Visit to Chenies where it all began

Celebrating 50 years.

On a gloriously sunny April day 30 members of The Arts Society Woburn Area visited the delightful Chenies Manor House and gardens. It was in The Long Room in January 1965 that the inaugural meeting took place of the founder society, The Chiltern Decorative and Fine Arts Society which was set up by Patricia Fay. The photo of Paddy our chairman is taken by the certificate that marks the celebration of the 50th anniversary of that first meeting.

During our visit we toured the house with two very informative guides and wandered the wonderful gardens before sitting down to a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon by the kind permission His Grace, the Duke of Bedford, we had a fascinating guided visit to the The ‘Bedford Chapel’ the private mausoleum and chapel of the Russell Family and the Duke of Bedford. Although it is within the curtilage of St. Michael’s Church, it is under the jurisdiction of the Bedford Estates.