A full day visit on Thursday 25th April 2024 to Compton Verney Art Gallery & Grounds

Date and Time

April 25, 2024    
10:00am

Location - Compton Verney Art Gallery & Park

Compton Verney, nr Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV35 9HZ


The site at Compton Verney has medieval origins.  However, the present Grade I-listed house was built in 1714 for George Verney, with alterations and additions made by Robert Adam in the 1760’s and John Gibson in 1855 and is set in 120 acres of Grade II listed classical parkland.  It was developed from a small deer park, dating from the medieval period and certainly still in existence by the mid-17th century. Landscaping took place in circa 1714 and 1728.  In 1768 Lancelot Brown (1716-83) prepared plans for the surrounding landscape, to replace the early 18th century formal gardens.  Compton Verney is one of a group of sites in Warwickshire on which Lancelot Brown advised in the mid and late C18. After decades of neglect in C20th including a failed attempt to build an opera house on the Old Town Meadow – the site of the deserted medieval village, Compton Murdak – the property was restored following its purchase by the Peter Moores Foundation in the 1990s.  Compton Verney now houses six permanent art collections, focusing on areas under-represented in British museums and galleries.

Compton Verney has announced a wide-ranging programme of exhibitions to mark its 20-year anniversary in 2024.  GGLT’s visit coincides with the ‘Landscape and Imagination’ exhibition.  This exhibition explores the relationship between art, gardens, and landscape through a range of loans by major artists such as JMW Turner, Nicolas Poussin, Ian Hamilton Finlay, and Anya Gallaccio.

We shall have a guided tour of the exhibition in the morning led by the Senior Curator, Oli McCall.  After lunch (see below), the Landscape Manager, Fiona Tansey, will lead a guided Tour of the Grounds.

There will be free time to explore the permanent collections and buildings – the Chapel is well worth a visit.  For other exhibitions taking place at the same time, please see https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/compton-verneys-20-year-anniversary-2024-programme-announcement/

Provisional Itinerary

  • Recommended arrival: 10.00am
  • Welcome – Coffee/tea & biscuits (approx. 10.30am)
  • Morning – start time to be agreed – guided tour of ‘Landscape and Imagination’ Exhibition with Senior Curator Oli McCall.
  • Lunch – see refreshment options below.
  • Afternoon: time to be agreed – guided tour of the Grounds with the Landscape Manager, Fiona Tansey.
  • Free time after to look at more galleries/the grounds. Or take a drive to look at Compton Verney’s estate village, Combrook, still considered to be one of the best-preserved estate villages in the country.

Lunch options

  • Optional group lunch of sandwiches and salad garnish with tea/coffee (£10)
  • Picnic in grounds.
  • Lunch can also be purchased in the restaurant; however, it is usually busy with queues.

Access: Shuttle minibus available to avoid the 10-minute/500 yards walk from car park (where the Welcome Centre with toilets is located).  The two Guided Tours will involve standing and walking, however, if members don’t have their own, stick stools and wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge from the Shop upon arrival (subject to availability).  For more detailed info on Access, see https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/plan-your-visit/access/

Costs: £42.00 per person to cover Entrance, and Two Guided Tours: Exhibition (am) and Grounds (pm).  Entrance gives access to all the Galleries and Grounds together with all other temporary exhibitions.  Grounds open 10 am, house/galleries open 10.30 to 5.30 pm.

Lunch: Add £10.00 for Optional Sandwich & Salad Garnish Lunch, served with Tea/Coffee.

Discounts available for the following:

  • Compton Verney Members – deduct £15.30 (please bring membership card).
  • Art Pass-holder (formerly Art Fund) – deduct £5.40 (please bring Art Pass).

Full-price bookings (£52 incl. lunch) will also be accepted.

Tickets

  • Visit only (no lunch) – £42.00
  • Visit with lunch – £52.00
  • Compton Verney Member (no lunch) – £26.70
  • Compton Verney Member with lunch – £36.70
  • Art Pass card holder (no lunch) – £36.60
  • Art Pass-holder with lunch – £46.60