Join us this Christmas at Delapré Abbey

Posted on 7th December 2021 by Delapré Abbey

Christmas is definitely not cancelled this year!

We’re so excited to be hosting a variety of festive events over November and December, with something for everyone. Have some family fun at our Winter Light Trail or for a strictly grown-up affair, explore the Abbey on a candlelit tour; with a mince pie and glass of mulled wine.

Our Santa’s Grotto and Wreathmaking Workshops are now sold out, but the fun does not stop there. Take a look below at what is on offer:

🎄 Christmas inside the Abbey | Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays Until 12th December

Come and explore a festively decorated Delapré Abbey on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm (last entry 3pm) until the 12th December. History tours take place each day at 11:30am and 2pm, where you will be guided through the Abbey by one of our lovely Tour Guide volunteers. Plus, don’t forget, under 18s go free!

🌟 Winter Light Trail | Friday 19th November – Sunday 2nd January

Please note that there will be a parking charge of £3 + 30p booking fee for this event. £1 of your parking fee will go to charity. Please purchase here.

Enjoy some together time with family and friends as you discover an array of magical light installations throughout our stunning woodland, walled garden and grounds.

Wander through sparkling tree lines drenched in colour, tunnels of light, soundscapes and larger than life illuminations. Don’t forget to cosy up in the Après Bar for the perfect end to your night. Private mini chalets can be booked here.

🕯 Candlelit Tours | Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout December (1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 22nd, 23rd and 29th)
Tours at 6pm and 7pm. £15 per person. Price includes mulled wine and a mince pie.

Experience the Abbey by candlelight on this wonderfully festive, special out-of-hours tour.

Step back in time and soak up the stories, sights, and sounds of by-gone festivities. Once you step through the doors of the Abbey, you’ll be taken on a journey discovering Victorian winter traditions. Hear about the Abbey’s history and its people on an informative tour whilst exploring the nooks and crannies of our spectacular building.

🎤 That Joe Payne does Christmas | Saturday 11th December, Doors at 7:30pm. £22 in advance, £25 on the door.

“A once in a lifetime songwriting talent. A once in a century voice.” Dario Albrecht, The Progspace

Local singer-songwriter That Joe Payne performs his first Christmas themed show, live with his band in the beautiful surroundings of our Library. Delivering an eclectic collection of seasonal favourites, from classic pop hits to festive carols, as well as fan-favourites from his own repertoire, this will be an intimate show of just 60 capacity. Support will be from the lovely Velvet Engine.

FEASTive Christmas holiday clubs | Monday 20th – Thursday 23rd December, 8:30am – 12:30pm or 1:30pm-5.30pm. £15 per session, £48 for full week of sessions. Ages 7-13 years.

Warts and All Theatre are hosting a 4 day holiday club with the option of AM or PM sessions.

Expect festive fun, Christmas crafts, lot’s of adventure and food. The club will begin the Christmas Holidays in the way all brilliant things should begin…with food. Morning sessions include breakfast and afternoon sessions include lunch.

Once you have eaten, it is time to feed your imaginations! At the banquet table the final course is creativity as you take part in an array of arts activities, from crafting to storytelling.

There is an option of half-day sessions for a reduced rate. There are also free spaces for those in receipt of free school meals as part of the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, these can be booked through PlayWaze.

We ho-ho-hope to see you soon!

june, 2023

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thu25mayAll Daythu13julThis Grief ThingGrief gatherings are small, free group conversations about grief and they're open to all.(All Day)

Event Details

Thu 25th May – Sat 29th July, various times and locations
Free, booking required
Sessions will last a maximum of 2 hours

This Grief Thing is a project that invites people to think, talk and learn about grief. We’re living at a time when many people find death and grief – our own grief or other people’s – almost impossible to talk about. We don’t know what to say, what to do, or how to act. So we stay silent, we pretend that grief doesn’t exist, or we hide it. This Grief Thing pushes against this, by opening up conversations about grief and making it visible.

As part of our wellbeing programme we are pleased to be working with Fevered Sleep who have created Grief Gatherings. They’re small, free group conversations about grief and they’re open to all. They’re for people who have experienced grief, and for people who haven’t. This will be an inclusive space. Any age, gender, race, faith welcome.
We’ll share thoughts, feelings, ideas and experiences. If you don’t wish to talk that’s fine, people are welcome to just be present.

This project is a partnership between Delapré Abbey and Fevered Sleep and is funded by Northamptonshire Community Foundation.

Dates and Locations

Thu 25th May, 2-4pm, Umbrella Fair
This Grief Thing host: Laura Graham

Mon 5th June, 6:30-8:30pm, Saints Coffee
This Grief Thing host: David Bowden

Thu 15th June, 2-4pm, Umbrella Fair
This Grief Thing host: Laura Graham

Sat 24th June, 2-4pm, Delapré Abbey
This Grief Thing host: Lisa Lovett

Mon 10th July, 6:30pm-8:30pm, Saints Coffee
This Grief Thing host: David Bowden

Thu 13th July, 2-4pm, Umbrella Fair
This Grief Thing host: Laura Graham

Sat 29th July, 2-4pm, Delapré Abbey
This Grief Thing host: Lisa Lovett

How to get to each location

Saints Coffee: 62 St Giles’ St, Northampton NN1 1JW (map)

Umbrella Fair: Racecourse Pavilion, Kettering Rd, Northampton NN1 4LG (map)

Delapré Abbey (this session will be held in our Library): London Road, Northampton, NN4 8AW (map)

Meet the hosts

Laura Graham
Laura Graham is a freelance writer and content creator based in Northampton. In 2009 she lost her mum to breast cancer, a loss that changed her life and taught her about the complexities of grief. She went on to work for a local charity on a project to support people coming towards the end of life. She believes that grief is the last taboo and hopes that grief gatherings will enable participants to feel connected and seen by their community.

David Bowden
Dave Bowden – A.K.A Word Guerrilla – is a poet and performer. Utilising beatboxing, live looping and multi-instrumentalism, he delivers Word Guerrilla’s unique brand of spoken word poetry performances and workshops to a variety of different educational settings, workplaces and events across the country. As an educator and creative facilitator, he seeks to generate creativity in people through writing, empowering them with language and words.
He believes that grief is ever- present, and like bits of glitter: long after you think it has gone, it continues to turn up everywhere, often unexpectedly. It can be challenging to make sense of grief and adapt to it. Dave wants to facilitate grief gatherings to help others understand the experience, giving them a space to articulate how they think and feel about the process of grieving and help others adapt to the experience of grief.

Time

May 25 (Thursday) - July 13 (Thursday)

Buy here

Book Tickets

Calendar GoogleCal

sun28may(may 28)11:00 amsun29oct(oct 29)4:00 amExhibition: "The Walled Garden Was Magical"An exhibition of your memories of the gardens.(may 28) 11:00 am - (october 29) 4:00 am

Event Details

Sunday 28th May – Sunday 29th October
11am-4pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
Entry included in the price of general admission (£8 adults, under 18s free)

“The walled garden was magical… the absolute treasure.” Councillor David Smith

This exhibition explores the vast history of Delapré Abbey’s gardens and tells the stories of those who have worked here over the centuries to make beautiful outdoor spaces for the house owners and, subsequently, for the general public to enjoy.

There have been gardens here since the opening of the nunnery in 1145. On Saturday 19^th July 1952, Delapré Abbey’s gardens opened to the public and have continued to be a place open for all to enjoy. As Alderman J.V. Collier said upon their opening 71 years ago: “The gardens offer a haven of rest away from the milling crowds. Within almost a stone’s throw of the centre of the town, we have something unique.”

Timed to coincide with the centenary year of Delapré Abbey’s water garden, the exhibition captures and celebrates the local communities’ memories of Delapré through photos, text, ephemera and oral history.

Whether you enjoyed the walled garden as a child, have attended a wedding here, or discovered the grounds during one of the Covid-19 lockdowns, we want this exhibition to encourage visitors to tell their friends and loved ones about any existing memories they have made here while making new ones together.

Photo: John Pettitt