THE HARVEIAN SOCIETY OF LONDON
Lettsom House, 11 Chandos Street, London, W1G 9EB
020 7580 1043
The Harveians on Tour
Harvey Pilgrimage and Audley End House - Thursday 2nd September 2010
At 9.30am a coach took us from Chandos House to Hempstead, where we had a guided tour of St Andrew’s Church and William Harvey’s tomb. We also went down to the crypt where many generations of the Harvey family are kept in sealed lead coffins.
The President learns the history of Hempstead church
Lunch was taken in The Bluebell Inn where Dick Turpin was born in 1705.
Afterwards the coach took us to Audley End house which was given to Lord Audley by Henry VIII after he had dissolved the abbey which stood on the site. Later his descendant Thomas Howard, Lord Treasurer and 1st Earl of Suffolk commissioned the immense Jacobean house.
When it was built in 1614 it was the largest house in England, and James 1 joked that it was too big for a king but not for a Lord Treasurer!
Nevertheless, Audley End became a royal residence in 1669 when it was purchased by Charles II. It was also used by James II and William and Mary.
We were given a guided tour of the house which has a magnificent library and a large collection of stuffed birds and animals.
Following afternoon tea we returned to London by coach.
47 members and guests attended.