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PRODID:-//Warwickshire Gardens Trust - ECPv5.3.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN
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X-WR-CALNAME:Warwickshire Gardens Trust
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://warwickshiregardenstrust.org.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Warwickshire Gardens Trust
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DTSTART:20250330T010000
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250924T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250924T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T100135
CREATED:20250721T142400Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T142400Z
UID:14264-1758722400-1758733200@warwickshiregardenstrust.org.uk
SUMMARY:Stoneleigh Abbey and Park
DESCRIPTION:Stoneleigh Abbey and Park \nStoneleigh CV8 2LF. What 3 Words firm.visits.these. \n24 th September 2025 at 2.00pm \nOriginally a Cistercian Abbey dating from 1154\, it came into the possession of the\nLeigh family as a reward for granting hospitality to Charles 1 during the civil war.\nIt remained in the Leigh family until 1990. Much of the present house largely\ndates from work carried out by builder Francis Smith of Warwick between 1714-\n1726 in the Baroque style. The Saloon is acknowledged to be one of the great\ninterior spaces of the Georgian era.\nIn 1808 Reverend Thomas Leigh invited Humphry Repton to Stoneleigh Abbey to\nsuggest improvements to the grounds. For many weeks Repton stayed as a\nguest of Reverend Leigh. During his stay he would take measurements\, paint\nwhat he saw and walked the surrounding lands. He returned the following year\nwith the Red Book showing his recommended improvements and a self-portrait. Most\nof the improvements were concentrated on the Avon and the land below the\nsouth front of the house\, where the river was widened into a lake to create a\nmirror pond to be seen from a viewpoint on the far side of the river. There was\nalso a new drive to the house from the Coventry to Warwick Road with gate\nlodges. However\, many of Repton’s other suggested changes were either altered\nor ignored following Thomas Leigh’s death\, in 1813\, which effectively ended\nRepton’s involvement. Subsequent improvements were carried out by James\nHenry Leigh and his wife Julia. The Reverend Leigh’s inheritance\, in 1806\, had\nbrought with it a connection to his cousin\, Jane Austen\, who fictionalised the house as\nSoutherton in Mansfield Park and featured Repton in the narrative\, depicting an\nestate in need of remodelling.\nThe Abbey and grounds are now a charitable trust. Our visit will begin with a tour\nof the house\, including an opportunity to view Repton’s Red Book. After\nrefreshments\, there will be time to explore the Repton grounds which have been\nthe subject of restoration in recent years\, including the reflective lake\, gazebo\nand walks. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for outside use\, although\nno boots should be worn for the interiors.\nCost: including admission\, tour and tea/coffee and cake is £25.00 for\nmembers/£30.00 for non-members.\nDirections: Stoneleigh Abbey is located off the A46 on the B4115. Head south on\nthe A46 from the A45/A46 junction. Take the exit signposted Stoneleigh/Warwick\nArts Centre. Turn left at the Stoneleigh signpost and then turn right at he B4115\nsignposted Stoneleigh Abbey & Ashow. After 1.5 miles the Abbey is signposted\non the left. \nBook here!\n  \nImage attribution: Snowmanradio\, CC BY-SA 4.0\n<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://warwickshiregardenstrust.org.uk/event/stoneleigh-abbey-and-park/
LOCATION:Stoneleigh Abbey\, Leamington Spa\, Warwickshire\, CV8 2LF\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:WGT
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://warwickshiregardenstrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2048px-Stoneleigh_abbey_27j08.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Paul%20Baker":MAILTO:info@warwickshiregardenstrust.org.uk
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