Centenary Events: Shropshire

Dudmaston Hall (credit: National Trust)Dudmaston Hall

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-dudmaston

INSPIRED BY DUDMASTON

Tuesday 16 June, 12.30 to 4.30pm

Workshop based on Dudmaston Hall. Free admission (bring lunch, or buy at café). Book with Dudmaston Hall, Quatt, Near Bridgnorth WV16 6QN, or e-mail dudmaston at nationaltrust.org.uk

Monday, 20 July, 11.30am – 3.30pm

Workshop based on the gardens and grounds at Dudmaston, Arrangements as above. Poems for final display to be submitted by the end of July.

For further information contact Paul Francis: francisliberty at btinternet.com

The Dudmaston Estate, near Bridgnorth, covers 3,500 acres of beautiful countryside, Dudmaston Hall is an attractive house, impressively set above a lake, surrounded by wonderful gardens. Beyond them are varied woodlands, including the Dingle Walk, based on an eighteenth century model. The Hall has a wide range of rooms and artefacts, as well as housing exhibitions of modern art and botanical drawings. It remained in the ownership of one family for over 800 years, and its history is packed with interesting characters and fascinating stories.

Paul Francis and Miriam Obrey have spent a busy month assembling a display of poems and photographs, with help from local writers. Their hope is that this will stimulate visitors to become involved in writing their own poems about the hall, garden or grounds. Local schools will be sent a free pack of information and photographs, and will also be encouraged to send in poems. There will be whole-day workshops on June 16 (the Hall) and July 20 (garden and grounds), as well as shorter sessions in August, leading up to a final display and readings.

For further details, contact Paul Francis francisliberty at btinternet.com