Easter Courses

Stately Homes and Country Gardens

Overview

This course runs for two weeks from 30th March – 12th April and aims to allow students to visit and study a number of stately homes and gardens round the city of Oxford.

Description

This course combines tutorial sessions with visits to stately homes and gardens in the environs of Oxford, which boasts a wealth of places of interest. In our tutorial sessions, we look at the architectural history of the grand English house and among other visits we take guided tours of Blenheim Palace, a splendid example of English Baroque designed by Vanbrugh and with grounds designed by Capability Brown. We also visit Oxford's Botancial Gardens, the oldest garden of its type in the world with over 7,000 plants.

The course tutor is Dr. Belinda Beaton. Belinda is a Canadian who has recently completed a D. Phil at Oxford in Modern British History. She has been interviewed on BBC radio and television, and writes freelance articles on museums in Britain and Europe.

In general, there are class sessions in the morning, followed by a visit to a place of interest in the afternoon. Private study is encouraged, with readings being given between tutorials so that students can develop their knowledge and understanding of specific elements of the course, that they are free to choose themselves.

Course Contents

• The aristocracy, the Gothic, the Norman, technical terms

• Elizabethan Houses and Evolving Garden Design

• Seventeenth-Century Baroque

• Georgian Palladian and Neo-Classicism

• The Arts and Crafts Movement and William Morris

Trips Include

• Tour of Oxford Colleges

• Tour of Botanic Gardens

• Visit to Warwick Castle

• Visits to Broughton Castle and Buscot Park

• Study trip to Print Room of the Ashmolean Museum

• Visits to Compton Verney and West Wycombe Park

• Tour of Harcourt Arboretum

• Visit to Blenheim Palace

• Visits to Kelmscott Manor and Waddesdon Manor

• London tour of Apsley House

This is one of our adult courses, which constitute part of the Academy's continuing education division. We also offer summer courses in literature, science, philosophy, psychology, music, art. film, and architecture. New courses are frequently added to the website, so if this course does not match your requirements, keep checking the website.

In addition, we can make tailor-made courses to suit your requirements - just email us at admin@oxford-royale.co.uk and let us know what you are looking for.

Accommodation

Students will be accommodated on the site on Oxford University. Click for a guided tour of the University and Colleges.

Excursions – Oxford Based

Included in the course fees, is a full schedule of sightseeing activities and social events in the city of Oxford. For a sample timetable go to www.oxford-royale.co.uk/tours2007.html and view the Corpus Christi timetable.

Excursions - Outside Oxford

Students wishing to travel outside Oxford, can visit places of historic interest, such as London, Hay-on-Wye, Bath and Blenheim Palace. These tours are an additional cost to the standard programme.

Application

You can either book online or you can download a paper application form and send it back to us.

Deposit

There is a booking deposit of £395.00 to accompany your application. Confirmation of your place will be sent to you once your application form has been processed.

Further Information

If you require any support, please either email us or give us a call on +44 (0) 845 130 60 21.