The Pugin Society has an active programme of events and lectures. Non members welcome. For further details contact:
Professor Julia Twigg, 9 Nunnery Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3LS, UK. 01227 766879, j.m.twigg@kent.ac.uk
Cheques for all events payable to The Pugin Society. Send to Julia Twigg, 9 Nunnery Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3LS. Please assume that you have a place unless you hear to the contrary. If you would like confirmation of your booking, or want to make further enquiries, please enclose a SAE or ring 01227 766879, email j.m.twigg@kent.ac.uk
Pugin's St Augustine's Church, adjacent to The Grange in Ramsgate, is open to the public on Sundays and Wednesdays from 2 to 4 throughout the year.
EVENTS TO CELEBRATE PUGIN 2012
This year we are celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of A.W.N. Pugin. Throughout the year there will be events around the country, organised by the Pugin Society and by others. For fuller details of these as the year unfolds watch this space.
Pugin Stamp: at the prompting of the Pugin Society, the Royal Mail have issued a special stamp in honour of the bicentenary. Available as part of a set of famous Britons in February.
PRINCIPAL PUGIN SOCIETY EVENTS
Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 June: Art Workshop for young people, based around Pugin Themes
by Dawn Cole, award-winning printmaker, and Tony Roche, from the Wallpaper History Society, who is an accomplished wallpaper designer. Wednesday afternoon (2.00-4.00) will focus on details in the Grange and St Augustine's to learn something about Pugin's design principles. On Thursday (1.00-4.00) these ideas will be put into practice with opportunities to make Pugin-inspired relief prints and stencilled wallpaper designs in the Cartoon Room, by kind permission of the Landmark Trust. Cost: £5.00. Space is limited, no more than ten. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Contact Catriona Blaker catrona@tiscali.co.uk for further details.
Saturday 23 June: East Kent Churches through the Eyes of Pugin
A coach tour exploring East Kent churches through the eyes of Pugin, led by Nick Dermott, of English Heritage, Chair of the Pugin Society. The tour will leave Ramsgate railway station at 10.15 and return at about 5.00. There will a break to allow people to buy lunch. Cost: £20 with SAE. Apply: Professor Julia Twigg, 9 Nunnery Road, Canterbury, CT1 3LS, j.m.twigg@kent.ac.uk , 01227 766879. Open to public.
Thursday 12 July: Pre-conference Lecture by Rosemary Hill and Buffet Supper in Ramsgate
The Pugin Society celebrates the opening of the international conference with a lecture and supper in Pugin's home town of Ramsgate at Chatham House School. The lecture 'Pugin: A Life for Our Time' will be given by his celebrated biographer, Dr Rosemary Hill. Lecture tickets £5: supper tickets £20.
Tickets from Professor Julia Twigg, 9 Nunnery Road, Canterbury, CT1 3LS. Please enclose SAE. Also available via the conference website, see below. Tickets will be on sale until 30 June. Numbers are limited.
13-14 July : International Conference: New Directions in Gothic Revival Studies Worldwide, University of Kent, Canterbury
This interdisciplinary conference will be the primary international academic event marking the bicentenary of the birth of A.W.N Pugin. Plenary speakers include: Professor Stephen Bann on Pugin and the French Connection; Professor Barry Bergdoll on Pugin and the Paradox of Historicism; Dr Margaret Belcher on Pugin's Letters; and Professor Thomas Coomans on the Belgium Gothic Revival Worldwide. The conference will be based at the University of Kent in Canterbury, but there will be opportunities before and after to visit key sites in Ramsgate and Cheadle. The conference is organised by Dr Timothy Brittain-Catlin of Kent School of Architecture. A special rate is available for Pugin Society members. For further details and joining information: www.kent.ac.uk/architecture/gothicrevival2012/
ADDITIONAL CELEBRATIONS IN RAMSGATE
St Augustine's Week 21-27 May
A special week of celebrations centred round A.W. N. Pugin's St Augustine's church and P.P. Pugin's St Ethelbert's and St Gertrude's church in Ramsgate. There will be a series of stimulating events and talks relating to Catholic history and culture. The week will be directed by Father Marcus Holden and the Friends of St Augustine's. For further details nearer the time see: www.augustinefriends.co.uk or ring 01843 592071. Father Marcus has also offered to say Mass in the Grange chapel if there is a request for this at any time during the year.
Visiting the Grange and St Augustine's
Throughout the year it will be possible to visit The Grange, the house that Pugin designed and built for himself on the West Cliff of Ramsgate, and St Augustine's the church he designed and built next door. The Grange, under the ownership of The Landmark Trust, will be open as usual on Wednesday afternoons 2-4 (booking in advance required 01843 596401). St Augustine's is also open on Sundays 2-4 every week and every Wednesday 2-4. Please note that some restoration will be in progress in St Augustine's during the year. This should not affect visiting, but just in case, if you are coming from any distance, it might be as well to ring 01843 592460 or 01843 596401 to check in advance. Whilst visitors to St Augustine's are welcome to wander at will, there will be official tours at 2.30 on the first Sunday of each month, starting from March, and on Wednesdays (weekly) at 2 and 3.
Open Weekend at the Grange and St Augustine's: Friday to Monday 20- 23 April:
The Grange: every day 10-4 except Monday 10-1. St Augustine's Church: Friday 11-4, Saturday 10-4, Sunday 2-4, Monday 10-1.
Open Weekend at the Grange and St Augustine's: Friday to Tuesday 7-10 September:
The Grange: every day 10-4 except Tuesday 10-1. St Augustine's church: Friday 11-4, Saturday 10-4, Sunday 2-4, Monday 10-4, Tuesday 10-1.
Town Trail
Ramsgate Pugin Town Trail written by Catriona Blaker and published by the Pugin Society has been reprinted and updated. It gives a wonderful overview of the main sites in Ramsgate and their significance for Pugin. Available from: Visitor Information, The Old Custom House, Ramsgate and 01843 596401.
Mischievous Theatre: The Pugin Play
A play based around the life, times and achievements of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin and his contemporaries. The play is a professional multi-media and site-generic performance piece researched, written and produced by Mischievous Theatre in collaboration with artists from various disciplines: design, film, photography, art, sound, dance and music. In Ramsgate September/October and touring in UK latter half of 2012. Further details from clive@mischievoustheatre.co.uk
ADDITIONAL CELEBRATIONS IN BIRMINGHAM
Celebrations in Birmingham have already started ... at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham
A delightful print display and trail 'Pugin, D¸rer and The Gothic' is now open, and runs until 24 June. Exhibits are from the Barber's own collection and include a late medieval Brussels wood carving of Joachim and Anna, once owned by John Bernard Hardman; an early Netherlandish triptych of the Deposition, once owned by Pugin; a collection of eight prints and one drawing by D¸rer, widely recognised as the greatest German Renaissance artist and a prime inspiration for Pugin, and a Pugin octagonal table on loan from King Edward's school. Free admission.
King Edward's School has photographed its Pugin collection, which can be accessed on the school website: http://kes.org.uk/gallery/Other/Pugin
St Chad's Cathedral
15-17 June: St Chad's Flower Festival: with guided tours of the cathedral and crypt. Further details on: www.stchadscathedral.org.uk
St Chad's Cathedral Association events: members of the Pugin Society are welcomed to the bicentenary celebrations. Those wishing to attend must contact Association Secretary, c/o St Chad's Cathedral Office, Birmingham B4 6EU. Limited numbers, so early booking essential.
28 June: garden party hosted by Archbishop Bernard Longley. 9 November: annual dinner on 9 November with Pugin in the Canon's dining room.
St Mary's Convent, Handsworth
The House of Mercy by A.W.N.Pugin, a Gothic Revival gem in the heart of Birmingham, has a programme of guided tours throughout the year. Special tours to celebrate the bicentenary in March. Advanced booking essential. See website: www.mercyhandsworth.org.uk
The Pen Museum
A tribute to Pugin exhibition will open at the Pen Museum in the Jewellery Quarter mid-March and run for at least 6 months. www.penroom.co.uk
The Birmingham Pugin Trail
A specially designed trail highlighting the connections of Pugin and Hardman with Birmingham will be available later in Spring from the main sites including St Chad's Cathedral (the hub of the trail), the Museum and Art Gallery and Tourist Information. A free copy will be posted to members.
A year of celebration
Other events and celebrations are planned at various sites around Birmingham. Information about these will be available on the St Chad's website www.stchadscathedral.org.uk or from judithal-seffar@talktalk.net
OTHER EVENTS
Cheadle is a major centre of celebration this year, co-ordinated by Urban Vision North Staffordshire, including guided walks, community events, creative workshops. For details see pugin@uvns.org
Staffordshire Tour for Pugin Society Members Urban Vision has generously offered to run a free two day coach tour of the main Pugin sites in Staffordshire led by Michael Fisher. The tour is free to Pugin Society members, though you will need to arrange for accommodation. Date planned for early June. For further details and to secure a place contact: Hannah Barter: hannah.barter@uvns.org
Australia: The Pugin Foundation has a full programme of events planned: http://www.puginfoundation.org/
Ushaw College
The future of the Ushaw College, outside Durham, is a cause of grave concern; and we hope to make a visit during 2012 to see how the situation is developing. This is likely to be a day trip, with a gathering for an optional meal the night before. If you would like to hear more about this, please send SAE or email address.
Please make all cheques payable to The Pugin Society, and send to Julia Twigg, 9 Nunnery Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3LS. Please assume you have a place unless you hear to the contrary. Joining details will be sent out nearer the event. If you would like further information, please contact Julia Twigg on 01227 766879, j.m.twigg@kent.ac.uk