SUMMER AT STONYHURST
Visit Stonyhurst College this summer to view the world renowned historic collections, experience one of the region’s best food festivals and enjoy open-air theatre in the stunning grounds
When students at Stonyhurst College leave for their summer holidays, the College opens its doors to visitors who are able to experience a series of fascinating events and gain a unique insight into what life is like at this prestigious boarding and day school.
Within this vast, imposing historic building, Stonyhurst has the biggest collection of English Catholic artefacts and books in the world, including relics from saints, remains of martyrs, silverware and ancient manuscripts.
A total of 60,000 books and 75,000 artefacts including animals and insects from the natural world, make up the Stonyhurst collections – many tracing the school’s history back to 1593 when it was founded in France.
This summer visitors to the College will have the opportunity to view the historic collection of books and artefacts when the Chapel Museum opens its doors every Wednesday throughout July and August. Opened in December 2017, the Chapel Museum has the oldest museum collection in the English-speaking world, dating back to 1609.
Objects on display include:
• First folio of Shakespeare
• Medieval manuscripts
• Prayer books belonging to Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth of York
• Natural history collection
• Historic church vestments
• Manuscripts written by Gerald Manley Hopkins
“Within the Stonyhurst collections we have items from every continent in the world including 12th century ceramics dating back to before the Incas, artefacts from the North American plains and a celestial globe used by astronomers in the 16th century to locate Mecca,” says Stonyhurst’s Curator of Collections, Jan Graffius.
Some of the religious items donated to the College were given to the school for safe keeping during the conflicts in the 16th and 17th century when Catholic artefacts had to be kept hidden.
This summer sees a variety of exciting and interesting events hosted in the College grounds. Following the success of Stonyhurst’s first open air theatre production in 2017, Chapterhouse Theatre Company will be performing Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’, set in the beautiful Jesuit Gardens. The College itself is steeped in literary history, Arthur Conan Doyle was a former pupil of the school and his signature is engraved in his old school desk displayed to this day in the Do Room. All of which can be viewed during a tour of the College.
For motor enthusiasts, don’t miss Stonyhurst’s first Classic Car and Motorcycle Show this August. The event will feature an exciting display of vintage, classic and modern vehicles, as well as providing the opportunity to peruse the Stonyhurst gardens. As always the Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair will return at the end of July, followed by the fabulous Great British Food Festival over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, ensuring there is something on offer this summer for everyone!
For more information call: 01254 827014 or email: enterprises@stonyhurst.ac.uk
CHAPEL MUSEUM OPEN DAYS
Every Wednesday throughout July and August
THE ADVENTURE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Friday 13th July
The Chapterhouse Theatre Company will perform an open-air production of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Deep in the beautiful Northumbrian countryside a terrifying mystery and a legendary nemesis await the arrival of the world’s greatest detective. When the wife of Doctor Watson suddenly disappears, a desperate quest to find her begins.
Bring along a rug and picnic and bask in the College’s magnificent Jesuit Gardens. The grounds are open to ticket holders from 5pm, and the performance begins at 7pm.
GALLOWAY ANTIQUES & FINE ART FAIR
Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th August
STONYHURST CLASSIC CAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW
Sunday 12th August
A spectacular day of motoring heritage ideal for enthusiasts, day trippers and families. The display will also include a variety of club stands, sports and convertibles, kit, custom and replica and American vehicles.
STONYHURST OPEN WEEKEND
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August
The College, Chapel Museum and gardens will be open to the public for guided tours. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the various chapels and historic rooms within the building. This includes the Great Hall with portraits of the seven former pupils awarded the Victoria Cross, and the table on which Cromwell is reputed to have slept the night before the Battle of Preston in 1648.
Guided tours will run at set times throughout the day and will include entry to the Chapel Museum. Café facilities onsite, as well as entry to the gardens.
THE GREAT BRITISH FOOD FESTIVAL
August Bank Holiday Weekend
For the sixth consecutive year, the Great British Food Festival will be returning to Stonyhurst College. As always, the event promises to be a fun-filled day of food, drink, music, shopping and more!
Celebrity chefs will take their turn on the chef demonstration stage, whilst the main outdoor stage is packed with live music acts of all varieties.
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst
Clitheroe BB7 9PZ
enterprises.stonyhurst.ac.uk
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