Higham Hall College
We are an Educational Trust supporting lifelong learning in the arts, natural history and humanities through workshops, lectures, residential courses and retreats in the English Lake District.
for the creative and the curious...
We are also a company limited by guarantee and registered in England. Company no. 06421365 Charity no. 1124959 VAT no. 927 4556 96
SUNDAY LECTURE: ' A SHADOW OF MAGNITUDE'
Sunday 12 January 2025
This lecture will document and consider the historical presence of people of African ancestry in Cumbria between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Building on the foundational research of regional archivists and historians, the lecture will dwell on the evidence that survives of these peoples’ lives and explain what that evidence reveals about Cumbria’s social makeup and longstanding links with other parts of the world.
Christopher Donaldson
£18 each including refreshments
Higham Hall College
INTRODUCTION TO BRYOPHYTES (MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS)
Monday 13 January 2025
***THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED***
An introductory course in which we will look at identifying some of the most common bryophytes. We will look at the main features that help with identification, collect some species from the grounds and practise using a key. We will use hand lenses and microscopes to appreciate the details of these tiny plants and get a better look at their defining features.
Clare Shaw
£120 including lunch
Higham Hall College
NEW YEAR VIENNESE CONCERT BY CANDLELIGHT
Wednesday 15 January 2025
A varied programme of Viennese music (Haydn, Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven and others) performed by Laurence Perkins and friends.
Tickets £18 Includes a glass of wine in the bar afterwards.
Proceeds towards the Higham building appeal.
Higham Hall College
DRAWING IN COLOUR
Saturday 8 February 2025
A course exploring the great variety of different coloured drawing materials and techniques used - with inspiration from work by artists both past and present. The second of 3 day courses with Ceri exploring different aspects of drawing.
Ceri Allen
£95 including lunch
Higham Hall College
INTRODUCTION TO UPHOLSTERY (3)
Monday 10 February 2025
Sprung seat/dining chair/larger stool. Tackle one of these more challenging pieces and increase your technical range. The third in a series of 3 day courses for beginners, working through techniques to equip you with basic skills and knowledge of upholstery (the other days are in October and December). It can be attended on its own or alongside one or two others. Each day needs to be booked separately.
Cathy Newbery
£95 including lunch
Higham Hall College
SUNDAY LECTURE: MEETINGS OF REMARKABLE MEN
Sunday 16 February 2025
The Langdale Valley, 1947 - an unlikely setting for a meeting between two of the most influential and toweringly important cultural figures of the twentieth century: the choreographer and movement pioneer Rudolf Laban, and the avant-garde artist Kurt Schwitters. Research into this meeting has thrown up fascinating questions not least about what they might have discussed, but also about what we know of the past and whose word can we believe? Join Dr Dick McCaw as he reflects on the challenges of historical research and larger-than-life personalities.
Dick McCaw
£18 each or £32 for 2 including refreshments
Higham Hall College
A RECITAL BY EDEN BAROQUE
Saturday 22 February 2025
To Welcome Spring: expressive arias and upbeat instrumental music from the 17th & 18th centuries to put a positive spring in our collective steps. Programme includes music by Vivaldi, Rameau, Handel, Purcell and Telemann. Eden Baroque are Michael Sanderson baritone, baroque violin & viola, and Katharine May harpsichord.
Tickets £18 Includes a glass of wine in the bar afterwards.
Proceeds towards the Higham building appeal.
Higham Hall College
SUNDAY LECTURE: 'THE WORLD OF THEATRE IN SHAKESPEARE'S TIME'
Sunday 16 March 2025
What was the theatre world like in Shakespeare’s time? How did this context affect the form and content of his plays and those of his contemporaries? Clare explores the impact of the theatre buildings, acting companies, personalities and audiences of Elizabethan & Jacobean London, together with the regulations and censorship to which they were subject, and the practical and financial journey from the commissioning of a play to its performance.
Clare Smout
£18 each including refreshments.
Higham Hall College
TALK & TEA: A PHILOSOPHER'S GUIDE TO LOVE
Friday 28 March 2025
This talk will explore diverse perspectives on love. Beginning with Plato’s The Symposium, we’ll discuss physical attraction and spiritual beauty. Erich Fromm’s The Art of Loving will proffer psychological insights, emphasizing love as an art that requires practice, care, and knowledge. Lastly, we’ll engage with Bell Hooks’ All About Love, advocating for love as a radical force for social change and personal growth.
Darren Harper
£18 each including refreshments
Higham Hall College
EXPERIMENTAL DRAWING
Saturday 29 March 2025
A fun course experimenting with different approaches to drawing, taking inspiration from artists both contemporary and traditional. A great class for those looking to progress and expand their drawing methods. The last of 3 day courses with Ceri exploring different aspects of drawing.
Ceri Allen
£95 including Lunch
Higham Hall College
HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND
Saturday 29 March 2025
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind - How to Manage Wellbeing, Naturally
Nothing is more important than your health... is a common wisdom expression and in this workshop, Lina Mookerjee will invite participants to explore this further.
The Covid-19 pandemic and its fallout impacted everyone’s lives, most notably those in the healthcare sector. This workshop will provide participants with a safe space to recalibrate and recover. Using the ancient health paradigm from Ayurveda and modern neuroscience concepts, Lina will offer ideas and practices to support a healthy way of being.
Lina Mookerjee
£95 including lunch
Higham Hall College
FULLY BOOKED: TRY FOR A DAY: BOTANICAL ART
Friday 13 December 2024
This informal and relaxed workshop is a gentle introduction to the delights of drawing from nature. You will spend the morning building confidence while closely observing individual flower petals, leaves and berries and practising watercolour techniques. The afternoon is spent painting flowers and plants from the beautiful gardens here at Higham. Everyone welcome, no experience needed. You may surprise yourself. All materials supplied, including a sketchbook to take home and keep on painting.
Lis Bramwell
£100 (incl. lunch and materials)
Higham Hall College
INTRODUCTION TO UPHOLSTERY (2)
Monday 9 December 2024
This workshop looks at furniture preparation - condition check, measuring for fabric, stripping, small repairs, woodworm, cleaning and inspecting filling to see what can be reused or what to replace it with. This is the second in a series of 3 day courses for beginners designed to equip you with basic skills and knowledge of upholstery (the other days are in October and February). It can be attended on its own or alongside one or two others. Each day needs to be booked separately.
Cathy Newbery
£95 including lunch
Higham Hall College
WILL FINN AND ROSIE CALVERT IN CONCERT
Sunday 1 December 2024
Join Will Finn and Rosie Calvert for festive spine-tingling harmonies and rousing instrumentation with warm and witty stage presence - a show not to be missed!
Will Finn and Rosie Calvert
£18 each includes a glass of wine in the bar afterwards.
Higham Hall College
SUNDAY LECTURE: THE CULINARY CALENDER CUSTOMS OF CUMBRIA
Sunday 1 December 2024
Until recently, the working class families of the farming, forestry and mining communities of Lakeland subsisted on a fairly simple diet, largely based on locally grown oats and barley. However, on feast days and other special occasions, this grainy monotony was enlivened by celebratory dishes, which often contained exotic spices and dried fruit. A Christmas breakfast might consist of a boiled hackin, a sweet haggis that was probably the mother of all British Christmas Puddings. On Good Friday a dish called Fig Sewe, made by boiling dried figs with ale, diced bread, treacle and nutmeg consumed to honour their Saviour, since Cumbrians believed he was crucified on a cross made of fig wood. Food historian Day will guide us through the traditional foods of the Lakeland Year.
Ivan Day
£18 each including refreshments
Higham Hall College
SUNDAY LECTURE: NORMAN NICHOLSON: A WRITER FOR OUR TIME
Sunday 24 November 2024
The Cumbrian poet Norman Nicholson (1914-1987) lived in Millom all his life, apart from the two-year period he spent as a teenager in a TB Sanatorium in the New Forest. Proud to be identified with his region, Nicholson was nationally and internationally respected for his poetry and other writings, which were accessible, insightful and even prophetic in their nature. This lecture will explore the life and work of Norman Nicholson, whose response to nature, society, spirituality, and the environment in his time resonates even more strongly in our own.
Dr. Antoinette Fawcett
£18 each including refreshments
Higham Hall College
TALK & TEA: A PHILOSOPHER'S GUIDE TO SIMPLICITY
Friday 8 November 2024
Ever contemplated the profound essence of simplicity? Can Thoreau's retreat to Walden Pond unveil the secrets of a meaningful, uncluttered life in the midst of nature? How does Emrys Westacott’s philosophy navigate the intricacies of modernity, offering insights into embracing simplicity amidst the complexities of a technology-driven world? Join us for ‘A Philosopher’s Guide to Simplicity,’ where these questions unravel the philosophies of Thoreau and Westacott, guiding us toward a more intentional and uncomplicated existence.
Darren Harper
£18 each including refreshments
Higham Hall College
SUNDAY LECTURE: SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE
Sunday 27 October 2024
Famous as the author of The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge is one of the most intriguing and contradictory characters in English literature. He is also of course a leading figure among Lake District writers. This lecture will focus on Coleridge's achievements as a poet and thinker, in the context of his life, his literary and personal relationships, and his close experience of the Lake District mountains.
Bill Jones
£18 each including refreshments
Higham Hall College
INTRODUCTION TO UPHOLSTERY (1)
Monday 21 October 2024
A small starter project to complete in a day - replace a drop in seat in a dining chair, piano stool or small stool - using a mixture of traditional and modern techniques. Learn how to take off old coverings and work out what you can reuse, rebuild with appropriate filling, fabric selection and placement, fixing & finishing techniques. The first of 3 day courses for beginners designed to equip you with basic skills and knowledge of upholstery. It can be attended on its own or alongside one or two other days (December & February). Each day needs to be booked separately.
Cathy Newbery
£95 including lunch
Higham Hall College
MAKING SENSE OF MID-LIFE, MENOPAUSE AND THE AGEING PROCESS (CANCELLED)
Saturday 19 October 2024
This workshop is for women only and I will provide a safe and nurturing space to explore the significance of menopause, mid-life and ageing.
The entire process of menopause is a time of significant change on all levels: physiological, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual. Frequently, as these organic changes happen, the question “What is one's purpose now?" arises. What was once familiar and known is no longer reliable - in physical health, relationships, career aspirations, ambitions, and so on...
Energy that was previously used in well-established roles and regular responsibilities (eg raising a family, building a career, domestic activities etc) is now taking another (at times un-negotiated) path in order to prepare for this next phase of life.
Lina Mookerjee
£95 including lunch
Higham Hall College
INTRODUCTION TO BRYOPHYTES (MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS)
Thursday 17 October 2024
An introductory course in which we will look at identifying some of the most common bryophytes. We will look at the main features that help with identification, collect some species from the grounds and practise using a key. We will use hand lenses and microscopes to appreciate the details of these tiny plants and get a better look at their defining features.
Clare Shaw
£120 including lunch
Higham Hall College
EXPLORE DRAWING - A BEGINNERS COURSE
Saturday 12 October 2024
A gentle introduction to drawing, working at your own pace with artist and tutor Ceri Allen. Learn the basics of drawing materials, methods and techniques. The first of 3 day courses with Ceri exploring different aspects of drawing.
Ceri Allen
£95 including lunch
Higham Hall College
SUNDAY LECTURE: VISUAL ART, LANDSCAPE AND THE ANGLO-SCOTTISH
Sunday 22 September 2024
Explores artists’ engagements with the landscapes of this cross-border region from the interwar period to the present. Those for consideration include Winifred Nicholson and William Johnstone in the earlier decades, Land /Environmental artists of the 1970s and 80s, and the practices of artists now directly concerned with impacts of climate change.
Ysanne Holt
£18 each including refreshments
Higham Hall College
TALK & TEA: A PHILOSOPHER'S GUIDE TO AGEING
Friday 6 September 2024
Ever pondered the philosophical intricacies of ageing? Can Confucian virtues guide us through the challenges of later life, emphasizing harmony and virtue? How do David Hume’s skeptical reflections on personal identity and time influence our pursuit of happiness in the twilight years? Join us on an intellectually stimulating journey in ‘A Philosopher’s Guide to Ageing,’ where these questions unravel the profound philosophy woven into the fabric of our later years.
Darren Harper
£18 each or £32 for 2 including refreshments
Higham Hall College
Summer Raffle 2024
Saturday 27 July 2024
Our wonderful 200-year old building is beginning to feel its age. We are raising funds for essential repairs and improvements to keep it in good health for the future and ensure it continues to provide a welcoming and inspiring place for lifelong learning for generations to come. Please buy a raffle ticket to help us on our way. Some fantastic prizes have been donated by tutors, suppliers and friends. Tickets £10 each. Prize draw Monday 2nd September 2024. Winners will be contacted by phone or email. Please be prepared to collect your prize in person. Thank you for your support!
SUNDAY LECTURE: LOST CUMBRIA ON FILM
Sunday 25 August 2024
We will be heading back in time for a nostalgic trip to bygone Cumbria with the Cumbria Film Archive. A unique afternoon of entertainment enjoying genuinely rare and unique footage of people and places across the county - always fascinating and always something new. See cumbriafilmarchive.com for examples of the growing collection of excellent footage available.
Andrew Leitch & Jim Bownass
£18 each
Higham Hall College
SHAKESPEARE IN THE GARDEN: THE TEMPEST
Saturday 27 July 2024
***ONLINE BOOKINGS ARE NOW CLOSED, TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO BUY BY CALLING THE OFFICE ON 017687 76276***
The Festival Players return, performing Shakespeare's fantastical and some say allegorical play about magic, betrayal, love and forgiveness. With a bit of romance, comedy and tragedy thrown in for good measure, there's something for everyone. We are hoping for good weather, despite the title of the play, but the show will go on if we have to hand out umbrellas. Open 1.30 pm for picnics. Bring your own seating. Well-behaved dogs welcome. Open to all.
The Festival Players www.thefestivalplayers.co.uk
3-5pm
Higham Hall, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9SH
Higham Hall College
Power and Thrones: Women in the arts in pre/post-war Britain
Friday 19 July 2024
This talk will look at several powerful women who ran commercial and public galleries, were directors of arts organisations or major collectors in Britain from c1930-1960. Some names are well known, like Peggy Guggenheim and Erica Brausen; others kept a modest profile but had a powerful impact, like Dorothy Morland at the ICA or Noel Norton at the London Gallery. Some have been ignored by recent histories but gradually their roles and stories are being celebrated. Gill has had a distinguished career in the British art world, as a museum curator in the UK and working for British Council overseas; as director of the Contemporary Art Society and latterly as an independent consultant and trustee. She now writes full time; her books include Free Seats for All (Umbria Press 2018), Arthur Jeffress: A Life in Art (Bloomsbury 2020); The Ingenious Mr. Flitcroft: the Life & Works of Henry Flitcroft (Lund Humphries 2023).
Tickets £18. Student discount available. Includes tea & cake.
Higham Hall College
The Ingenious Mr Flitcroft
Sunday 14 July 2024
…"arguably the most significant Georgian architect of whom most people have never heard," Henry Flitcroft designed some of the greatest country houses of the 18th century including Woburn Abbey, Wimpole and Wentworth Woodhouse. His accomplishments also included furniture, churches and notable London buildings such as Chatham House and Benjamin Franklin House. Author Gill Hedley will lead us through Flitcroft’s life and achievements in the social context of the period.
Gill has had a distinguished career in the British art world, as a museum curator in the UK and working for British Council overseas; as director of the Contemporary Art Society and latterly as an independent consultant and trustee. She now writes full time; her books include Free Seats for All (Umbria Press 2018), Arthur Jeffress: A Life in Art (Bloomsbury 2020); The Ingenious Mr. Flitcroft: the Life & Works of Henry Flitcroft (Lund Humphries 2023).
Tickets £18. Student discount available. Includes tea & cake.
Higham Hall College
The Hidden Majority in Soil: Why Soil Life Matters (CANCELLED)
Sunday 9 June 2024
It has been estimated that 59% of all species on earth live in soil. This talk will explore the vast diversity of soil life: how it is distributed, what it does, and what threats it is under. The talk will also explore what can be done to protect and promote soil life and the critical functions it performs.
Richard Bardgett CBE is a British ecologist and Professor of Ecology at The University of Manchester. He served as President of the British Ecological Society from 2017-2019 and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King’s 2023 New Years Honours for services to soil ecology and climate change science. Richard Bardgett CBE is a British ecologist and Professor of Ecology at The University of Manchester. His book, Earth Matters: How Soil Underlies Civilisation was published by Oxford University Press, 2016.
Tickets £18. Student discount available. Includes tea & cake.
Higham Hall College
The Hidden Majority in Soil: Why Soil Life Matters
Sunday 9 June 2024
It has been estimated that 59% of all species on earth live in soil. This talk will explore the vast diversity of soil life: how it is distributed, what it does, and what threats it is under. The talk will also explore what can be done to protect and promote soil life and the critical functions it performs.
Richard Bardgett CBE is a British ecologist and Professor of Ecology at The University of Manchester. He served as President of the British Ecological Society from 2017-2019 and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King’s 2023 New Years Honours for services to soil ecology and climate change science. Richard Bardgett CBE is a British ecologist and Professor of Ecology at The University of Manchester. His book, Earth Matters: How Soil Underlies Civilisation was published by Oxford University Press, 2016.
Tickets £18. Student discount available. Includes tea & cake.
Higham Hall College
The Lady of the Lakes: Clare Isobel Fell
Sunday 12 May 2024
The next lecture in Higham Hall's Sunday afternoon series highlights Clare Isobel Fell, a pioneering archaeologist who shaped research into prehistoric Lakeland. Born in Ulverston in 1912, she began studying the Langdale axe industry around 1949 and was the first person to demonstrate the scale of the activity there, coining the term 'factory' to describe it. She also guessed correctly that other quarries would be found on outcrops of volcanic tuff in the Lake District.
Dr Kate Sharpe, also a native Cumbrian, will look at Fell's role within the story of archaeology and in relation to the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.
Dr Sharpe is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Durham University.
Tickets £18 per person. Price includes tea and cake.
Higham Hall College
The Lady of the Lakes: Clare Isobel Fell
Sunday 12 May 2024
The next lecture in Higham Hall's Sunday afternoon series highlights Clare Isobel Fell, a pioneering archaeologist who shaped research into prehistoric Lakeland. Born in Ulverston in 1912, she began studying the Langdale axe industry around 1949 and was the first person to demonstrate the scale of the activity there, coining the term 'factory' to describe it. She also guessed correctly that other quarries would be found on outcrops of volcanic tuff in the Lake District.
Dr Kate Sharpe, also a native Cumbrian, will look at Fell's role within the story of archaeology and in relation to the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.
Dr Sharpe is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Durham University.
Tickets £18 per person. Price includes tea and cake.
Higham Hall College
