A series of day tours has been arranged to give opportunity for a break from the conference papers, and to see some of the major historic sites and collections in the region. These have been selected bearing in mind the season (some of the best industrial and landscape tours are only viable in the summer), and all combine outside and inside elements, so be prepared for a variety of conditions. In most cases lunch and refreshments can be obtained during stops in small towns or from country house cafes, and are not included in the cost. The exception is Harewood House where lunch is included.
These will depart from the Moat House hotel at 9.00 am, returning in the late afternoon. Unless stated, admission is included in the price, but meals and refreshments will be purchased as required.
Wednesday 5 January
Sandal Castle and Temple Newsam.
Sandal Castle has been extensively excavated and is a 13th-century castle famous for two Civil War sieges; there is a small interpretation centre on good on-site interpretation .Temple Newsam is a fine Tudor-Jacobean house, and has been described as the Hampton Court of the North. It houses extensive collections of ceramics, furniture, silver etc. There are extensive grounds including a Home Farm and walled garden, a deserted medieval village and early medieval earthwork.
Castle Howard and its estate.
The grounds of this massive early 18th-century stately home include a variety of gardens, lakes and monuments including the mausoleum. Estate villages such as Bulmer, Welburn and Coneysthorpe display a variety of architecture and village planning which will also be explored during the tour. It is also planned to include the castle and church of Sherrif Hutton (famous for its Richard III associations).
Thursday 6 January
Ripon, Brimham Rocks, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
Ripon is a market town famous for its minster (cathedral) with its Saxon crypt and medieval carved misericords (seats). Brimham Rocks are strange natural outcrops which became a tourist attraction in the 18th century. Fountain Abbey is a large, well preserved medieval monastic complex, Elizabethan hall, and a picturesque ruin incorporated in the 18th-century Studley Royal water gardens. It is a World Heritage site.
Friday 7 January
Battle sites and Royal Armouries, Leeds.
During the journey to Leeds, local battle sites such as Towton Moor will be visited. The Royal Armouries in Leeds houses collections of arms and armour from around the world. Particularly impressive displays include Henry VIII's tournament armor. Re-enactment displays take place during the day.
Sunday 9 January
Helmsley town, Castle and Rievaulx Abbey.
Lying north of York, the market town of Helmsley has a fine parish church with medieval wall paintings and a castle recently reinterpreted by English Heritage. First built in the 12th century, it was rebuilt several times and has an Elizabethan range that survived the Civil War siege intact. Rievaulx Abbey, overlooked by an 18th-century landscaped terrace with temples, is a picturesque ruined 13th-century monastery.
Monday 10 January
Harewood House, church and estate village.
This 18th-century country house contains a stunning collection of paintings, ceramics and Chippendale furniture set within period rooms still used by the Lascelles family. New displays of below stairs life give access to the kitchens where lunch will be provided (and is included in the price). The estate village, gardens and landscape are of exceptional interest, as is the church with its fine collection of 14th and 15th-century effigy tombs. The tour will also include brief visits to Tadcaster (a famous brewery town) and Boston Spa (a small Regency spa resort).
Wharram Percy, Beverley and Hull.
The deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy was the subject of a long campaign of excavation and the earthworks and ruined church are now open to the public. Beverley is a fine market town with a medieval minster, and Hull is a major medieval and modern port with a recently developed museums quarter. Here there are internationally famous archaeology collections (including prehistoric boats), a maritime museum, streetlife museum, and the slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce's house. This tour will interest terrestrial and underwater archaeologists and those who wish to enjoy the Wolds and Humber wetlands scenery.