Welcome to the 2012 Season at Fairfax House

24 February 2012

Our new Spring & Summer Events Programme has just been released.

Our first exhibition for the year is Views of York: Portrait of a City, 1610 to present day so there is yet another reason for you to return to visit the house, and see it afresh. To coincide with this we have a couple special events that explore this subject in greater detail, and particularly, an important lecture by Turner expert, Professor David Hill.

We are delighted to offer this season some important new events, including a one-off workshop that explores the art of classical design, taught by leading architect, Hugh Petter. Inspired by the historic manuscript Arcana Fairfaxiana is a lecture and tasting with internationally-renowned food history expert Peter Brears, looking at recipes produced across 200 years and contained in this fascinating compilation. This is the first in a series of lectures that will continue over the next few seasons, and will explore topics such as Tudor and Jacobean medicine, home and natural remedies, and eighteenth-century housekeeping.

Tea is also the focus, and a tasting, lecture and demonstration forms the fascinating event Wives & Witches: The art of taking tea in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. And to delight all the senses, the programme also includes music with the concert, If Music be the Food of Love…

There are also a number of events making a return. Back by popular demand is our perennial favourite, the Fairfax House Mothers’ Day Concert and afternoon tea, and also a clocks demonstration and tour with horologist David Barker. Exploring Lord Fairfax’s Cellar continues with three new tutored tasting sessions, the first of which looks at Ale & Beer. We also have new performances of Fairfax House After Dark, plus for all the family, Terry & The Chocolate Orange this Easter, and Meet the Fairfaxes for school half-term.

2012 is undoubtedly going to be an exciting year, and we hope you enjoy the programme that we have put together for you this spring and summer.