FAMILY REUNION - JUNE 2005

May 23 to June 4, 2005 

The 2005 reunion will be a customized tour in the Heart of England where most of our ancestors at one time lived and worked before coming to America. We will be going to the town of Hartshorne. Colin Herbert and the local town Historian will meet us, give us a tour, and tell us a little history of the town.

   For all that will be going with us to England you will need a passport.
You can obtain forms for a passport from most post offices.  

The land itinerary is as follows:                                                                                                 

 May 21, 2005

  • Outbound, overnight flight (8-10 hr.) from the US to London, Heathrow.

 

May 22, 2005

Arrive in London - clear customs/transfer to  The Thistle Kensington Palace Hotel,
across from Kensington Palace, home of Princes Diana, before her untimely death.
Half-day tour with private vehicle and professional guide. Rest of day at leisure in London.

 

May 23, 2005

Breakfast at the Hotel

Day of Leisure in London

 

May 24, 2005

Breakfast at the Hotel - 8:00 AM. Depart for Blaenavon Ironworks (see Emmanuel Elisha Hartshorn)

Visit in Blaenavon from 10:00AM to 3:00PM. Depart for Cardiff, Wales.

Check into Cardiff Moat House. Rest of day at leisure.

Some may wish to see the  Cardiff Castle or go for a stroll in the park.


Cardiff, from the castle

 

Some may choose to visit the Museum of Welsh Life in St. Fagans,

or prehaps, go shopping, or just lay back in your room and relax.

May 25, 2005

Breakfast at Hotel - Depart for Birmingham via Hereford and Ludlow.
 Hereford: Cathedral, Mappa Mundi and Chained Library. (World’s oldest Library). 
On to Ludlow - admission to Marcher Castle (a 900 year old castle).
Lunch on your own in Ludlow (Ludlow is famous for its eateries. Enjoy a little of the town) Continue to on to Birmingham. Check into the West Bromwich Moat House  

Ludlow Castle

Ludlow Marcher Castle

Birmingham

May 26, 2005

Breakfast at Hotel - 9:00 AM.
Depart for Ironbridge Gorge Museum.

On the way to Ironbridge take in a little of the towns of

Darlaston,

Wednesbury,

 Wolverhampton

and Brosley.

Return to West Bromwich Moat House in Birmingham for overnight stay.
 The rest of day is at your leisure.  

 

May 27, 2005

Breakfast at Hotel.- 9:00 AM. Depart for Dudley Black Country Living Museum.

Return to West Bromwich Moat House in Birmingham for overnight stay.

Nobody can deny it. The football team
at "West Brom Albion" is major league.
(There are many other sights to see and do here in West Bromwich.)  

:                           

May 28, 2005

Breakfast at Hotel -9:30AM. Depart for the town of Hartshorne in Derbyshire.

Meet with Colin Herbert and...

 ... keep up with events on his
Hartshorne, UK
web site


Lee Hartshorne Lybarger next to the Western approach to Hartshorne
(from Repton), looking at the new Hartshorne village sign, 2003.
[courtesy Hartshorne.org.uk, Colin Herbert]

Have lunch on our own in Hartshorne.


Sitting in Dinmore farmhouse barn having a snack before setting out on a
tour of the village and surounding area. Julie Herbert (foreground),
Connie Lybarger, Lee Hartshorne Lybarger, Alan Sherratt, 2003.
[courtesy Hartshorne.org.uk, Colin Herbert]

I am hoping that a Hartshorne cousin with whom I have written,
Lesley Padamsey, will be available to meet her Colonial cousins.
Lesley's ancestors are Hartshorne's. She lives close to Hartshorne.
My search in the church cemetery and her research and photos provide
a poignant story of a cross-Atlantic desire to rediscover family roots.


Our cousin, Lee Hartshorn Lybarger and wife, Connie visited here in 2003


Visit the Smisby Abbey.


Return to West Bromwich Moat Hotel in Birmingham for overnight stay.


Rest of Day at leisure.  

 

May 29, 2005

Breakfast at Hotel - 9:00 AM. Depart for London via way of Stratford-upon-Avon

Visit Warwick Castle

See Mary Arden’s house. She was the mother of Wm. Shakespear.

Visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage is probably one of the best known buildings in the world.
Situated just a short distance away from the town centre it is idyllic and dates back to the 15th century.
Set in beautiful surroundings with a magnificient garden, the picturesque cottage is where
William Shakespeare came to visit his bride.

Late check in at the Thistle Kensington Palace Hotel in London.  

May 30, 2005

Breakfast at Hotel- Day of leisure in London
Overnight stay at the Thistle Kensington Palace.  

May 31, 2005

Breakfast at Hotel – Private vehicle for transfer to airport for return flight to the US.

The following rates are based on
a minimum of 20 paying persons:
Price per person in twin room sharing: $1,750.00.
Single room supplement: $499.00  

All prices based on a minimum of 20 paying persons:

 

Price includes:

  • Total of 4 nights’ bed and breakfast at the Thistle Kensington Palace Hotel, London.
  • Dinner, bed and breakfast at the Cardiff Moat House Hotel, Wales.
  • Total of 4 nights’ bed and breakfast at the West Bromwich Moat House, Birmingham.

 

  Admissions included:

  • Hereford Cathedral, Mappa Munndi, Chained Library
  • Ludlow Castle
  • Ironbridge - Ironbriidge Gorge Museums
  • Dudley - the Black Country Museum
  • Warwick Castle
  • Stratford - Mary Arden’s House and Anne Hathaway’s cottage.
  • Private coach transfer to London hotel from airport on arrival day.
  • Private coach and professional guide for morning tour of London.
  • Touring coach & driver from May 24 to May 29 (6 days)
  • Private coach transfer to London’s Heathrow airport for departure day

 

Price does not include:

  • Air fare. (Can be arranged for you by our travelconsultant)

  • Personal, travel insurance.  

To make your England reservation:
  Please contact our travel consultant
Joanna Golunska by November 5, 2004. 

It seems the drop-date has passed.
      Contact Velma to see if any last-minute
arrangements can be made at this date.

I have enclosed a credit card authorization form
for those wishing to pay by credit card.
           Toll Free number  (866) 456 - 0221   e-mail  vacations@swbell.net                      

     If you have any question don’t hesitate to give Joanna or me a call.  
I must know by November 30, 2004  if you will be joining us on this venture
so I may finalize with Mr. Herbert and Eluned, our cousin in Cardiff, Wales. 


If you would be interested in going please e-mail me, Velma Fast.

I can be reached at:

Velma (Hartshorn) Fast
4023 NW. South Drive
Riverside, Missouri 64150
(816) 741-8066

Some additional sites & sights I have found which may help folks
make a decision to travel back to the land of our origin.

MORE PICTURES LATER

 

Derick S. Hartshorn - ©2008
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