STEP BACK IN TIME…
World renowned Stonyhurst College, a respected Jesuit boarding school, lies in the heart of the Ribble Valley and during the summer months there are a number of opportunities to visit the College
When the doors of historic Stonyhust College close at the end of the summer term and the pupils return home for the holidays, the College opens to the public, playing host to a multitude of events. These range from residential lettings, including religious retreats, international language schools, sports and music camps, to events such as food festivals, antiques fairs, dinners, historic tours and even open-air theatre productions.
The College’s history, character and unique setting make Stonyhurst one of the most impressive venues in the North of England – as well as a wonderful location for films and advertising.
Guided Tours
Throughout the months of July and August the College will be open to the public for pre-booked group tours of 15 or more. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the various chapels and historic rooms within the building.
Seven Stonyhurst College alumni have been awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry and paintings of them adorn the walls of the Top Refectory.
One of the more unusual items visitors will see on a tour is the refectory table in the Great Hall upon which Oliver Cromwell is said to have slept in full body armour, on the eve of the Battle of Preston.
The College also has an impressive art collection, and works by Rubens, Durer and Italian and Flemish masters adorn the walls. Visitors will see a Victorian school desk into which Arthur Conan Doyle carved his name, and collections of artefacts from the Incas, the Far East, India and West Africa, brought back by former pupils and Jesuit missionaries.
Guided tours can take up to an hour and a half, and cost £7 per person.
The tours provide a unique insight not just into student life at the College, but it also gives visitors an understanding of the historic role this building has played through the centuries.
The earliest documentary evidence of a family living on the site now occupied by Stonyhurst College appears in a deed dating from around 1200. The oldest parts of the existing building date from the 16th century.
Originally founded as a school by the Jesuits in St Omer in 1593, by 1794 the College was established on English soil, in what was then known as Stonyhurst Hall, where it has remained to this day, continuing to expand, evolve and thrive as one of Britain’s leading Catholic boarding schools.
Today young men and women at Stonyhurst receive an education which equips them for the 21st century, in a setting steeped in history. Pupils are taught about the history of the College, and are proud of their school’s unique heritage.
Tour of the Collections
The College is also blessed with an awe-inspiring collection of artefacts reaching back to the 16th century. From September 2017, tours of the Collections will be available to pre-book, at a cost of £10 per person. Availability is limited at particular times of the year. It is also possible to combine a guided tour of the College with a tour of the Collections, at a cost of £15 per person.
Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair
This summer, the Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair makes a welcome return to the College. From Friday 4th to Sunday 6th August the fair will be open to the public daily from 10.30am to 5pm, with an array of nationally known dealers exhibiting.
Open-Air Theatre – Great Expectations
On Monday 28th August (Bank Holiday) Chapterhouse Theatre Company will take over the College’s picturesque Jesuit Gardens for an open-air production of Great Expectations. Charles Dickens’ unforgettable story of love, family and friendship will be brought to life in the grounds of the College.
Afternoon tea and tours of the College are also available to pre-book before the evening performance.
Stonyhurst Enterprises’ Events Team
For more information on ticket sales, to book a guided tour or to enquire about holding an event at Stonyhurst, please contact the Stonyhurst Enterprises’ Events Team by emailing: enterprises@stonyhurst.ac.uk or call 01254 827014
Stonyhurst Enterprises
Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe BB7 9PZ
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