Willington Local History Group

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Summer Trips

 

After a successful season of talks, the History Group embarked on our summer outings...

 

 

St Andrews Church in Kimbolton

 

Our first visit in May was to St Andrews Church in Kimbolton.  Despite the inclement weather, we were warmly greeted by the Churchwarden and his wife (who is the Kimbolton History Group all by herself). 

 

Text Box:  They gave us a tour of the Church pointing out the many and varied monuments and inscriptions, dedicated to the earls, countesses and duchesses of Manchester.  However, the icing on the cake was the stained-glass window in the south chapel by American glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of the founder of Tiffany’s Jewellers in New York.  The window depicts the twin daughters of Consuelo Yznaga, an American of Cuban descent and widow of the 8th Duke of Manchester.  Because of the weather, we were unlucky not to be able to see the window in its full glory.

 

After the tour, we were treated to tea and homemade cake – well worth braving the elements for!

 

 

The Panacea Museum

 

Text Box:  Our second visit in June was a complete contrast.  We went to the Panacea Museum in Bedford.  This museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a Christian group formed in the early twentieth century who created their own 'Garden of Eden' in the centre of Bedford. The Panacea Society was made up mostly of women and its leader was Mabel Barltrop – the widow of an English clergyman, and mother of four children– whose followers called her ‘Octavia’.  When she died, Joanna Southcott took over as leader.  She was hailed as the Messiah and she sealed a selection of her prophecies in a box and declared that it should only be opened in a time of national danger, by 24 bishops of the Church of England.  Since her death, this box has been kept safe, ready for when the bishops request it.

 

Our tour of the Museum included being shown ‘Panacea Healing’, for which the Society became renowned and interest spread all over the globe.  This healing consisted of tiny little squares of cotton which the leader had breathed on and which, apparently would cure all ills; over 120,000 people have applied to the Panacea Society for healing since it began.

 

The Museum is a fascinating place is still kept in its original condition and a visit is certainly to be recommended.

 

 

Boughton House

 

For our third and last trip, in July, we went to Boughton House near Kettering.  The House is the English home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry and is a mixture of a family home and a grand estate.  Its mixture of intimate courtyards and palatial 18th century additions have earned it the title of ‘The English Versailles’ which inspired Universal Films to use Boughton in the latest film adaptation of Les Misérables. 

 

Despite arriving late – in fact, we were the only visitors that day – we were treated to excellent customer service.  We were given a fascinating tour of the stunning rooms filled with beautiful artworks, including several Old Masters, Sèvres Porcelain and Boulle furniture.  The house has changed a great deal over the centuries and there is one wing which is still unfinished.  A door in one of the upper rooms is always kept locked and on visiting the unfinished part, we could see why.  It’s a long drop to the stone floor beneath!

 

 

After three successful Summer visits, our next meeting is back to normal.  On Tuesday 17th September, Rob Bollington will be interviewing Gordon Vowles on his long and varied life.  It’s Gordon’s 93rd Birthday, so we hope you’ll come along to the Methodist Chapel at 7.30pm to help us celebrate.

 

 

                                               Sue Harland