Events for 2026
Lotherton Hall
£30 - 23rd March
This afternoon's visit focuses on the furniture collections at Lotherton Hall, which is part of the Leeds Galleries and Museums group. The house was the home of the Gascoigne family in the 19th century and was given by the family to the City of Leeds in 1968. It contains a fine collection of furniture, paintings, ceramics and other art, which includes much of the Gascoigne’s original furnishings.
Our tour will be led by Curator Adam Toole and Assistant Curator Caroline Newton. It will include a look at the current exhibition, Botanically Beautiful, which explores the way British artists and designers have been inspired by nature. This will be a self-drive event and attendance is limited to 16 people, so please book early.
Bookings for this event close on 2nd March 2026
Holmes Antiques, Howarth
£20 - 3rd June
Chippendale Society members David and Christian Holmes have invited us to study their extensive collection of 17th and 18th-century furniture at their premises in Haworth’s famous Main Street. Holmes Antiques is a long-established family business, specialising in fine quality oak, mahogany and walnut furniture. David and Christian will share with us their extraordinary knowledge and experience, infused with a lifelong belief in quality, originality, colour and patina.
Morning coffee on arrival has been booked at the nearby Cobbles and Clay cafe. Afterwards, we will drive to Ilkley to enjoy a light lunch at the home of Chippendale Society member Jonathan Sutton, with an opportunity to study some of his antique furniture and other decorative arts. This is a self-drive event, and places are limited to 16.
Bookings for this event close on 4th May 2026
Manchester Art Gallery and the John Rylands Library
£35 - 9th July
This visit begins with a behind the scenes tour of the furniture collection at Manchester Art Gallery, led by Curator Jennifer McKellar and Chippendale Society Chairman Dr Adam Bowett. Among the highlights are furniture by Thomas Chippendale senior and junior, as well as by their great rivals, John Mayew and William Ince. After lunch, we will have an opportunity to view the Gallery’s fine art collections before reconvening at the nearby John Rylands Library. The library was commissioned by Enrique Augustina Rylands in memory of her husband John. It was designed by the celebrated architect Basil Champneys and opened in 1900. It now houses an extraordinary collections of early books and manuscripts as well as more recent material such as the papers of Elizabeth Gaskell. Our tour here will be led by Dominic Marsh of the John Rylands Library and Chippendale Society conservator Tim Phelps. Tim has worked extensively at Rylands over many years and has unrivalled knowledge of this unique building and its fittings, and these will be the main focus of our visit. Attendees should travel to Manchester by car or train; all venues are within 15 minutes’ walk of Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria rail stations, where buses, trams and taxis may be found. The walk between the Art Gallery and John Rylands Library takes about 8 minutes. The cost is £35, to include lunch, and places are limited to 20.
Bookings for this event close on 1st June 2026
Bowes Museum and Raby Castle
£72 - 5th August
This event begins at 10.00 am with a curator-led tour of the Bowes Museum, focussing on the furniture collection. The wide-ranging collection includes fine upholstered furniture from Gilling Castle, with its original woollen needlework upholstery. There is also an outstanding textile collection here. From the Bowes we drive a few miles to Raby Castle, the medieval seat of the Neville family, later acquired by the Vane family and extensively renovated in the 19th century. It remains the home of Henry Vane, Lord Barnard, and his family. Lunch will be provided in the Vinery, after which a guided tour of the Castle take us through to about 4.00 pm. Members will then be free to wander the gardens or take tea in the café. We hope to be joined for both tours by Rupert McBain, furniture conservator and advisor to both the Bowes Museum and Raby Castle.
Bookings for this event close on 29th June 2026