England, June 2011

England
June 2011

LAUNCHED: 9 November 2010. LAST UPDATED: 14 May 2011

Accessed at least times since 9 November 2010.

UPDATE No 9: I have added quite a few National Trust houses and gardens to our website. They are shown with green markers on the Google map at the bottom of this page.

UPDATE No 8: This just in from Joe:

Thurs June 2nd: 5pm, drive from my house in Co Wicklow to Rosslare Ferryport, Co Wexford, arriving in Rosslare 7.30pm. Take 21.15 Ferry to Fishguard, Wales, arriving Fishguard 00.45.
Fri June 3rd: Drive from Fishguard, Wales, to Plymouth, Devon (approx. 5-hrs driving time) to arrive Plymouth early afternoon (allowing for a snooze break!). Meet up with Rob and Jonathan late afternoon/early evening—depending on your train arrival in Plymouth.
For Fri evening in Plymouth, I don't have any details of the "Invitation only, Civic Reception". [Note: This is Saturday at 6pm, not Friday. Not sure who's invited. Have asked Paul but haven't heard back.]
Sat/Sun June 4th & 5th: Scott100 events.
Mon June 6th: Paul Davies has sent me an e-mail inviting me to his house outside Plymouth for a "book-browsing" event; noon to early afternoon. He has also sent invitations to Rob, Jonathan and Seamus (Taaffe). I've confirmed acceptance. Paul says we can firm up on all the details when he meets us over the weekend. Evening Mon June 6th: "black-tie dinner" at HMS Drake (that's a building, by the way, not a ship!!!) [That's nice to know—I did think it was a ship!]
Tues June 7th: In my car, we both depart for the Field House at Stroud. [Hopefully, with some Antarctic sites on the way!]
June 7th through Sun June 12th: At Field House, Stroud [Nr Stroud; actually outside Minchinhampton]. For the days at the Field House, I'm more than happy to go along with whatever Rob and the other house-guests wish to do/see. Cheltenham, of course, is a must. If time and distance permit, the only other trip I would dearly like to do is to drive to Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire, to see the grave of the English Poet, Thomas Gray, in the little churchyard of St Giles. As I don't yet know the distance involved, I need to do some more research on this. If it's do-able, well and good. If not, no matter. [The distance from Minchinhampton is 85.5 miles/1 hour 43 minutes. There are lots of things to see along the way.]
Mon June 13th: Depart the Field House in Stroud, and, in my car, we both drive to Cardiff for the Capt Scott Society Dinner. (It took me an age to hunt down a contact for the Scott Dinner. There's little or nothing about the Dinner on the Scott Society Website! This evening, I phoned and spoke with a Matthew Salisbury whom I presume is the current Secretary of the Society. He said that the reason there's nothing up on the website about the Dinner is because it's confined to members of the society!!! He asked me about myself, my provenance etc, and it was only when I mentioned that you were attending the dinner that he started to become interested! He said that, as of now, they haven't even put a price on the Dinner (he thinks it might be in the region of 60-65 pounds sterling per head). "If you're coming with Rob Stephenson" he continued, "then I'm sure there will be no problem whatsoever with your attending the Dinner". He suggested I contact Peter Jones at peterlloydjones@mac.com and I duly sent off an e-mail this evening to Peter Jones. Just for the record, I'll let you know when he replies to me. In any event, I'm operating on the basis that I'll be attending the dinner with you, and, as Matthew Salisbury said to me on phone this evening, "I'm very much looking forward to meeting you."
Tues, June 14th: This is where your hoped-for plans diverge from mine, Rob. I have to leave Cardiff mid-morning for the 2-hr drive to catch the 14.30 Ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare (Ireland). I have to be back in Ireland for work on Wed June 15th. I'm sorry, therefore, that I won't be able to spend Tues and Wed morning with you in Cardiff and its environs, prior to your departure for US on Wed evening from London.
That's it for now. I'm greatly looking forward to Plymouth, Stroud and Cardiff, and to meeting with you again, and, of course, the other "house-guests". We'll all have a splendid time.
Joe
p.s. My cell-phone number (for calls made within UK) is 00353 87 2275561.
p.p.s. Regarding your (UK) cell-phone, if calling you from within UK, is it necessary to add the UK international code 0044? [I don't think so, from an Irsh phone, but am not entirely sure.]

UPDATE No 7: Conrad arrives at 10:45am on Monday 6 June at Gatwick flying EasyJet. Plans to take train to Stroud. Goes on to say:

"BTW, on the Gatwick website I found a car of Renault Megane type for about £189. It's more hassle for me to rent one there and drive than take the train, so I won't do it, but send info just to give an idea of price. I think connecting a car with one's air ticket, or through one's airport site may be just as cheap as Stroud."

UPDATE No 6: Duffy won't be arriving in London until Tuesday morning 7 June, which means only the Rumelys and Conrad will be in the house the first night. Duffy flies home on Monday 13 June.

For train information between London Paddington and Stroud, go to http://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/

There is service with no changes and with one change at Swindon. The elapsed time is about the same for both--just over 1-1/2 hours. There are trains departing on 7 June at 8:45am. 9:48am, 10:45am, 11:48am, 12:45pm, 1:48pm, etc., i.e. ca. every hour. Prices range from £8 (Cheapest Standard Single) to £64.50 (Anytime Single).

For Conrad and the Rumelys: if you haven't seen it before, you should have a look at the information on the House from Landmark Trust. This might be useful if you use a taxi to get to the house from Stroud. There's a link below but here it is, too: uk11c.pdf

UPDATE No 5: The Rumely's itinerary is now on our website at http://home.comcast.net/~rs41/uk11.htm

I've also put my UK cell number on the site if you want to get hold of me from 26 May onwards. The number is 07789 080436 (drop the first zero if calliing from outside the UK)

Please let me know when and if any of you decide to rent a car. If you do, then I won't pursue it and depend on Joe's vehicle.
I did find a rental place in Stroud which is close by and where the RR station is. This would be the most convenient place to get a car although if you got one at LHR you could drive directly to Field House and bypass London. But then you'd have to drive it back to LHR, then get into London for your last few days. I would guess that it would be more expensive to rent at LHR than locally at Stroud.

The info is on our website at http://home.comcast.net/~rs41/uk11b.htm

<<<<<< I've found at least one rental car possibility in Stroud. See below:
From Sales: sales@mvrltd.co.uk http://www.mvrltd.co.uk/car-hire.html
<<<<<< Many Thanks for email regarding car hire in June 2011. I have, as requested looked at two classes of car: The small five door hatch for 1 person to drive with vat would be £210 The medium five door hatch for 1 person to drive with vat would be £240 I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards
Rob Wright
MVR Stroud
01453 755333
>>>>>>

Duffy and Conrad: will you send me your itineraries so I can add them to the site?

John and Christine. Since you won't be away for that long, you may have extra room in your bags. If so consider bringing over some assorted munchies for our time at Field House. Perhaps a trip to Trader Joe's.

UPDATE No 4: Joe and I will be in Plymouth at an Antarctic event, culminating in a black-tie dinner on Monday evening, 6 June.

Joe is bringing his car over from Ireland and we'll be driving from Plymouth to Field House on Tuesday the 7th, arriving at Field House by the end of the day.

Our stay at Field House will begin, however, on the day before, Monday the 6th at 4pm. Meaning that Joe and I won't be there at the start.

And meaning, that you will be--John and Christine and Duffy and Conrad (unless, some or all of you, too, will be arriving after the start date).

The usual protocol is to arrive at the house on the first day of the rental--6 June in this case--at 4pm or after.

The key is usually left somewhere outside the house which Landmark Trust informs us about, usually when I ring the housekeeper the day or so before. If for some reason I can't get this information to you from Plymouth (I will try to get it up on the website and/or send it out in e-mails), you can ring Elaine (see below).

So it will be the job of one or all of you to open up the house and figure things out. As Conrad and Duffy know, there is always a book of information on the house and the surroundings.

One is supposed to ring the housekeeper a day or so before which I will do from Plymouth. Her name is Elaine Blatchford, she lives in Stroud and her phone is 01 453 757044. You probably won't see her at the time you arrive but the house will be ready for you and she will probably have left a note and perhaps laid out some tea things.

Just something to think about: Perhaps you four could coordinate your arrival. Conrad will be coming from France; presumably the others will be training up from London. If so, the Rumelys and Duffy, and perhaps Conrad, might very well all arrange to meet up in London and come up together to Stroud by train from Paddington.

For train times and details go to: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Going up together would make things, for you, a lot easier and simpler. If so, you could arrange to get from Stroud to Field House (5.4 miles) by taxi (there are several in Stroud and presumably there will be some at the statiion, or contact http://www.fivestartaxis.co.uk/ Tel: 01453 755511), or--even better--pick up a rental car in Stroud to get to Field House and to use for the week. What I found out (see below) is that one would cost £210-£240 for the week, depending on size. Pricier if more than one driver.

The car could be shared by all those who use it, myself included.

We are six in number and won't easily fit into one car, and won't want to go everywhere with one another in any event.

I've found at least one rental car possibility in Stroud. See below:

From Sales: sales@mvrltd.co.uk http://www.mvrltd.co.uk/car-hire.html
<<<<<<
Many Thanks for email regarding car hire in June 2011.
I have, as requested looked at two classes of car:
The small five door hatch for 1 person to drive with vat would be £210
The medium five door hatch for 1 person to drive with vat would be £240
I look forward to hearing from you soon
Regards
Rob Wright
MVR Stroud
01453 755333
>>>>>>

Arranging a car should be done ahead of time; not trying to do it after arrival.

I'll leave it up to you to make arrangements or not. In any event, you should let everyone know ahead of time if something is arranged. If not, then I'll do it but I don't want to have to leave it to the last minute.

Those of you who get there on the first day need to shop on the way so that there are some basic groceries for the house, i.e. wine. Ha! Ha! Ha! Also, breakfast food, and enough to get you through the first day.

It's very important that everyone bring a flashlight/torch.

Once Joe and I get there on Tuesday, we can--by coordinating by phone or once we arrive--go to a nearby supermarket to get much of the stuff we will need for the week. There will certainly be a shop in Minchinghampton and there's a Tesco in Stroud in Stratford Road almost in sight of the railroad station. In the other direction, on the London Road, almost as close, is a Waitrose, a notch or two higher up the quality scale from Tesco.

"Garden Party:" When we've been at UK Landmark Trust places we've arranged a "garden party" which we invite any friends we have to show up. We did two last time, one in Kent and the following week at Princelet Street. I suppose we had 10 or so people show up for each. So I propose we do this on Sunday 12 June beginning at 4pm. We usually have tea things, wine, cheese, nuts and whatever else we can find or throw together. This usually continues on into a supper of some sort and on until the last person leaves. So if this appeals to you all (Duffy and Conrad are familiar with the routine), mention it to any friends or colleagues you'd like to have come. The worse that can happen is that it turns into our own farewell party to ourselves. (The Garden Party isn't necessarily a garden party--although June could be perfect for one. One isn't supposed to have parties in Landmark Trust houses--I now know that no one pays much attention to this--so back in 1999 at our first Landmark we billed the gathering as a 'Garden Party' as there didn't seem to be any restrictions on same.) Somewhere along the way I'll do up an invitation with all the details and provide it to you all as a pdf. You can then send it off to whomever you please.

Google Map. There is now a Google map on our website showing various places and towns of interest within touring distance of Field House. If you want to add anything, let me know the details and I'll include it.

The information sheet on Field House from the Landmark Trust is at http://home.comcast.net/~rs41/uk11c.pdf This gives lots of details on location, directions, public transport, equipment list, etc. There's also a link on our website.

For Emergencies related to Field House the contact is Mrs Pamela Reed, Tel: 01225 316704. Mobile: 07712 166417.

Our website: http://home.comcast.net/~rs41/uk11b.htm

My itinerary is at: http://home.comcast.net/~rs41/uk11.htm I'll be in the UK starting on 26 May. If anyone needs to contact me, I will be checking e-mail as frequently as I can.

My UK mobile number: 07789 080436

UPDATE No 3: Conrad has made her booking, flying to France on 15 March, returning on 4 October. Yet to be done is travel France-UK-France.

UPDATE No 2: Rob has made a booking BOS-LHR-BOS on Iberia (operated by British Airways over and American Airlines back) for a total cost of $769.10.

Joe has said that he'll be bringing his car over from Ireland. We'll probably need another one to make getting around more flexible so that needs some thought. There might be a place locally (Stroud, for instance) where a car could be rented for the week. Those making use of it would, of course, chip in. Here're two possibilities: http://www.mvrltd.co.uk/car-hire.html and http://www.1stcallautorentals.co.uk

The booking has been made (and paid for) so we are set for a week in June (Monday 6 June 4pm through Monday 13 June 10am, 2011).

The cost per person for the week will be $450.

The accommodation is for six: One double-bedroom for two, and two twin-bedded rooms for, presumably, two males and two females. (As Duffy and I are definite, this means one more male and one more female, plus a couple for the double room.)

The definite Fieldians are: Rob Stephenson, Conrad Paulus, Duffy Monahon, Joe O'Farrell and John & Christine Rumely. See our itineraries at the bottom. (Not up yet.)
Myrna Fawcett, Carl Lindbloom and Ann & Charlie Royce expressed interest following those above and I'll consider them as being on the waiting list.

See the first draft of my itinerary for the whole trip at http://home.comcast.net/~rs41/uk11.htm

I hope to have everyone settled up by the first of the year. Myrna, Carl, Ann & Charlie and anyone else that may have an interest could very well rent a place or places in the neighborhood and come and use the Field House as a social base. This has happened in the past and worked out just fine. Have a look at some of the websites below which might suggest some off-site accommodation.

Stay tuned!

Here are some photos and bios:

Duffy Monahon Duffy is an architect in Peterborough, NH. She's been on LT houseparties at Gargunnock House, Scotland (2001), Wortham Manor, Devon (2002), Sant' Antonio, Tivoli, Italy (2004), Auchinleck, Scotland (2007), Crownhill Fort, Plymouth (2008), and 13 Princelet Street, London (2009)

Joe O'Farrell Joe is an polar enthusiast in Ireland and was at the LT houseparty at Crownhill Fort, Plymouth (2008).

Conrad Paulus Conrad lives in New Jersey, New York City and France and has been on LT houseparties at Villa Saraceno, Finale, Italy (2000), Gargunnock House, Scotland (2001), Wortham Manor, Devon (2002), Sackville House, East Grinstead (2003), Sant' Antonio, Tivoli, Italy (2004), Auchinleck, Scotland (2007), Crownhill Fort, Plymouth (2008), Obriss Farm, Kent (2009), and 13 Princelet Street, London (2009)

Christine Giuntini Rumely Christine is a textile conservator at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. She and John live in Washington Heights. This is her first LT houseparty.

John Rumely John works for Nixon Peabody in New York. He and Christine live in Washington Heights. This is his first LT houseparty. (John's on the left and that's Conrad on the far right. Next to Conrad is Regina Daly who was at Princelet Street in 2009. The other gentleman is John Levinson, past president of the Explorers Club and a noted polar collector.)

Rob Stephenson Rob lives in Jaffrey, NH, and has been on LT houseparties at Goddards, Surrey (1999), Villa Saraceno, Finale, Italy (2000), Gargunnock House, Scotland (2001 and 2007), Wortham Manor, Devon (2002), Sackville House, East Grinstead (2003), Sant' Antonio, Tivoli, Italy (2004), 45a Cloth Fair, London (2005), Auchinleck, Scotland (2007), Crownhill Fort, Plymouth (2008), Obriss Farm, Kent (2009), and 13 Princelet Street, London (2009)

Field House, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire.

"This handsome stone house was left to us with the surrounding land by Miss Eileen Jenkins, who had lived here for the previous 20 years. It is an unusual building, since although it looks like a single house, and indeed has been one for over a century, it was clearly once four separate dwellings round a narrow yard, each with one room up and one down. But by 1884 the yard had been roofed over and filled with a staircase, and the whole building became one farmhouse.
The thick party walls of the old dwellings give Field House a pleasant solid feel inside. It stands in a large and sheltered walled garden high up on the top of the Cotswolds, once a land of sheep but now more given over to the horse."

From the Logbook:
"Our seventh Landmark and the most comfortable and child-friendly."
"Enjoyed our stay at Field House thoroughly, especially eating the ripe figs from the tree in the garden for breakfast and blackberries from the hedge."
"We really found it difficult sometimes to leave Field House and garden to explore more of the Cotswolds."

More on Field House

For more photos of Field House, go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/landmarktrust/pool/tags/fieldhouse/

HERE'S what came from Landmark Trust today, 15 November 2010. (Detailed information on the location of Field House, kitchen equipment, etc.)

More on Minchinhampton and surroundings

http://wikitravel.org/en/Minchinhampton
http://www.cotswolds.info/places/minchinhampton.shtml
http://www.cotswolds.info/accommodation/minchinhampton-lodgings.shtml
http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=48796
http://www.thehalfwayhousebox.co.uk/
http://www.blackhorseamberley.co.uk/index.html
http://www.dursley-cotswolds-uk.com/bell_avening.htm

GOOGLE MAPS

Various places in and around Minchinhampton; possible day trips:

View Sights/Sites around Field House in a larger map

Various places in and around Plymouth:

View Larger Map of Plymouth and Enviurons

Some Antarctic sites in England, Scotland and Wales:

View Larger Map of England, Scotland and Wales