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RHS Bridgewater Visit

REVISITING RHS BRIDGWATER: JULY 8TH 2026

Once the site of the Egerton mansion, Worsley New Hall, the RHS  began developing this derelict land in 2017. W. A. Nesfield had been the garden designer for the Egertons, and the remnants of his work are still encompassed in the modern design. The landscape artist, Tom Stuart Smith was chosen by the RHS to mastermind the scheme. It was opened in 2021.

We visited shortly after its opening when it was a work in progress. We are now going again to see how it is developing. Those of you who did not participate in this first visit are in for a gardening treat.

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Visit to Belfast Hangers

Our day begins at Hooton Hangars on the Wirral. Once a home of the Stanley family, it became an aviation centre in both World Wars. It was even Liverpool airport for a few years. The hangars are now a cornucopia of retired aeroplanes. There is a Second World War theme, because of its connection to the Airforce during this period. There is a collection of Victorian printing presses. We will have a guided tour. Cake and a hot drink on arrival

This visit is linked to, but independent of, David Mottram’s talk at the BLP on May 21st, 2026.

To book please follow this link: https://chestercivictrust.org.uk/hooton-belfast-hanger-visit/

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May Lecture: Hooton Hall and Park

Hooton Hall and Park – A Remarkable History – From Medieval Manor House to Vauxhall Motors

Thursday, May 21 2026, 2pm. at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace

The Stanley family built manor houses at Hooton in 1488 and in 1788. By 1849, they had sold the Hall and estate to Richard Naylor, a Liverpool businessman. Naylor enjoyed horse racing and added a racecourse to the property. In 1914 the War Department requisitioned the Hall and Park. The Park was also turned into an airfield. It became a flourishing centre for aviation.

In the 1960s Shell Research used the runway for car fuel development and in 1962 Vauxhall Motors purchased the site. In recent years the Belfast Hangars have been restored and now host events run by the Hooton Park Trust.

David Mottram gave us a walk and talk last year on Eastham Ferry. He returns this year with a talk about Hooton Hall and Park. David’s talk will be followed by refreshments. The cost will be £7.

Please click this Link to book a place: https://chestercivictrust.org.uk/hooton/

You will only be notified, if you do not have a place at the event.

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April Lecture: Update on Chester One City Plan

First produced in 2012, the One City Plan (OCP) was revised in 2022 through a large engagement process coordinated by Cheshire West and Chester Council. It’s time period covers 2022 to 2045 with its vision for Chester as a place ‘that is proud of its history and confident about its future’.

April’s lecture on Wednesday, 15th April 2026 at 7.30pm. from Andy Farrall will provide an update on the 45 actions areas to be delivered by 2045. It is now in delivery mode. This is being achieved through 5 partnership delivery groups:

  • Making – development, regeneration, investment, heritage, the environment, green and blue networks, enterprise and skills, digital and the public realm.
  • Connecting – transport and mobility
  • Experiencing – culture and health
  • Visiting – the visitor economy and tourism
  • Being-in – safely, management and maintenance.

For info on the Chester OCP go to: https://www.chesteronecityplan.co.uk where you can also subscribe to the OCP newsletter.

Speaker Andy Farrall BA(Hons) MA PGDIP MRTPI chairs the ‘Making Group’ – the delivery partnership that is delivering the development, regeneration, economic growth, environment, heritage and investment stream of the Chester One City Plan.

Born in North Wales, Andy is a chartered town planner and urban designer of some 45 years-experience working in the private and public sectors. Starting in South Wales and in the city of Hull, Andy then led the planning and urban design team at London-based Tibbalds working on major commissions across the UK for major public and private sector clients.

Andy was Executive Director, Development and Regeneration at Chester City Council and then Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director at Warrington Borough Council. He then become Managing Director for Marketing Cheshire and Deputy CEO at the Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership. He now leads his own firm, Andy Farrall Limited, providing consultancy advice for developers, investors, government agencies and local communities. Andy is also a trustee of the Chester Bluecoats Charity and serves on the board of Chester BID.

The lecture will take place at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm. Civic Trust members have FREE admission to the lectures at the Grosvenor Museum. Guests are welcome £5 on the door.

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Summer Social

Following last year’s 65th Celebration Dinner, we are repeating this great opportunity to get together to focus on Chester’s Heritage. On Monday, June 1st at 7pm, Chester Civic Trust will be hosting a special Summer Social for members*. We will also have a mystery guest speaker to give us an insight on ‘Culture and Crowds’.

Chez Jules operates a daily changing menu so cannot say exactly what will be on the menu until the day before but it will involve 2 courses at a special price of £23 per person, including the tip. A sample menu can be seen via the reservation link below.

You will be able to pay Chez Jules directly on the night for your food as above. Any drinks you request will also be added to your bill.

The event is primarily for members but you are welcome to bring no more than one guest. If you want to book more than 2 members, please book again for additional guests and request to sit together. We will try to accommodate your wishes but cannot guarantee this. Please note: There are only 50 places at the dinner, slightly less than the 65 last year, to give us a little more space upstairs.

LINK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR PLACES

We will set up a waiting list, so if you reserve a place and cannot attend closer to the evening, please get in touch with Jane Harrad-Roberts.

*One member at least must be a corporate, couple, family or individual member.
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2026 DATES FOR THE DIARY

  • 2026

JULY 8th
Bridgewater Revisited

JUNE 9th
Visit: Hooton’s Belfast Hangars, Sudley House and St Michael-in-the-Hamlet

JUNE 1st
Summer Social, Chez Jules, Chester

MAY 21st
May Lecture: Hooton Hall and Park, 2pm. at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace

APRIL 17th
Working Class Housing, a talk from Elizabeth Davey, Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, 2pm.

APRIL 15th
Lecture Series: Andy Farrall’s update on the One City Plan, at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm.

MARCH 29 – 3 April
Visit to Gdansk

MARCH 18th – Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm.
Lecture Series: Dr Abigail Lloyd on Place-making with time-depth and connection: how to use historical place-names in modern developments

MARCH 6th
How to Research Your Area with Hough Green Local History Society, Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, 2pm.

MARCH 3rd
A ‘Green’ visit to Liverpool, with an exclusive private tour of St George’s Hall

FEBRUARY 27th
The Friday Afternoon Murder Club, Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, 2pm.

FEBRUARY 13th
The REOPENED Harris Museum, Preston, Lytham Hall with snowdrops and meal.

JANUARY 10th  – Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, 7pm,
New Year’s Quiz

  • 2025

NOVEMBER 28th, – Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, 7.30pm.
A talk from David Ebbsworth on ‘French Fun: We’ll Always Have Paris’.

NOVEMBER 12th at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm.
Lecture Series: Rose McArthur, Director of Highways, Transport and Climate Change for Cheshire West and Chester Council on the Achievements, Forthcoming Plans and Challenges facing the Council.

OCTOBER 30th 
Bradford City of Culture

OCTOBER 13 – 19 
North Lincolnshire study visit for members. The 5 day visit includes Gainsborough, capital of the Vikings, Lincoln’s castle, home to an original 1215 Magna Carta, the Wolds, an area of outstanding National Beauty, Louth, Tealby, the Bomber Command Centre, Tattershall Castle, and the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield on the way back to Chester.

OCTOBER 8th at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm
Lecture Series: Paul Fielding of Lovelock Mitchell on ‘Chester’s other architect – T M Lockwood and Sons and their ongoing architectural legacy’.

OCTOBER 7th – Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, 7.30pm.
Professor Martin Heale on the Abbot’s Residence in Chester Cathedral.

OCTOBER 2nd – AGM – Cathedral Refectory, 7.30pm
Our key speaker will be Lady Alexis Redmond MBE, the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and President of Chester Civic Trust.

SEPTEMBER 25th –  A walk in Eastham Pleasure Gardens.
Following on from the previous week’s talk from David Mottram we visit to see Eastham Pleasure Gardens in person. Limited places.

SEPTEMBER 18th –  Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, 2pm.
David Mottram gives a talk on the history and brilliance of Eastham Pleasure Gardens.

SEPTEMBER 13th, Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, 10am – 4pm.
‘Tea at the Palace’ part of the UK’s Heritage Open Day celebrations September 13-21, come along and bring friends and relatives.

AUGUST 22nd at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace at 2.00pm.
Treasures in the Attic. A talk by Karen McKay.

JUNE 26th, Tuesday 7pm.
Celebration Sapphire Jubilee (65th year) Dinner – more details tba.

JUNE 12th
Day visit to The World of Glass, St Helens and Astley Hall, Chorley.

JUNE 10th at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace at 7.30pm.
Keep up to date with local archaeology

MAY 21st
Special guided tour of Wrexham.

MAY 16th 2pm. at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace at 2.00pm.
The Arts and Crafts Movement in Manchester.

APRIL 16th. at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm
Lecture Series: Peter Cocker will give a talk on Thomas Brassey: The World’s Greatest Railway Builder, celebrated at Chester Railway Station.

APRIL 10th** 
Day visit to Llangollen including a tour of Plas Newydd. lunch and talk on the Pontcysllte World Heritage Site.

MARCH 31 – APRIL 4*
Residential visit to the Surrey Hills including the Watts Gallery and Artists Village (details in the December Newsletter). Following from the lecture in November, a visit to the Watts Gallery and Village will be one of the highlights of the 5 day visit for members of the Trust. Other places of interest during the visit will include Hughenden Manor, the home of Benjamin Disraeli, the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham and a private viewing of the National Trust’s Polesden Lacey.

MARCH 19th at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm
Lecture Series: Colin Potts, Programme Leader International Tourism Management, University of Chester.

FEBRUARY 28th** at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace at 7.30pm.
Chester Witches Peter Elliott and Clare Dudman

FEBRUARY 12th at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm
Lecture Series: Create Streets – a Think Tank currently supporting Cheshire West and Chester.

THURSDAY JANUARY 30th** at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace at 2.00pm
MICHAEL TREVOR BARNSTON, a Life Member of Chester Civic Trust, will give a talk about his family’s illustrious history followed by afternoon tea. Booking forms in the December Newsletter

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15th at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm
Lecture Series: DR JAMES WRIGHT will talk about his recent book ‘Historic Building Mythbusting’

JANUARY 5th 7pm.*
‘Twelfth Night Quiz’ – Bishop Lloyds Palace – £10 including festive refreshments – booking forms in December mail out

 

More dates and details to come!!

Please note Civic Trust members have FREE admission to the lectures at the Grosvenor Museum. Guests are welcome £5 on the door.

(Booking forms for events marked * were included in the September mail out. **were included in the December mail out. )

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