John Vigars Diary - Tours & Lecture Dates

John Vigar has been a professional historian for nearly twenty-five years, specialising in ecclesiastical history and architecture. He is the author of twelve books, including `Kent Churches` and `Exploring Sussex Churches` and has written several dozen church guidebooks. He lectures on church and cathedral architecture at the University of Kent and frequently appears on radio and television. He teaches at Denman College, Oxford and runs specialist day and weekend tours throughout the year. His particular interest is in nineteenth century church restoration, especially that to be seen in his home county of Kent. He is a Trustee of a national charity The Friends of Friendless Churches and Regional Field Officer for Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire for The Churches Conservation Trust.

John E Vigar`s Church Coach Tours 2012

Churches to be visited are subject to last minute alteration

Wednesday 28th March 2012
Canterbury Country
Thanington without, Nackington, Canterbury St Mildred, Hackington
Pick up: Tonbridge School 0830, Maidstone East Station 0920, Rochester 0940

Thursday 12th April 2012
Essex Gems
Faulkbourne, White Notley, Rivenhall, Little Braxted
Pick up: Rochester 0830, Maidstone 0850, Tonbridge School 0935, Witham Station 1050

Thursday 10th May 2012
Border Stunners
Wadhurst, Ticehurst, Hawkhurst, Etchingham
Pick up: Rochester 0830, Maidstone 0850, Tonbridge School 0925, Wadhurst Station 1000

Tuesday 19th June 2012
Churches of The Weald
Staplehurst, Frittenden, Biddenden, Headcorn
Pick up: Tonbridge School 0900, Rochester 0945. Maidstone East Station 1000

Wednesday 25th July 2012
More Romney Marsh Churches
Burmarsh, Newchurch, Old Romney, Lydd
Pick up: Tonbridge School 0900, Rochester 0945, Maidstone East Station 1000

Thursday 16th August 2012
East Sussex unknowns
Salehurst, Mountfield, Ashburnham, Penhurst
Pick up: Rochester 0830, Maidstone 0845, Tonbridge STATION 0930

Thursday 13th September 2012
Essex Miscellany
Great Warley, Great Burstead, Mountnessing, South Weald
Pick up: Rochester 0830, Maidstone East 0845, Tonbridge School 0930, Brentwood Station 1030

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
East Sussex Surprises
Fairwarp, Buxted, Little Horsted, Isfield
Pick up: Rochester 0830, Maidstone 0845, Tonbridge STATION 0930

These day tours are by coach and visit churches that are often difficult of access. A lunch stop is usually made in a town where you can have a picnic or purchase lunch in a pub or café. At each church John gives a short introduction to the important features, after which you have free time to explore at leisure.

The cost of each tour is £25.00 per person and must be booked in advance.

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Exploring Norfolk Churches with John E Vigar

Tuesday 12th June to Friday 15th June 2012

John Vigar invites you to spend a few days away with him exploring many of the wonderful parish churches to be found in Norfolk.

Our base will once again be the very comfortable Best Western Knight’s Hill Hotel at King’s Lynn. The hotel boasts a relaxing leisure centre and accommodation is on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis for three nights. There is no single room supplement.

Travel for the duration of the tour will be by minibus. The tour starts at 2.00pm in Kings Lynn on the Tuesday, to meet the direct 11.45am train from London Kings Cross and ends at 1.30pm on the Friday to allow guests to depart on the 1.56pm direct train to London. Those driving to Kings Lynn can be picked up from the hotel.

We expect to visit about 20 churches over the 4 days, including those built in flint and the rare carrstone. Many will be remote and little visited, and the vast majority are medieval. Medieval glass, round towers and seven sacrament fonts will be aplenty!

The cost of the tour is £395 per person to include 3 nights dinner, bed and breakfast and minibus travel. Lunches are not included but stops will be made in towns for you to make your own arrangements.

BOOKING FORM – NORFOLK CHURCHES TOUR 2012

NAME 1 _______________________________________________________

NAME 2 _______________________________________________________

Type of room required      DOUBLE      TWIN      SINGLE

Please enclose a deposit of £95 per person payable to John Vigar.
The balance is due on 1st May 2012.
Send to John Vigar, Trehaun, 20 City Way, Rochester, Kent ME1 2AB
Enquiries; 01634 400075 or john@johnevigar.com

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 For more details contact John Vigar on 07962 368062

or email john@johnevigar.com

   Useful Links
www.johnevigar.com
www.visitchurches.org.uk
www.friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk

Wednesday April 4^th 2012

Riverhill House and

Himalayan Gardens

Near Sevenoaks

Own transport required

Lifts can be arranged from

Sevenoaks Station

12 .00 noon to 3.00pm

£27.50 to include house tour, lunch and entry to the gardens

This visit raises funds for The Friends of Friendless Churches

Riverhill House is a gracious Regency mansion set on the greensand ridge overlooking the Weald of Kent. Home to the Rogers family since 1840 it is a lovely family home. The first John Rogers was a friend of Darwin and fellow botanist and this explains the formation of the famous gardens.

The gardens will be looking their Spring best and are regularly open to the public. However the house is not open to the general public and ours will be a private tour.

We start with the house tour which will be followed by a ploughman’s lunch. After this you will be free to wander in the gardens. The tea room will still be open if you want to purchase refreshments before you leave.

Riverhill House and Gardens                                              4^th April 2012

NAME 1 ___________________________ NAME 2 _________________________

Address or email ______________________________________________________

I can offer / require ____ lifts from Sevenoaks Station

If you enclose a SAE you will hear final details about 2 weeks before the event. If you write your email address above we will contact you via that medium