Belmont House and Faversham Magna Carta and Charters Exhibition – May 2023

Belmont House is marvellous example of Georgian architecture that has remained completely unspoilt. We shall start our visit with refreshments before a guided tour of the house. Belmont is a neo-classical brick country house by Samuel Wyatt, faced in pale mathematical tiles with Coade stone dressings. The light interior includes a fine staircase, hall and interesting collections of Indian and English furniture, as well as an outstanding clock collection. A lifelong passion for horology led the 5th Lord Harris to accumulate one of the largest personal collections of clocks in the country. Six generations of the Harris family have each left their mark on this lovely country house.

After the tour there will be time to visit the gardens that are full of interest throughout every season. The Kitchen Garden was originally designed by Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd and has beautiful Victorian Greenhouses, along with figs, hops, soft fruits and traditional apple and pear varieties. The Walled Garden contains a pond and is adjacent to the Pinetum complete with grotto.

After lunch we will travel to Faversham where we will meet our guide who will take us to see the Magna Carta and Faversham Charters Exhibition. Faversham has a magnificent series of royal charters granted to the town by successive English monarchs. The earliest surviving Faversham charter dates from the reign of Henry II in 1252, followed by eighteen more granted by 1685. Most of these were carefully kept.

For a town of its size, the charter collection of Faversham is one of the finest anywhere in England. After which there will hopefully be time to visit a café before our journey home.

Visit essentials:

Depart APMH at 8.45am

Refreshments on arrival at Belmont House before the Guided Tour

Sandwich lunch at Belmont

Depart Belmont for Faversham at 2.15pm

Guided Talk at the Charter Exhibition

Depart Faversham 4.30pm

Cost – £56pp