Hi All, I thought that you would like to know what happened on my trip to Sherborne this weekend to meet young Byron Hadley and Charles Sherborne Dutton along with my partner Liz. We drove down through Cheshire and Staffordshire into Warwickshire and stopped at Warwick for afternoon tea just around the corner from Warwick Castle. After a pleasant walk around Warwick, we carried on our journey into the Cotswolds through Moreton-On-The-Marsh and Stowe-On-The-Wold to Bourton-On-The-Water where Byron lives, about eight miles from Sherborne. We stayed at a small 'bed and breakfast' called 'Polly Perkins' which was an excellent choice and where I intend to stay next time I visit. We visited Byron's house early in the evening for our formal introduction to Byron and his family where we went up to his bedroom to look at various artifacts that he had gained from the Sherborne estate from the late Julien, cousin to the last Earl of Sherborne. We left Byron after arranging to meet him at 10.00am on Saturday morning at the 'Polly Perkins' tea room and promptly drove back into the village to have our evening meal at one of the several inns. Saturday morning arrived and so did Byron. Charles had telephoned from just outside Oxford and said that he would go straight to Sherborne to meet us there and so off we went. On arriving at Sherborne house we found Charles stood in the car park talking to a Mr.Whitehead (I think) who lives in one of the flats (appartments) that Sherborne House has now been divided up into, he was to be our guide around the estate. Once again formal introductions took place as neither Byron or myself had met Charles, although I had spoken to him once or twice at work as we are both employed by British Telecom, I in Manchester and Charles in Croydon (just south of London). Introductions over, we all made our way over to the family chapel which is annexed to the House and where there are memorials to the Barons and their families. I took quite a few photographs in the chapel along with video footage of all the memorials and the stained-glass windows which were of similar lettering to those found at Dutton Hall. From the chapel we walked to the main entrance of the House and in we went. WOW!! What a size. We walked around inside through the corridors and looked at the staircases before going up to Mr.Whitehead's appartment to look inside. It was beautiful and much bigger than I expected with a view to the rear of an exquisite cloister and to the front of the front lawns. What a lucky man!! He told us about several of the residents and advised us that one flat was coming up for sale which represented about 8% of the interior and would probably cost in the region of £450,000 with about £10,000 to pay annually for upkeep. If I could only win! the Lottery! On and outwards we walked the grounds, into the indoor swimming pool and solarium, through to the orangery into a rear courtyard where the old cool room, a round building where the game and other meat was stored, and past the stables which were converted into garages. There was another building which had been bought by an American gentleman to stop it being bought by a company which he converted into more appartments, and back around to the graveyard and the Chapel where we had begun our tour. The views in and around the house are beautiful and I'm sure that those of you who decide to come over in the Summer will enjoy a visit to Sherborne and the same tour as Mr.Whitehead has offered the same service to you all. >From Sherborne, we went to Lodge Park, this was originally the hunting Lodge for Sherborne House which is now owned by the National Trust and is where the remaining portaits and artefacts will be going on show later this year. Unfortunately, the Lady who was to allow us into Lodge Park had unexpectedly had to go to London and so we couldn't go in and so I haven't seen the paintings yet, but I have seen several black and white photographs of them. From Lodge Park we drove to a nearby inn, the Sherborne Arms, where we had a light lunch and looked at the photographs that Byron had brought with him in a well kept album. Charles left us at the inn as he had to be back in London to meet a friend, and so Byron tool Liz and I to Windrush, a village that he grew up in and where Julien lived at Windrush Manor up until her death where she was buried at the small village church along with her sisters, they had not been intered at Sherborne as room had been left for male members only. We dropped Byron back at home, thanking him and promising to come back soon as we would like to see the paintings and other artefacts before the Summer. Supper in another inn in Bourton and sleep before the journey back today. We called in at Moreton-On-The-Marsh to look around before driving on to Stratford-Upon-Avon for lunch and a good walk around. We left the land of Shakespeare and drove back up through Warwickshire and Shropshire into Cheshire and up to Dutton where I showed Liz where the Hall had originally stood, then on to Great Budworth before driving home. The photographs will be ready some time next week when I finish off the second film in the camera, but the video is there for all to see now, only about 15 minutes in length but fifteen wonderful minutes. Well, let's look at UK in 2K. I took the opportunity to speak to Byron and Charles about the matter and Byron says that there will be no problem visiting Sherborne House and Lodge Park and there is plenty of accomodation in and around Bourton-On-The-Water to stay. Charles lives around 20 minutes drive from Stoke Newington School (Dutton Hall) and says that he can find accomodation in that area to stay. As for Cheshire and around Chester, there are several places to stay so we now need to formulate an itinary to suite everyone. Let's see what is on offer. Dutton Interests 1) Stoke Newington School (Dutton Hall). 2) Sherborne House, Lodge Park, Windrush. 3) Chester, Dutton. 4) The Cheshire Records Office at Chester for research. Other Interests 1) London. 2) Stratford-Upon-Avon. To do all of the above we would need a day for each of the Dutton interests, maybe two days at the Records Office for some people. To see London we would need at least two days and one day for Stratford making a minimum of seven days and a maximum of ten days. Depending on numbers, we would need to hire a small minibus (12-15 seater) and a means of transporting your luggage around from hotel to hotel. I could drive the minibus and would need to organise someone to carry the luggage, but that wouldn't be too much of a problem. Hotel accommodation would need to be arranged with everyone in the same hotel so that we could socialise in the evenings and get to know each other. Your flights would need to be arranged to fit in with each other, some of you may arraive or depart on the same flight across the atlantic, who knows. We need to arrange dates to suit everyone. Mid June may not be suitible for everyone. I need to know your thoughts so that a firm arrangement can be made in the next few weeks as you are all going to need to book flights etc., and I will need to arrange accommodation at this end. Can I ask those of you who are really interested to give me dates when you would prefer to visit, maybe a choice of dates if you can and if you post the letter open on the web, we can all look at them and interact together so that I don't have to make the final descision. Also, I have given you and idea of an itinary, what are your thoughts on the matter. Before I close, I will give you my thoughts on a suggested itinary :- Day 1) Arrive England (Manchester International Airport prefered) and travel to hotel. Day 2) Visit Dutton (walk around site of original Hall) and Chester (walk around city walls, visit various places of interest, Cathedral, roman sites etc.) and visit Cheshire Records Office if time. Day 3) Visit Cheshire Records Office. Day 4) Drive down to Stratford-Upon-Avon. Spend a few hours in Stratford, have lunch then on to Bourton-On-The-Water for evening meal and hotel. Day 5) Visit Sherborne House, Lodge Park and Windrush and drive on to East Grinstead to hotel. Day 6) Visit Stoke Newington School (Dutton Hall) and on to London for open top tour bus drive around the city. Day 7) Day in London seeing the sights by foot. Day 8) Morning in London and then drive back up to Cheshire for hotel, celebration Dinner. Day 9) Depart for those who need to. Extra day could be added in London and Cheshire and there may be other places that you would like to suggest to visit. Regards and love to you all. Colin