Marches of Time 2025
Saturday the 19th of July, at Stokesay Court near Ludlow
The 3rd annual weekend of History themed talks in the beautiful settings of Historic Marches Country Houses
As Pitchford Hall takes a well earned break in 2025,
Stokesay Court will play host to the event on
Saturday the 19th of July 2025
Tickets now on sale -
with an Early Bird discount of 10% for those booked before the 25th of April
scroll down to find out more or use the button to book yours now!
Bringing History to Life, with something for everyone in the setting of this wonderful Marches family home.
Stroll and picnic in the gardens with Stokesay Court as your backdrop, before being entertained by a variety of interesting speakers. Even stay on for the fun evening entertainment.
Meet Re-enactors in period dress, watch the falconry display, enjoy home-cooked food & barista coffee and explore the grounds.
‘Gardens & Falconry Entry’ Tickets available so the whole family can come and make a day of it, even if the talks are not for them.
The Line up for 2025 so far:
Piers Torday, is a bestselling and award-winning writer for children, best known for The Last Wild series (Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize) and his stage adaption of John Masefield’s The Box of Delights (RSC/Wilton’s Music Hall).
His latest book, Midnight Treasure, explores his Transylvanian heritage and was a Times Children’s Book of the Year 2024
Katherine Carter, is a Curator and Historian who has managed the house and collections at Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s country home, for more than a decade.
Her book Churchill’s Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm (Yale University Press) has received rave national and international reviews as “a stimulating and enjoyable work that shows us interwar politics from an unfamiliar angle” - Literary Review
Christopher Pullin, was Chancellor of Hereford Cathedral from 2008 until 2022, where his responsibilities included oversight of the magnificent library and archives - including one of the best surviving copies of the 1217 Magna Carta - as well as the cathedral’s educational work.
In 2014, 2015 & 2017 he accompanied the cathedral’s Magna Carta to cities around the world, introducing its history and significance to audiences from Houston to Beijing.
And for your Evening Performance:
White in the Moon the Long Road Lies
A recital of song settings and readings from A. E. Housman’s
‘A Shropshire Lad ‘and ‘More Poems’
including songs by Butterworth, Barber, Ireland and Berkeley
and with piano works by Ireland and Bax
Sung by former WNO Mezzo Soprano Cassandra Manning
Piano Music by renowned pianist Caroline Jaya-Ratnam
Cassandra Manning studied at the London College of Music, where she won several prizes for her singing and performance, and was honored to represent her conservatoire in the Inter-College Concert Series at the Purcell Room.
Cassandra began her career as a mezzo soprano at Welsh National Opera, touring nationally and internationally. She now sings both soprano and mezzo repertoire.
Caroline Jaya-Ratnam read music at Cambridge University. She has given duo recitals at the Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall, broadcast live numerous times on Radio and Television.
Caroline has performed in several Proms within the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and most recently John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London.
Cassandra devised and performed two recitals for University College London alongside Caroline Jaya Ratnam, based on the life and works of A. E. Housman and Thomas Hardy, the former of which they are delighted to be performing in The Marches!
Meet our Founding Patron:
Marches of Time are delighted to announce their Founding Patron:
Fiona Hodgson, Baroness Hodgson of Abinger.
Fiona’s areas of interest include International Women's Issues, Animal Welfare, Foreign Affairs and Gender & Equality.
A proud resident of The Marches, Fiona is keen to support Arts and History in the area and help introduce this oft overlooked part of the country to a wider audience. By becoming our first Patron Fiona hopes to increase the public awareness of the varied things that The Marches has to offer to people of all ages and backgrounds.
“I am so enthusiastic to support Marches of Time which is such an exciting initiative. It will bring the rich history of the area alive and introduce us all to many fascinating topics and people who contribute so much to the area. I hope you will all offer your support too by attending and inviting others!”
With thanks to Our Sponsors:
Stokesay Court, Craven Arms, SY7 9BD
“The most grandiloquent Victorian mansion in the county” - John Newman, Pevsner’s Buildings of England
Stokesay Court and Pitchford Hall are proud to be members of Historic Houses
If you want to join our mailing list please contact us:
marchesoftime@gmail.com