One of the main purposes of the Trust is education – implemented in the following way:

ARCHIVE

The Trust had been assembling an archive on Copped Hall and its estate long before it purchased the mansion and gardens. The archive covers all aspects – including architectural details, planting, information on the people involved, etc...

The Trust welcomes any information (or objects) relating to Copped Hall whether it be verbal, photographic, drawings, etc... People should write to the Trust Administrator at 112 Torriano Avenue, London NW5 2SD.

EDUCATIONAL TOURS

The guided tours are arranged on the two annual Open Days, on our public tours every third sunday of the month and for special interest groups who book up throughout the year. These tours cover the gardens, walled garden, racquet court and part of the mansion- including the cellars.

STUDY DAYS

Tickets available from Alan Cox: 020 7267 179
Email: Coxalan1@aol.com
112 Torriano Avenue, London NW5 2SD

Helen Lowther – Gardening Workshop

Tuesday 1st April 9.30am to 4.00pm. Cost £35
Price includes coffee or tea and home made biscuits on arrival and lunch in the Racquets Court. Also included is a planted specimen that can be taken home. This informative and practical workshop will cover the basics of gardening and is ideal for giving extra confidence and knowledge for the enthusiastic new gardener.

The areas covered will include advice on soil/potting composts, seeds/sowing, pricking out/planting up, garden tools, pest and diseases and more. This will be a hands-on workshop.

Helen is an experienced gardener, who has been chair of a local organic gardening group and part of the advisory team on the HDRA stand at the Chelsea Flower Show. Helen manages four allotments and is in charge of the 450 foot long herbaceous border at Copped Hall. Helen is a trained adult education tutor.

William Tyler – “The Social History of the English Country House Garden”

July 8th 10.00am for 10.30am start. Cost £25
Price includes coffee or tea and home made biscuits on arrival and lunch in the Racquets Court.

William Tyler will follow the story of the gardens of the great English Country Houses, not by the plants grown or the garden design employed, but rather through their social history. The relationship between the outside staff and the inside, as well as the relationship between the garden staff and the family will be explored. The uses made by the family of their gardens will also be explored whether as places of intrigue, of politics, of retreat, and even of liaisons – forbidden or otherwise.

William Tyler is an adult educator, very well known in the county for his talks and lectures on history, both local and national.

Peter Lawrence – “Wanstead Parklands – Five Centuries of History Revealed”

August 7th 10.00am for 10.30am start.
Cost £25
Price includes coffee or tea and home made biscuits on arrival and lunch in the Racquets Court.

From a royal hunting estate to one of the finest classical estates in England, this Study Day sets out, century by century, the development of possibly the most exotic estate ever designed so close to London and the centre of trade. Included in the Study Day will be the results of recent research into families that developed Wanstead, their power, influence at Court and, in the end, their downright stupidity.

The study day will be fully illustrated, including video clips.

Peter Lawrence is a well-known local lecturer on historical subjects such as architecture and local history.

Dilys Bidewell – Summer Drawing Course

Tuesday 17th June, Tuesday 24, June Tuesday 1st July - 9.30 am to 5.00pm
Cost £30 per day - which includes tea or coffee on arrival, a ploughman’s lunch and afternoon refreshments.

Note : It is possible to choose to attend any or all of the days.

All days must be pre-booked and pre-paid before the 2nd June.
The course is limited to 10 people per day.
The historic architecture and formal gardens of Copped Hall offer a rich and varied range of subjects to anyone interested in drawing from observation. The course will provide an opportunity to spend time in this inspiring location, while developing your drawing skills, at your own pace, with the one-to-one support of an experienced artist and tutor. There will also be a brief presentation of different aspects of drawing at the start of each day.

All levels of experience are welcome, including beginners. The course places no restrictions on the choice of media used for drawing. Easels will be provided.

Dilys Bidewell is an artist and qualified teacher. Originally trained as an architect, Dilys has an MA in Fine Art and has taught as a regular visiting lecturer on the BA and MA Fine Art Painting Courses at Wimbledon College of Art since 1991. She has also conducted summer schools for Central St Martins at Byam Shaw School of Art.

Please telephone Dilys Bidewell on 020 7267 1679 or email or email dilysb1@aol.com for any questions to do with the course

COURSES

ARCHAEOLOGY

The Copped Hall site is an important archaeological site. Its recorded history starts in the 12th century. A programme of excavations is being carried out, under the aegis of the Copped Hall Trust Archaeological Project (CHTAP), on the site of the earlier Copped Hall, which stood at the northern end of the gardens and was demolished in 1750. Tudor, medieval, Roman and Iron Age finds have been unearthed. The CHTAP Field School offers archaeologists who have already learned the basics of excavation and recording the opportunity to develop their skills further.

Instruction will be given in the context of actual excavation. (A training dig for beginners is not being offered this year.) Certificate for attendance is available. The Field School will run from Monday to Friday in weeks beginning 11th and 18th August. Over-night accommodation will not be provided. Bookings must be for one or two whole weeks, not single days. Cost £100 per week (includes lunch and refreshments).

For more information write to:
Pauline Dalton, Roseleigh, Epping Road, Epping, Essex CM16 5HW. Tel. 01992 813 725.
Email: pmd2@ukonline.co.uk

LECTURES

These are held at Theydon Bois Village Hall. Tickets cost £5 per lecture. Tickets available from:
Francis Dennett, 7 Highfield Green, Epping, Essex CM16 5HB
Tel. 01992 610713.
Email: mail@dennetf.fnet.co.uk
Tickets are also available on
the door. Tea and biscuits are available in the interval.

Alan Cox “Last Year at Copped Hall”
March 16th 7.30 for 8.00pm
Alan Cox is the co-founder of the Copped Hall Trust and its architect. He will give an overview of the achievements at Copped Hall within the last year.

Lecture to be announced
October 5th 7.30 for 8.00pm

Georgina Green – A Comparison between two 18th Century Gentlemen”.
(“Sir Charles Raymond of Valentine House and John Conyers of Copped Hall November 16th 7.30 for 8.00pm.)
Georgina Green is well known for her talks and writings on local historical subjects – using her own thorough research.

SCHOOL AND COLLEGES

Copped Hall is used by schools and colleges. Apart from the gardens and the exhibition in the racquets court, the inside of the mansion now provides much of interest.

OUTSIDE LECTURES ON COPPED HALL

Certain Trustees and Friends regularly give lectures on Copped Hall to local interest groups.

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE

The Trust is happy to share their experience with regards to the saving of historic landscape and buildings. Several individuals and groups have approached the Trust over the years and the Trust has given advice.

TIMELINE

A number of the Friends have assembled a timeline on large display panels along one side of the racquets court – showing 1000 years of the history at Copped Hall. This informs both adults and school children alike.

top