The Berkshire branch of the Cambridge Society’s annual weekend away trip was to the Malverns. We started the tour in the market town of Worcester, where we had a tour of the Cathedral followed by lunch in the Cloisters.  After lunch a visit to Worcester Porcelain Works Museum where we had a talk about the making of porcelain in Worcester.  Tea followed.  Alas the museum is all that is left of the once magnificent factory.

We then moved on to the Abbey hotel in Malvern where we had dinner and a talk by Dr Harcup on The Malvern Water Cure. A thoroughly interesting talk  about the quackery of the Water Cure.

On Saturday we had a slow stroll along the Malvern Hills from the British Camp back to our hotel, stopping on the way for ice creams and a packed lunch. The bluebells on the walk were magnificent and grew out in the open and not under trees.

Back at the hotel we regrouped for a walking tour of Malvern, visiting the Priory, Railway Station, the Museum and the water cure establishments of Dr. Harcup.  The tour was rather longer than expected, with a few making their way back from the railway station by taxi.  Wish I had done that, it was all uphill walk back to the hotel 🙁

The evening entertainment was dinner followed by a talk on the civil war by the Chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society.

On Sunday we visited Elgar’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum. The cottage was really sweet with a lovely small garden.

The afternoon was spent at Croome Court.  A large building set in a huge park designed by Capability Brown.  The building had recently been acquired by the National Trust and we were able to see rooms on the first floor not open to the general public.  Here we saw the attempts by previous developers to turn the building into flats.  The developer alas had the building next door, he was either attempting to allow it to fall down, or force English Heritage into purchasing it.