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Kings Langley Evening Women's Institute
For our August outing, 32 of us coached to Ashridge College where we had tea and a fascinating guided tour round this old house, once a monastery.
There is little medieval evidence but the present house was founded in 1808. Sir Jeffrey Wyatville and family were responsible for the designs of the fine mansion we see today and once home to the Duke of Bridgewater.
A stunning wall-hanging was made for the millennium and was seen in the main hall. A splendid cantilevered staircase rises to three levels leading to a domed roof and steeple.
Many portraits add to the scene. Outside we saw a vista which covers sweeping lawns, an arboretum and a Wellingtonia Avenue and many flower borders. A chapel and ancient well- house and stables show evidence of the residence of the Earl and Countess Brownlow.
Nowadays the estate is a wonderful site for conferences and training courses with about 200 bedrooms. Then we drove on through some of the 500 acres of the surrounding National Trust estate to a splendid dinner at The Bridgewater Arms.
Ladies of all ages are welcome to our meetings, on the second Tuesday of each month in the community centre at 7.30pm. Enquiries to Linda Brady on 01442 831763 or Rene Gardner on 01923 264715.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
