THE speaker this month was Brian Jauncey who brought slides of Madresfield Court.

There was a settlement here as far back as Roman times. A house was built in the 12th Century and a moat added later. It had two rebuilds in Victorian times. A new roof was added. Brian showed members various paintings through the ages and the first photograph in the 1860s. The house has never been sold and remained in the Lygon family. The first Earl was in 1815 and the last in 1979. The present owner is Lady Rosamond Morrison, a niece of the 8th and last Earl.

Evelyn Waugh based his Brideshead Revisited novel on Madresfield. The house has various treasurers including French furniture. This was brought cheaply during the French Revolution. It was shipped to Bristol.

There are more than 8,000 books in the library and some unique wood carvings and some tiles which have been valued at £2,000 each.

The 5th and 6th Earls built churches, cottages and schools in the area. they also built the Alms Houses at Newland for retired clergy.

There was a wealthy miser who died with no dependants. The estate was given £70 million from his will.

Visitors can book a tour of this fascinating house between April and July and a daffodil fete is held every Spring.

The Autumn fair was a great success and as usual, the homemade cake stall sold out fast.

The next meeting is on November 17 with V Devine Shaggy Dogs on a Bus at URC Malvern Link at 10.15am. Visitors are always welcome.