Tennyson Annual Weekend
Friday 17th May until Monday 20th May 2024
Dear Tennyson Society Member,
Next year’s annual Tennyson weekend will be from Friday 17th May until Monday 20th May 2024., on the theme of ‘Tennyson and Women‘.We will explore Elizabeth Russell’s (Tennyson’s aunt’s) castle and Rosa Baring’s home, both in County Durham. The venue is the Park Head Hotel, New Coundon, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 8QB. Telephone: 01388 661727. The website is: www.parkheadhotel.co.uk and email is:PHH@aucklandproject.org
Cost for the hotel is as follows:
Dinner B&B Friday and Saturday Twin £150 per room per night
Double £115 for single occupancy
King £125 for single occupancy
Single £95 per night (N.B. only 3 single rooms)
These costs include a £20 allowance towards dinner
Dinner B&B Sunday Twin £135
Double £100 for single occupancy
King £110 for single occupancy
Single £80
This includes £20 towards dinner which is a “Sunday lunch” served until 8pm.
There are also some super King rooms available.
Please note that some rooms are in a courtyard and the upstairs rooms have an external staircase.
One of the highlights of the weekend will be a visit to Elizabeth Russell’s home, Brancepeth Castle, which was remodelled by Charles Tennyson d’Eyncourt (Alfred’s uncle) in the early 19th century. There will be a visit to the archives which hold some Tennyson family memorabilia, lunch at the castle and an afternoon talk by the Chairman of the Brancepeth Archive and History Group. A visit will also be made to the church and then on to the church at Whitworth, the burial place of Rosa Baring.
Sunday afternoon will be a chance to visit Bishop Auckland and the work of the Auckland project. The castle at Bishop Auckland is one of the finest Bishop’s Palaces in Europe and is well worth a visit. The weekend will of course also feature the excellent talks we have come to expect from the Tennyson annual weekend.
Finally: The hotel only has 38 rooms so it will be first come first served. However, they are quite happy for you to make a booking and then confirm or cancel no later than 8 weeks before the event. This would be 22nd March at the latest.
When contacting the hotel please ask for Daniel, Miranda or Andrew and explain that you are booking as part of the Tennyson weekend. I have found them extremely helpful.
Please let me know when you have booked so that I can keep a record of attendees. Thank you.
If you need any further information at this stage please contact me on 01526 701096 or 07958489230 or email me on lynnecarroll@btinternet.com
Lynne Carroll
Hon. Excursions Secretary Tennyson Society