Our spring events

West Horsley Place reopens to visitors this spring with a programme of special events, guided tours and open days.

From 7 April, visitors will be able to see the GladRags Banner, which will go on public display for the first time.  The idea of artist Diana Burch and delivered in partnership with West Horsley Place Trust, the GladRags project launched during the first Covid-19 lockdown in April 2020, inviting the local community to create small textile squares – using whatever they had available – to represent what made them feel glad during this extraordinarily challenging time. 

The project continued throughout 2020 and, over the course of last year, the squares have been collected and sewn together by a group of local volunteers who have enjoyed meeting weekly at West Horsley Place to create the GladRags Banner, which will be installed in Place Farm Barn (open Wednesday – Friday until 10 June, free with no pre-booking required).

Our pop-up café in 1960s milk float Winnie, run by Marsha of Tiger Lily Bus Company returns Wed-Sunday from April 6th. 

On 12 May, award-winning author and classicist, Daisy Dunn, will give a talk about her latest book, Not far from Brideshead.  Recognised as one of the UK’s leading women historians, Daisy Dunn lives locally and this will be her first event at West Horsley Place. Set in the world that Evelyn Waugh immortalised in Brideshead Revisited, Daisy’s new book tells the true and often funny story of the thriving of knowledge and spirit of fun and foreboding that characterised Oxford between the two world wars. Tickets on sale now.

The first West Horsley Place BioBlitz takes place on 14 May, a community nature survey supported by Surrey Wildlife Trust that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible on the estate across a 24 hour period.  Learning and recording activities will be available for all age groups, including guided walks, conservation activities and wildlife recording.

Details and booking here.

Following their sell-out event last summer, the Three Inch Fools return on 28 May to entertain all with The Gunpowder Plot – whose most notorious ‘plotter’, Guy Fawkes, was a footman at West Horsley Place.  The performance promises fun for all the family and will be staged outside in Home Paddock. Tickets on sale now.

Available on dates throughout April and May, the Nooks and Crannies Tour takes visitors to every corner of the house, including areas not previously seen by the public. Guided by one of the charity’s expert volunteer guides, the Tour is an opportunity for visitors to learn about the history and heritage of West Horsley Place and to discover stories from its 600 year past. Tickets on sale now.

 In addition there will be two Open Days, on 24 April and 15 May.  At these events, visitors will be able to walk through the main rooms of the house, with volunteer stewards in each room to provide information and answer questions.  Visitors can enjoy the walled gardens, where there will be a pop-up café to buy refreshments, and also see the GladRags display (pre-booking is essential and tickets on sale now).

We are delighted to hold our first Weddings & Celebrations Showcase, on 10 April.  Working in partnership with leading event management and catering provider, rhubarb, the Showcase is an opportunity for people planning a special event to explore the beautiful locations available at West Horsley Place. Reserve your place here. 

Significantly, income generated from events and venue hire helps West Horsley Place Trust raise vital funds for the on-going conservation and repair of the manor house and wider estate.

Ben Pearce, Director of West Horsley Place Trust, said: 

“We are so looking forward to opening our doors once again to welcome visitors back to West Horsley Place. 

Bamber and Christina Gascoigne’s vision for West Horsley Place was that it should become a welcoming space for the community to share and enjoy with arts, history, heritage and nature at its heart, and our spring events programme has opportunities across each of these areas.

Whilst we mourn the recent loss of Bamber, we are determined to uphold his extraordinary legacy, ensuring that as many people as possible can benefit from this wonderful place.”