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Members' Event: Stone Hut: Research & Objects

Join us at Dover Castle for a talk focusing on a specific collection of Richborough Roman Fort. Hear about the planning process for opening the new museum including research, object lists, what didn’t make it and why, how we go about designing a display case and the conservation work that has been done for the project. This is a chance to see some objects close up, including things that will be displayed for the first time in decades and some that will be staying in store and wouldn’t otherwise be seen.

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Members' Event: Wildflowers and Meadows

Join Head Gardener Kate Slack for a talk on wildflower management and the meadows of Marble Hill. Enjoy a guided walk through the meadows and learn how you can encourage wild flowers in your garden.

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Members' Event: Whitby Walking Tour

Join Yorkshire Blue Badge Guide Sarah Milne-Day on a tour of the iconic town of Whitby. Starting at the spectacular Gothic ruined abbey, we will head down the famous 199 steps into the picturesque town and harbour to discover all about the history, industry and characters hidden in the winding alleys that make this such a fascinating place. In the 125th anniversary year of the publication of Dracula, we will also discover what inspired Bram Stoker to write and set his classic story here.

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Members' Event: Explore Great Witcombe Roman Villa

Join Dr Susan Greaney, English Heritage Senior Properties Historian for a guided tour of the ruins of this Roman villa. Learn about the wider villa estate and nearby industrial or workshop areas, enjoy a chance to see the spectacular floor mosaics in the Roman bath house, and hear about the possible shrines and temples at the site and what they tell us about Roman religious beliefs.

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Members' Event: Exploring Dartmoor's Pre-historic Landscape

Join our expert guide Olaf Bayer on a day out exploring Dartmoor’s prehistoric landscape. Discover Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeology, from stone rows and circles, to cairns, settlements and fields. This day offers the chance to visit prehistoric sites and understand their place in Dartmoor’s ever-changing landscape. Olaf Bayer is an archaeological investigator with Historic England. He has worked extensively on sites and landscapes in South West England. His doctoral research focused on prehistoric sites and stone tools in the lower Exe valley.

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Members' Event: Walking the Roman Mile

Join Properties Historian Andrew Roberts on this guided walking tour as we take in the ‘Roman Mile’. This continuous, mile-long section of Hadrian's Wall will take us from Birdoswald Roman Fort to Gilsland, taking in the turrets, bridge and milecastle before we walk back to Birdoswald for a light lunch in the café. We will explore Hadrian’s grand vision and how the Wall functioned.

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Conservation in Action: Behind the Closed Door Tour at Belsay Hall

Ever wondered what’s behind the closed doors in Belsay Hall? We’re running some ‘sneak peeks’ into the servant’s quarters to show you the hall’s unusual collection of architrave (building materials and objects) and how they’ve been cared for as part of the Belsay Awakes project.

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Members' Event: Okehampton Castle Tour

Join our expert guide, Mark Bowden and discover the rich history of Okehampton Castle, built by Baldwin de Brionne, one of William the Conqueror's closest companions, as a large motte-and-bailey in a dramatic but somewhat unusual location. It was developed to become, in the 14th century, the largest castle in the county, the palatial hunting lodge of the mighty Courtenay family, the Earls of Devon. Our understanding of the castle was much enhanced by excavations in the 1970s and more recently by analysis of its landscape setting.

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Members' Event: Blue Plaques of St James's

Join historian Dr Susan Skedd on a guided walk around the blue plaques of St James's and discover which famous figures have been commemorated at their former homes. You will encounter many celebrated names, including the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons and a host of prime ministers, and you will also have a chance to visit the house bearing the oldest blue plaque in London.

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Members' Event: Conservation of Temple Church

The medieval Bristol Temple Church is built on the site of the 12th-century church of the Knights Templar. It was destroyed during an air raid in November 1940 and stands today as a roofless ruin. During 2021 and 2022 major conservation repair works are being carried out as part of a plan to move towards allowing public access to the church once again. This tour will include a talk on the history of the church, and a chance to see and hear about the specialist conservation works taking place.