Secrets of County Durham & North Yorkshire with Nicholas Merchant

Departing: May 2027 - May 2027

Delve into the some of the hidden treasures of County Durham in the company of Nicholas Merchant, an expert lecturer on Decorative and Fine Arts. Set in picturesque countryside, this quiet corner of northern England is home to a collection of lesser known, yet equally fascinating, country houses and historical buildings packed with fine furnishings and fascinating art collections. Highlights of this tour include a guided tour at Ushaw College and an opportunity to meet the library Curator and see up close some of the delicate artefacts housed in the collections here, a guided tour of Hovingham Hall and a visit to the Bowes Museum, home to 'The Curiosity Project,' shortlisted for Permanent Exhibition of Year at the Museum & Heritage awards.

Included

Explore Ushaw & Rokeby Park, with entrance fees included
All other visits as outlined in the itinerary
Professional Tour Manager
4 nights at the Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington
4 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 4 dinners
Return standard rail travel from London to Darlington (regional connections can be arranged & upgrades are also available at a supplement; £100pp reduction for no rail travel)
Private air-conditioned coach travel

Highlights

A guided tour at Ushaw and an opportunity to meet the curator
A guided tour of Hovingham Hall
The fine art and furnishing collection of Rokeby Park
The extensive collection at the Bowes Museum

Nicholas Merchant

Nicholas is a freelance lecturer in the Decorative and Fine Arts and an accredited Arts Society lecturer. He lectures extensively across the UK and Europe, as well as internationally in the USA, South Africa and New Zealand.

Tour Itinerary

We depart London Kings Cross station for Darlington, where we make our way to our hotel. In the early evening, we enjoy a welcome talk and drink with our expert Nicholas Merchant before dinner.
(Please note: connecting rail travel to Darlington from other stations is available on request or there is a discount of £100pp for those making their own way to Darlington).

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington

This morning, we depart for Ushaw, a former Roman Catholic seminary, home to a host of treasures behind its stern façade. We enjoy a guided tour of the building, which as its centrepiece has a spectacular chapel designed by Augustus Pugin, better known for his work on the Houses of Parliament. After a light lunch, we enjoy a library tour with a display of some of the rare tomes in the collection. We later meet the Curator who shows us rare items of the Catholic heritage, including medieval textiles and embroidery. After tea in the Francis Thompson Room, followed by free time and a chance to wander around the gardens, we depart for our hotel. We meet prior to dinner for a short talk with Nicholas on the destinations we visit tomorrow.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington

Today begins with a visit to Raby Castle, the seat of Lord Barnard, whose family have been here since the 17th century. Like so many moated medieval castles it was 'modernised' in the 18th century under the eye of the architects James Paine and John Carr. As a result, magnificent silken-walled state rooms are filled with Meissen porcelain, the statue of the Greek Slave by Hiram Powers and paintings by Marco Ricci, Joshua Reynolds and David Teniers.

We later visit the Bowes Museum, a unique enterprise founded in 1869 by John and Josephine Bowes in a French-style chateau dominating the Tees valley. The collection is particularly strong in 18th and 19th-century French fine and decorative art and, of course, the renowned silver swan. Once again, we meet before dinner for a short talk with Nicholas on tomorrow's destinations.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington

After breakfast, we depart for Hovingham Hall, the family home of Sir William Worsley. His great, great, great, great grandfather Thomas Worsley designed and built the hall, and the house is a blend of his passions for both horses and architecture. The Palladian style house was built in the 18th century on the site that the Worsley family have occupied since the 16th century. There are vaulted ceilings on the ground floor, while the principal rooms have different architectural styles and are gracefully decorated and furnished. The house is also home to collection of paintings, sculptures and furniture. To the north and west of the house lie the beautiful gardens with exquisite yew hedges, sprawling lawns and flourishing flower beds. A principal feature of the gardens is the 17th-century dovecote.

This afternoon we visit Rokeby Park, a Palladian villa designed by Sir Thomas Robinson – one of the finest in Britain and comparatively unknown. Sir Thomas was an enthusiastic amateur architect and designed the West wing of Castle Howard. Now the home of the Morritt family who have been here since 1769, Rokeby Park is home to a fine collection of furnishings and art, including a version of the Rokeby Venus.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington

Following breakfast, we depart the hotel for Darlington station and our return journey to London by rail.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation

Set within attractive parkland on the outskirts of Darlington, the Blackwell Grange Hotel is a characterful 17th-century country house combining historic charm with modern comforts. Housed in a former Georgian mansion dating from 1693, the hotel offers an elegant space in a peaceful setting. Guests can enjoy excellent leisure facilities, including a swimming pool and spa, while the restaurant serves a range of locally inspired dishes. Its convenient location makes it an ideal base for exploring County Durham and the surrounding countryside.

Availability & Booking

2027

17th May from $1,940

Call to Book

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