Your visit to Carlton Towers 1st-5th September 2024
Carlton Towers is the second time we at Aspect Events are delighted to have organised a stay in one of England’s country houses. A unique experience.
This time it is the home of Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan-Howard, we will be visiting. To say that Carlton Towers is an extraordinary house is something of an understatement, for it is a house like no other.
It is situated near Selby in the North Riding of Yorkshire, some 20 miles south of York. The estate came to the Fitzalan-Howards through their marriage to the 11th Baroness Beaumont, the last of the Stapletons, who had held the land since the 13th century. Inheriting the estate as a child, due to the sudden death of her father, Lady Beaumont was the chatelaine of the house for no less than 77 years.
The extraordinary house we see today is the result of the building ambitions of the 9th Lord Beaumont who suffered a kind of building mania. Had he achieved his ambition the mansion would have had a tower modelled after the Bastille and a further wing containing a chapel. His architect was Edward Welby Pugin, the son of the better-known Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. Father and son, were both known for their love of the Gothic. Pugin completed the exterior, whilst the interior is the responsibility of John Francis Bentley, and ecclesiastical architect responsible for Westminster Cathedral.
Carlton Towers as envisaged
From this colossal mansion we explore the neighbouring countryside, including two other country houses Sledmere and Burton Agnes. The latter built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and containing a splendid collection of 20th century paintings. The former City of Culture is also on the list with a visit to the Ferens Art Gallery, followed by a brief visit to the City Hall to see the collection of Hull silver and then to the “Museum Quarter” situated on the High Street, the centre of Old Hull
TRAVEL
By Car
Carlton Towers is in the village of Carlton, A1041, DN14 9LZ. Entrance gates on left towards end of village.
By Train
The nearest main railway station is York. 20 miles.
See www.yorkstationtaxis.co.uk which should be booked in advance.
DRINKS
Your dinner at Carlton Towers will include wine. If, in addition, you require other alcoholic or other drinks during your stay the house staff will be on hand to take your order which will be billed to you separately as an extra at the end of your stay. There is a bar adjacent to the Card Room
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
Could you please indicate if you have any specific requirements? If we do not hear from you on this matter, we will assume that you do not have any specific requirements. Lack of this information may give rise to problems, particularly with pre-ordered meals.
EXPEDITIONS
As you will see from the attached itinerary, daily expeditions have been arranged to complement your visit. Please note that, where applicable, all meals are included but do not include wine or any alcoholic refreshment which should be bought separately. Wine is included in the evening meal.
ACCOMMODATION
The accommodation at Carlton Towers is first class, every elegant bedroom has its own bathroom, and is decorated in traditional “country house” style Details are attached to your booking form. Please stipulate when booking which room you require. There is no single room supplement.
Carlton Towers Itinerary
1st-5th September 2024
Sunday 1st September
Guests arrive in time for afternoon tea at 3.30pm.
3.30 Afternoon tea in the Venetian State Room
Introductory talk by Nicholas Merchant, followed by a guided tour of the main rooms of the house
19.00 Meet in the Venetian State Room for a glass of champagne and canapes
19.30 Dinner served in the Duchess Dining Room with wine.
Monday 2nd September
8.00-9.00 Breakfast; Venetian State Room
10.45 Depart for Everingham
11.30 Arrive Everingham. Visit Basilica, St Mary the Virgin & St Everilda
The most startling feature of Everingham is the enormous Basilica which towers over the house. Built in 1829 at the time of Catholic Emancipation, it would be a worthy addition to the churches of the Eternal City
12.30 Lunch (included)
14.00 Visit to House. As you see, Everingham is a plain, elegant mansion built in around 1760 by John Carr. Comparatively little known, Carr, built mostly in the North of England, Harewood House probably being his best-known commission. Here we have a guided tour of the principal rooms.
15.30 Depart Everingham.
16.15 Arrive Carlton Towers.
16.30 Visit to Vineyard, A tour of the Vineyard with Martin Coates, Head Gardener.
17.00 Wine Tasting with Nick Waine..
19.30 Dinner in Cardroom with wine.
Tuesday 3rd September
8.00-9.00 Breakfast.
9.00 Depart Garton-on-the Wolds.
!0.00 Arrive Garton on the Wolds. In this small village on the Yorkshire Wolds is an astonishing sight. Here is one of the churches which was embellished in the late 19th century by Sir Tatton Sykes of Sledmere, employing G E Street, the eminent Victorian architect. His most celebrated work is the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand’.
10.30 Depart Garton on the Wolds’
10.45 Arrive Sledmere. The home of the Sykes family, who have been here since 1703, when Mary Kirkby, married Richard Sykes. Today’s house dates from 1751, it was severely damaged in 1911 by a fire and reconstructed largely echoing the architecture of the original house. The library is a particularly remarkable room. Guided tour.
13.00 Lunch in the Stable block (included).
14.00 Depart for Burton Agnes.
14.30 Arrive Burton Agnes “A splendid and glittering composition” in the words of Mark Girouard, the architectural historian. Built in the reign of Elizabeth ! (just).by the most celebrated architect of his day, Robert Smythson. It shares a kinship with the likes of Hardwick, Longleat and Woollaton all designed by the same man. Spectacular screen and fireplace in the Great Hall and a Long Gallery that leaves others standing..
16.45 Depart for Carlton Towers.
17.45 Arrive Carlton Towers.
19.30 Dinner with wine in Picture Gallery.
Wednesday 4th September
8.00-9.00 Breakfast .
10.00 Depart for whole-day visit to Hull.
10.45 Ferens Art Gallery. A late-comer to the art galleries of northern cities, financed by industrial wealth, the Ferens was opened in 1927. It is a compact neo-classical building endowed by its namesake T R Ferens, a local philanthropist. It displays a broad spectrum of paintings including a good selection of Dutch Golden Age paintings including a charming Frans Hals, a number of 19th century artists such as Hornel, Lord Leighton and Lady Butler, more particularly a Lavery of one of Hull’s more famous sons, Lord Duveen,also in evidence are maritime subjects which you might expect in a city owing its fortune to the sea. Introductory talk followed by free-flow visit.
12.30. Buffet lunch served in the Restaurant.
14.00 After lunch we walk with our guide, Mike Rymer, to the Museum Quarter, passing as we go the magnificent 19th century Guildhall. A chance to see the Collection of Hull silver. The Museum Quarter is situated in the High Street, the heart of 18th century Hull. Here we find not only Wilberforce House, the birthplace of the anti-slavery pioneer William Wilberforce, but also a further collection of rare Hull silver, two other museums in the vicinity are the Hull and East Riding Museum, and the Transport Museum..
16.30 Return to Carlton Towers.
17.30 Arrive Carlton Towers.
19.30 Dinner with wine in Duchess Dining Room.
Thursday 5th September
8.00-9.00 Guests depart after Breakfast.
Booking Form
Please use the brochure below, to choose your room for the Booking form.