To book your place or if you have any questions, please email info@tivertonartsociety.co.uk. Mention your name and which day or days you would like to attend.

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Friday 9 May at 2.00pm – Bickleigh Castle EX16 8PR 

Originally built as a Saxon Meeting House in 600AD, & later in 1086 listed in the Domesday Book, the castle has a very long & fascinating history. Today we are permitted to sketch in the gardens & courtyard. 

Directions – Heading on the A396 out of Tiverton towards Bickleigh take the right turn onto the A3072 just before the bridge at Bickleigh (direction Crediton) & see brown tourist sign for the castle. After a short distance, take a left turning following the brown tourist sign. Parking is in a designated area before the main drive to the castle. Donation of £3 cash for this venue.  Feel free to join us at Bickleigh Mill from 12.30pm for a light lunch beforehand. WC available + WC & tea available at the Mill until approx 4pm. Meet in front of the castle at 2.00pm.

Thursday 22 May at 2.30pm – Tiverton Castle EX16 6RP

Originally built in 1106 by order of Henry I & enlarged in the 13th & 14th centuries. A lovely sketching location with castle, ruins & walled garden.

Directions – on Park Hill right next to St Peter’s Church. Free parking on site. Enter by the narrow left hand green gateway by the castle cottage & park on the lawn. WC available. Charge is £3 cash for access to the gardens only or £10 for entrance to the castle interior. Alison, the owner, will provide tea & biscuits at the end of the session. Meet inside the gardens at
2.30pm when it opens.

Monday 9 June at 2.00pm – Knightshayes EX16 7RQ

A great post-war garden, 19th century parkland and grand Gothic Revival architecture. 

Directions – Turn off the Tiverton to Bampton road (A396) at Bolham. Park in the second car park at the far end of the drive up the hill behind the old stable block. Free for NT members with a membership card, otherwise pay & display. WC & cafe open until approx 5.00pm. Feel free to join us from 12.30pm for a light lunch in the cafe. Meet outside the ticket office & garden shop at 2.00pm.

Thursday 26 June at 10.30am – Kingwood Children Muddifords, Muddifords Court, Willand EX15 2QG

Now for something completely different!  We have been granted special access to our venue today which is set within 14 acres & is a child daycare & educational centre which draws inspiration from nature. We may be invited to engage with some of the children to share our drawing & painting interests with them. Cake & drinks available for sale from the barn cafe from 12.30pm. WC available & if wet, shelter is available. Meet at 10.30am on site.

Directions – from Willand Road, turn down Swanhams Lane to see signed entrance.

Wednesday 2 July at 2.00pm – Bridwell Park, Uffculme EX15 3BU

A late 18th century landscape park & pleasure grounds with lake. Until recently, home of Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a descendant of Queen Victoria. Hidden from public view for 240 years, its gates were opened in 2015. Entrance & parking is free & the Orangery Cafe is a great place for food & drinks & is open until 4.00 pm approx. Feel free to join us for lunch in the cafe from 12.30pm. WC available. Meet outside the café at 2.00pm. 

Directions – From the A38 from Tiverton going towards Wellington, turn right onto the B3181 towards Uffculme. Take the second left onto Bridwell Avenue. At the end of the Avenue you see the iron gates on the left hand side at the entrance to Bridwell.

Monday 21 July at 2.00pm – Ashley Court, Tiverton EX16 5PD

We return to the Regency home of Tara Fraser which is surrounded by woodlands & gardens, including a walled garden nestling in the Exe Valley. Tea & cake available for £6 cash. WC available. Meet in front of the house at 2.00pm.

Directions – Leaving Tiverton on the A396 towards Bickleigh, take the right turn at the sign indicating right to Ashley and then next left. Ashley Court is on the left a short way along Ashley Back Lane. Park alongside the verge to the drive.

Tuesday 5 August at 2.00 pm – The Anchor, Exebridge TA22 9AZ

This venue proved popular a couple of years ago, so we are returning! The pub has a pretty garden & has access to the riverbank & nearby bridge. Feel free to join us for lunch there from 12.30pm prior to sketching. Park in the large area on the opposite side to the pub. Meet in the pub garden at 2.00pm.

Directions – On the B3222 between Bampton & Dulverton.

Wednesday 3 September at 2.00pm – Taunton Museum, Castle Lodge, Castle Green, Taunton TA1 4AA

This year the Museum of Somerset celebrates its 10th anniversary. It is located in the 12th century great Hall of Taunton Castle. We have been given permission to sketch inside the museum where “perching blocks” are available in the main exhibition room & the museum will lend folding chairs for inside use. If the weather is kind, you may want to bring your own chair & sketch in the courtyard or on the castle green in front of the building. The cafe will be open until 4.00 pm approx. WC available. Feel free to join us for lunch in the café from 12.30pm prior to sketching. Meet inside the front entrance at 2.00pm

Directions – Two of the closest pay-and-display car parks to the museum are Enfield as well as Castle Street which adjoin TA1 4AS. From there, it is a short walk through a park along the right hand side of the river, turning right over a footbridge and entering the museum via the back door. Walk through the shop to the front door entrance & the courtyard beyond.

Note: That evening at 7pm an outdoor performance of The Most Perilous Comedie of Elizabeth I will be performed in the grounds. This is a ticketed event & attendees can bring a picnic. See the museum website for more information.