royal Holloway, University of London (cancelled)

2006

Apr: Kennet & Avon Canal
May: Longford Castle
Jun: Poole as Guests of Poole Men's Society
Jul: Vice-Chairman's Mystery Visit to Langford Church & Manor
Sep: Behind the Scenes at the Museum

2005
Apr: Downton Moot
Apr: Behind the Scenes Salisbury Playhouse
May: Kennet & Avon Canal
Jun: Southampton
Jul: Secretary's visit to Roche Court
Sep: Solstice Park

2004
Apr: Portsmouth
May: Christchurch (postponed)
Jun: Farley Village
Jul: President's visit to the Chalke Valley
Sep: Rockbourne Roman Villa

2003
March: Waitrose Supermarket
April: Dorchester – guests of Dorchester Civic Society
June: Breamore Village
July: Tollard Royal
Sept: Old Manor Hospital
October: Wessex Archaeology
Chapel Night Club / former Elim Church

2002
May: Ebbleswade Courtyard and Harpsichord Workshop
June: Salisbury Racecourse
July: 11 Redundant Churches in the Wylye Valley.
Sept: Medieval and 17th Century Frome

2001
May: Winchester
June: Salisbury Close
July: Whitchurch Silk Mill and Wooldings Vineyard

2000
May: Poundbury Village, Dorchester
June: Houses of the Cathedral Close - four
July: Martin Green's Museum - archaeological and geological
Sept: Romsey - guests of Romsey and District Civic Society

1999
March: BBC Radio Solent in Southampton
June: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency - Boscombe Down
July: Kennet and Avon Canal
Oct: Salisbury College

1998
April: Trafalgar Park on St George's Day
May: Downton Tannery and the Moot
June: Porton Down - archaeological sites
July: Bryanston School and Blandford with Blandford Civic Society

1997
May: Ordnance Survey Headquarters
June: Cathedral's West Front and Workshops
July: Walk in Broad Chalke
Oct: Marks and Spencer - behind the scenes

1996
May: Sherbourne Abbey, Almshouse and Castle
July: Wilton Carpet Factory and Lord Congleton's garden
July: Nature Walk in New forest
August: Longford Castle
Sept: Houses in St Ann Street - four private houses opened

September 2007
Salisbury`s Industrial Heritage

September 2006
Any Body There? - Historical Cemeteries, Churches and ChurchyardS

September 2005
Almshouses and Places of Care were open for vistis and there were also walks.

September 2004
For 3 days the Society hosted visits to school buildings in the Close. They were Leaden Hall, the Cathdral School, Wren Hall, Bishop Wordsworth School & Sarum College.

September 2003
The society organised a tour around six hostelries in the city, where visitors were able to visit the parts of these hostelries not normally available to public view.

Programme of Events