Vita Day with Sarah Raven, Juliet Nicolson and Adam Nicolson We ll start the day at 9.30am at Knole with Sarah and Juliet Nicolson (Sarah s sister in law) whose latest book A House Full of Daughters tells the story of Vita, her mother Victoria and Knole. Half the group will stay with Juliet for a talk about Vita's life at Knole. The other half will go on a Vita centred tour (mainly outside in the different courtyards) with two expert Vita National Trust guides. Everyone is then free to wander at Knole, including the showrooms, Gatehouse Tower, the Orangery and Studio. There will then be a simple sandwich lunch in The Hayloft, after which you can spend more time at Knole, visit Perch Hill or have an hour or two relaxing. We then meet at Sissinghurst at 5.45 where we will then go into the garden for talks with Sarah and Juliet (with a glass of local, Chapel Down fizz) when it s closed to the public. The day ends with dinner at Sissinghurst, cooked by the Perch Hill team, at 8pm. OWN TRANSPORT IS NECESSARY This day includes a tour of the house at Knole, and a 3-course dinner at Sissinghurst The day runs from 9:30am onwards Booking Wednesday 3 rd July 2019 195.00 Click here to book 600184
Itinerary Morning 9.30 onwards arrival at Knole: Park in the public car park and make your way to the Hayloft 9.30-10.00 Tea/coffee served in the Hayloft on arrival and meet Sarah, Juliet and your guides from Knole. The group will then be split into two. 10.00-11.00 Group 1 will stay in the Hayloft for a talk by Juliet with slides on Vita s early life and family at Knole. 11.00-12.00 Group 2 Vita-centred tour with Knole guides. The tour will focus on Vita within the broader history of Knole, taking place mainly outside, telling Knole s stories within the courtyards. Swap over groups 12.00 13.30 13.30 Afternoon All - independent visit to Knole showrooms and Gatehouse Tower with Vita booklet. All Simple sandwich lunch with crisps, fruit, tray bake and cordial in the Hayloft In the afternoon, there are various options. 1. Stay at Knole your tickets (which you will be handed on your arrival at Knole will be for the whole day) 2. You are welcome to visit Perch Hill and walk round the garden there (this is 50- minute drive from Knole and then 45-minutes from Perch Hill to Sissinghurst) 3. Go to wherever you re staying and have a break Travel to Sissinghurst (transport not included) either direct from Knole (45 min) or from Perch Hill (45mins)
Evening 17:45 Arrival at Sissinghurst Everyone will meet (and be checked in by Perch Hill staff) outside The Granary Restaurant. (There are some loos here, but none in the garden). You will be given a garden map, so for those new to the garden, you ll be able to find your way around. There are outdoor tables and benches to sit at if you want to arrive early, but the café is still open for the National Trust at that stage, so we cannot as a group sit inside. Sunny evening plan 18.00 Meet Sarah and Juliet who was brought up at Sissinghurst. 18.15 Go into the garden, which is then closed the public. The Perch Hill team will serve you Chapel Down, our local vineyard s Champagne, (Chapel Down are not allowed to call it Champagne) and some simple canapés on the courtyard lawn. Sitting on the Tower Steps, or (depending on watering in the garden) in the rose garden, you will then hear a couple of talks. Cushions are provided for everyone to sit on the brick steps and there are a few benches, but do let us know if you d like a chair provided. And do let us know if you are hard of hearing so we can arrange for you to sit at the front. We do not use microphones (as this is not good for the general feel and atmosphere of the place, which is very peaceful with no one else there). Juliet will give a 15-20-minute talk on the history of Sissinghurst and their family life as they grew up there. Sarah will then talk briefly about the making of the garden at Sissinghurst, Vita s garden style and what has happened there since she died in 1962. She ll also point you to the best bits of the garden in early July.
Rainy evening plan Checking in by a Perch Hill member of staff and Champagne, canapés and talks will be in the Elizabethan barn (just to the RHS of the restaurant). The above talks will have to take place standing. Please do let us know if this is a problem and we need to arrange a chair. We will then go into the garden and the evening will proceed as below. 18.50 (approx) 19.45 19.45 Private wandering in the garden. Sarah and Juliet will be around for this part of the evening to answer questions on Sissinghurst, the garden and life there. It s a good idea to take a photo on your phone of any plants you want identifying to show Sarah. The Tower and the South Cottage will be open through this time. Meet in The Granary Restaurant. You will be shown to shared tables by one of Sarah s Perch Hill team. Do let us know if you have any particular seating requirements, or would like to sit with anyone else also coming when you book your place. Please ensure any dietary requirements are clearly marked on your booking form. 20.00 Sarah and Juliet will be there to sign their books and answer any more queries. They have both written a book linked to Sissinghurst A House Full of Daughters by Juliet Nicolson, Vita Sackville West s Sissinghurst: The Creation of a Garden by Vita Sackville West and Sarah Raven. They will then leave you to have dinner. 3 course dinner cooked and served by the Perch Hill team, using recipes from one of Sarah s cookbooks served with complementary white or red wine.
Locations and Further information Knole - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole#how to get here Address: Knole, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RP Sissinghurst - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden#how to get here Address: Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Biddenden Road, near Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2AB Attendees should park in the main National Trust Sissinghurst Castle and Garden car park. Make your way to the Granary Restaurant which is easy to find. You will be greeted and checked in by one of the Perch Hill team. Perch Hill Farm Perch Hill Farm, Willingford Lane, Brightling, Robertsbridge East Sussex TN32 5HP. The carpark is clearly marked Please bring umbrellas and realistic coats and shoes just in case of showers/rain! Terms and conditions apply. Please click here for more information. Completing and paying for your order shows acceptance of our full terms and conditions.