Textile Holiday Tours

Arrive at Hollin Hall Hotel

Welcome Drink Reception

Private Group Dinner with tour escort, Lorraine Traer-Clark

We go to Doe Meadow House in Langley to visit Sara Rodway. Find out more about Sara by going to her web site on our Links page.

Sara and her husband are restoring an old dye works into a contemporary private home. Here we will enjoy a homemade lunch after a private tour of the property. We will learn the history of the building and share some of the "finds" made whilst renovating the building. We will look at a garden in progress, which is being designed around the plants that are used for natural dyeing.

Adamley Textiles are a silk printing company based next door to Sara and here we discover the time-honoured processes of silk printing. There will also be an opportunity to purchase silk offcuts as well as completed items.

In complete contrast we go to the privately owned Capesthorne Hall where Lady Bromley Davenport has married both traditional and more contemporary textiles, gaining inspiration from her native America. Local textile expert, Jacqui Hyman, will be one of your guides and share with you her intimate knowledge of the textiles in the house.

Free

We will spend the morning at Macclesfield Silk Museum and Paradise Mill. Enjoy a talk from Richard de Peyer, the director of the Silk Museum, followed by a private guided tour of Paradise Mill.

Relax over lunch arranged a short walk away at Macclesfield Heritage Centre.

We take a guided Textile Heritage Walk around Macclesfield and still have time for some retail therapy in art and crafts shops in Macclesfield.

Free

A private tour of the mansion at National Trust Property, Tatton Park, with Mansion and Collections Manager, Caroline Schofield. Discover textiles in the house as well as behind the scenes. Enjoy a viewing session with textiles from the stores.

Enjoy lunch in Lord Egerton's Apartments overlooking the magnificent gardens.

We will have a private talk from Head Gardener, Sam Youd, and then have the rest of the afternoon free to explore 50 acres of splendid gardens. Regarded amongst the best in the country, the gardens represent over 200 years of design and history. Notable features include the renowned Japanese garden, Italian garden, Topiary, Maze, Rose gardens and walled gardens.

Free

A visit to Quarry Bank Mill. Situated in over 384 acres of beautiful countryside in the Styal Country Estate, this remarkable Georgian museum is a valuable resource for learning more about our industrial and social heritage. Enjoy a guided tour of Quarry Bank Mill and see, amongst other things, weaving processes in action. You will also have the opportunity to have a go at some of the processes that were used at the mill and view archive pattern books and other material.

Held in a private room at Quarry Bank Mill.

A guided tour of the Apprentice House in the grounds of the mill, together with a chance to explore the gardens and land around the mill.

A farewell dinner with your fellow guests at Hollin Hall Hotel with an after dinner speaker.

A chance to explore the quaint Cheshire town of Knutsford with its array of specialist shops, like the wonderful shop, Fibre and Clay. Here you can join an arranged visit to Knutsford Heritage Centre that houses the Millennium Tapestry and take the guided walk to learn about the people and places of Knutsford.

Lunch

Is at your leisure at one of the town's numerous delightful cafés and restaurants.

The coach will take you back to Hollin Hall Hotel if you need to collect your car, or to Macclesfield station for the train home.