Events and Special Open Days
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Tuesday 28 April 2026 SALACIOUS SOUTHWARK
– a walk led by London Guide Eleanor Bloom
The Valentines’ Southwark connection
In the early 1760s Sir Charles Raymond of Valentines purchased the original oil painting of Southwark Fair by William Hogarth. An original Hogarth print is on display at Valentines as is a near full-size copy of the painting by kind permission of Cincinnati Art Museum who now own the original.
Guide Eleanor Bloom will lead a walk along the south bank of the river, passing a medieval palace, Shakespeare’s theatres, Canterbury Pilgrims, Frost Fairs and the historic galleried coaching inn, The George. The tour takes two hours, finishing at The George for lunch.
Places are limited, so if you want to come please book as soon as possible. Tickets are £10 for the tour – lunch is not included.
Further information will be provided nearer the time for those who have signed up.
SPECIAL SUNDAY 5 JULY 2026
This day will have a Family History theme and a prize-giving event to reward the work of children who will have entered our annual Schools Writing Competition.
Inspiration and details of the competition are available from the mansion and Redbridge Central Library as well as any Redbridge Primary School.
Deadline date for entries 31st May.
Open Day Times
Sundays and Mondays
- 12.00-5.00 (March – October)
- 11.00-3.00 (November – February)
We are always looking for new Volunteers to welcome visitors on Open Days. If that would interest you, please go to our Contact Us page and leave us a message.
Recent Outings and Talks for Members
William Morris Gallery
In February , a small party met at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow to view the “Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles “ exhibition . Next year a full guided tour of the Gallery is planned.
Visit to the Church of St Lawrence Jewry
A group of members met for a fascinating tour of the church where John and Elizabeth Tillotson are buried. We didn’t know that before this outing! We were greeted at the church by the Vicar, Fr. James Titley, who gave us a most interesting talk and had kindly arranged for the portrait of Archbishop John Tillotson to be brought out for us .
The extraordinary life of Lady Ann Fanshawe
Writer and historian Lucy Moore talked about this Civil War Heroine, a contemporary of Valentines’ first owner Mrs Elizabeth Tillotson. The talk was complemented by a later visit to Valence House in Dagenham where the Fanshawe family lived for a comparatively short time in the 16th century, and where a collection of their family portraits is housed. We were privileged to be given a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the collection by museum curator Leeanne Westwood, art historian.
Greenwich
Outing to the Queen’s House to see the Van De Veldes exhibition “Greenwich, Art and the Sea”. 1.00 – 2.00 concert by student harpists of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, in the Great Hall of the Queen’s House.
Recent events
Springtime Guided Heritage Tree Walk 6 April 2026
Following on from the very successful (though wet!) Autumn Walk, we produced a new publication, an illustrated booklet enabling a self-guided tour of 25 trees in this historic parkland, reflecting the different layers of tree planting over hundreds of years. We are grateful to Stephen Smith and Christine Fairfax for their work in updating a previous tree walk. The booklet price £2 is now available from the Mansion (on Open Days) & Gardener’s Cottage Café. Proceeds go towards Friends’ projects for the Mansion & Gardens.
There are some grassy and muddy areas to explore so suitable footwear is needed. Most of the walk is flat and accessible using footpaths but there are uneven surfaces and small slopes in places.
The Women of Valentines Mansion – Special Sunday – 22 March 2026
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Friends’ organised a very special open day. As well as Artist’s Open Studios, there were special activities to honour the many remarkable women from our history throughout the house eg: music and period dancing, quizzes, trails, talks and craft activities for children and adults. Visitors learnt how some of these women called for change or articulated their hopes for a better future.
A Winter Celebration – 15 January 2026
Olga’s recital began with an atmospheric seasonal piece by Debussy, The Snow is Dancing. Then there was a complete contrast, Beethoven’s dramatic and virtuosic 32 Variations in C minor. The recital ended with two Impromptus by Schubert, but the enthusiastic audience wouldn’t let Olga go without an encore, for which she played a Ukrainian piece. Definitely an excellent start to the year !
Heritage Tree Walk – 19 October 2025
Despite the weather ,led by Stephen Smith an enthusiastic group of 30 folk plus 3 doggies joined our Heritage Tree Walk round the “Pleasure Park and Ornamental Waters” in Valentines Park. The route included the East Lawn, the Wilderness, the American Garden and the Ornamental Lake.
Botanical Illustration – Art, Science and Discovery -14 October 2025
On Sunday 3rd August Valentines Mansion was buzzing with people playing a variety of games, old and new for a Summer Special Sunday with a difference ! A day organised by the Friends with the help of local U3A groups.
From Tiny Acorns II, 2024
The Friends Of Valentines Mansion, a registered charity founded in 2000, hold up to six ticketed events each year to raise funds to spend on activities and objects that improve everyone’s enjoyment and understanding of Valentines Mansion, Gardens and Park, owned by the London Borough of Redbridge.
The Friends have clocked up many years of fundraising and celebrating the preservation of Redbridge’s most beautiful community asset, managed by Vision RCL.
Valentines Mansion Events
Full details about all events and opening times at Valentines Mansion and Gardens are available from Vision RCL’s website. For information on facilities and rooms for hire at Valentines Mansion, contact +44 (0) 8708 8100 or email hiringvalentines@visionrcl.org.uk.
On the 2nd Monday of the month from 10:30am- 11:15am. Come and enjoy a wonderful selection of books and rhymes for under 5’s with our brilliant storytellers.
FREE No need to book just drop in !
Gallery Exhibitions
There are changing EXHIBITIONS in the Mansion Gallery on the ground floor – FREE ENTRY on Open Days Sunday and Monday.
Faces – Punching Colour
From Sunday 12 April to Monday 4 May 2026
.Faces – Punching Colour is an exhibition of expressionist portraits and still life portraits by artist Pauline Cushnie, capturing both the essence and presence of the sitter. Meet the Artist – Sunday 19th April, Sunday 3rd May, Monday 4th May.
Valentines Mansion Resident Artists
The Resident Artists’ Studios are on the top floor. Keep an eye out for details of the next Open Studios when this part of the mansion, normally closed to the public, can be visited.
ARTISTS’ OPEN STUDIOS
Sunday 19 JULY 2026
Watch demonstrations, take part in workshops, meet the artists and buy works of art at Open Studios event. Historically the servants quarters, the top floor of the Mansion is now a series of art studios from which a number of local artists practice a variety of mediums, including basketry, textiles, fused glass, paintings, sculpture, ceramics and much more. Normally a private workspace, the Open Studio events give the public a chance to step inside these creative spaces.
Friends Of Valentines Mansion 