Marches of Time 2025
Saturday the 19th of July, at Stokesay Court near Ludlow
The 3rd annual weekend of History themed talks in the beautiful settings of Historic Marches Country Houses
As Pitchford Hall takes a well earned break in 2025,
Stokesay Court will play host to the event on
Saturday the 19th of July 2025
Tickets now on sale
Bringing History to Life, with something for everyone in the setting of this wonderful Marches family home.
Stroll and picnic in the gardens with Stokesay Court as your backdrop, before being entertained by a variety of interesting speakers in the house.
Join the epic Treasure Hunt in the grounds, based on characters from Piers Torday’s Book
Meet Re-enactors in period dress, watch the falconry display, enjoy home-cooked food, barista coffee & local ice cream and explore the grounds.
‘Gardens & Falconry Entry’ Tickets available so the whole family can come and make a day of it, even if the talks are not for them.
The Line up for 2025 so far:
Piers Torday, is a bestselling and award-winning writer for children, best known for The Last Wild series (Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize) and his stage adaption of John Masefield’s The Box of Delights (RSC/Wilton’s Music Hall).
His latest book, Midnight Treasure, explores his Transylvanian heritage and was a Times Children’s Book of the Year 2024
Katherine Carter, is a Curator and Historian who has managed the house and collections at Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s country home, for more than a decade.
Her book Churchill’s Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm (Yale University Press) has received rave national and international reviews as “a stimulating and enjoyable work that shows us interwar politics from an unfamiliar angle” - Literary Review
Christopher Pullin, was Chancellor of Hereford Cathedral from 2008 until 2022, where his responsibilities included oversight of the magnificent library and archives - including one of the best surviving copies of the 1217 Magna Carta - as well as the cathedral’s educational work.
In 2014, 2015 & 2017 he accompanied the cathedral’s Magna Carta to cities around the world, introducing its history and significance to audiences from Houston to Beijing.
Join the Treasure Hunt!
Will you find the characters from Piers Torday’s books hiding in the grounds, to come up with the secret word and win some ‘treasure’.
Free for children attending the event, so book your Garden & Falconry Tickets now to avoid disappointment and be part of the hunt.
And for your Evening Performance:
White in the Moon the Long Road Lies
A recital of song settings and readings from A. E. Housman’s
A Shropshire Lad and More Poems
including songs by Butterworth, Barber, Ireland and Berkeley
and piano works by Ireland and Bax
Sung by former WNO Mezzo-Soprano Cassandra Manning
with renowned pianist and accompanist Caroline Jaya-Ratnam
PLEASE NOTE THAT, DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN POSTPONED - STOKESAY COURT VERY MUCH HOPES TO PLAY HOST TO CASSANDRA AND CAROLINE LATER IN THE YEAR
To keep updated on this please go to www.stokesaycourt.com
Meet our Founding Patron:
Marches of Time are delighted to announce their Founding Patron:
Fiona Hodgson, Baroness Hodgson of Abinger.
Fiona’s areas of interest include International Women's Issues, Animal Welfare, Foreign Affairs and Gender & Equality.
A proud resident of The Marches, Fiona is keen to support Arts and History in the area and help introduce this oft overlooked part of the country to a wider audience. By becoming our first Patron Fiona hopes to increase the public awareness of the varied things that The Marches has to offer to people of all ages and backgrounds.
“I am so enthusiastic to support Marches of Time which is such an exciting initiative. It will bring the rich history of the area alive and introduce us all to many fascinating topics and people who contribute so much to the area. I hope you will all offer your support too by attending and inviting others!”
With thanks to Our Sponsors:
Stokesay Court, Craven Arms, SY7 9BD
“The most grandiloquent Victorian mansion in the county” - John Newman, Pevsner’s Buildings of England
Stokesay Court and Pitchford Hall are proud to be members of Historic Houses
If you want to join our mailing list please contact us:
marchesoftime@gmail.com