U3A Trip April 2026

Today we had a coach trip with U3A Bury St. Edmunds to The Manor in Hemingford Grey and Island Hall in Godmanchester.

This was the description of the trip.

We will start with a visit to The Manor at Hemingford Grey.  Although originally built around 1130 (it lays claim to being the oldest continually inhabited house in the country) the Norman heart of the house had been largely masked by later additions and a Georgian façade.  Lucy Boston purchased it in May 1939 and she took much of the interior back to its original form and soon began work on the wonderful gardens. 

The house was made famous as the house of Green Knowe in her series of children’s books now regarded as classics.  Apart from the fictional St. Christopher on the side of the house, almost everything in the books can be found at The Manor.  Her son Peter’s illustrations depict many of the things in the house and garden.  In the winter as well as writing she made many exquisite patchworks, most of which are on display.

The Manor is now lived in by Lucy’s daughter-in-law Diana Boston who keeps the gardens open all year round and welcomes visitors into the house by appointment.  The old roses, rare irises and enchanting topiary draw in the horticultural connoisseurs, while the building itself has a raft of rich stories to tell which we will learn about on a guided tour.

 

We will then be taken to Island Hall at Godmanchester for a guided tour of the house and part of the gardens by the owner Christopher Vane Percy followed by tea and biscuits before we depart.  Island Hall is a distinguished 18^th century Georgian mansion set on the banks of the Great River Ouse.  Built around 1749 as a combined wedding and 21^st birthday gift for John Jackson, the Receiver General, the house later passed through several hands and survived wartime requisitioning and a serious fire in 1977.  The property takes its name from a striking two-acre ornamental island connected by the Chinese-style bridge.

The Island Hall you see today is a dream fulfilled for Christopher Vane Percy, one of the country’s leading interior designers, who has taken the elegant bones of the ravaged building and with affection skilfully restored the grandeur, theatre and fun for future generations of his family and visitors.  It is now home to his daughter Grace and her young family.

Here are some of my photos.

Firstly The Manor at Hemingford Grey. We had passed it on the path along the river many times on walks from St. Ives, but had never visited. See links to my blog posts about those walks at the end of this blog post.

We were in the first group to tour the house. Here is Diana giving us the introduction outside the house.

As well as telling us about the social history, Diana explained the architectural history of the house too. You can see some of the original Norman stonework in places.

Hidden behind a door was this room. It was used to entertain soldiers from nearby on a Friday night during the war. It still has the original gramophone from the time.

Diana played us a 1930s recording of Ernest Lough singing "Abide With Me", which was used to end the musical evenings each week. The sound quality was amazingly good. Ernest when younger was the first famous choirboy. You can see a documentary about him here.

Upstairs we were shown some of Lucy's remarkable patchwork quilts, several of which were produced in her 80's and 90's. The stitching was so small it was impossible to see. Photographs were not allowed, so I can't show you any here but you can read about them and see a few here.

The children's room has lots of features that appear in Lucy Boston's books.

Dawn bought the first of the books in the little shop. "It is of it's time", is how she described it after starting reading.

We had plenty of time to explore the gardens. The topiary includes representation of a set of chess pieces.

We also took a quick trip along the river to St James' church, Hemingford Grey.

Back in the gardens.

Dawn bought a pot plant which should look this once it grows. It is a Lamium orvala, also known as a balm-leaved red deadnettle or balm-leaved archangel. 

I do love fritillaries.

We stopped for lunch just up the road at the Axe and Compass, Hemingford Abbotts.

They did very well to serve 40 of us. Dawn had the pie of the day and I had fish and chips.

Before getting back on the bus we had time for a quick visit to Hemingford Abbots church - St. Margaret's.

The bus was waiting for us by the pub.

Now to Island Hall.

We had seating laid out and cups and saucers for tea afterwards.

Christopher talked us through the history of the place and its inhabitants and showed us round.

We had some time to explore the gardens and island.

Then it was on the bus back to Bury St. Edmunds.

A great day out. Thank-you Pat for organising the trip and to Diana and Christopher for the very informative tours. You can see more of my photos here on Flickr

Related posts you find on my blog include

• Cambridge to St Ives Walk (Feb 2019)
• St Ives and The Hemingfords Walk (July 2019)
• St Ives Walk (June 2021)
• St Ives, Houghton and The Hemingfords Walk (Aug 2021)
• St Ives and The Hemingfords Walk (Jul 2023)
• St Ives Walk (Aug 2024)
• St.Ives Walk (Jun 2025)