Village Society Trip Fun 2027
Two historic houses on our doorstep - Exclusive tours with the estate owners for our members.
At the time of writing, the Society has enjoyed two memorable visits: first to Quy Hall and then to Island Hall in Godmanchester. Both are privately owned historic houses surprisingly close to home, yet for many of our members they were completely new discoveries.
Quy Hall
Our first visit took us to Quy Hall, a beautiful historic house tucked away just a few miles from Cambridge. Many of us must have driven past countless times without knowing what lies beyond the gates.
One of the real pleasures was being welcomed by the owner, Ellen Francis. She gave us a wonderfully personal tour, sharing the history of the Hall, stories of the generations who have lived there, and her family’s experience of caring for such an important historic house today.
It is very much a family home, and that made the visit all the more interesting. The rooms, pictures, furniture and family possessions all had their own stories, and Ellen was incredibly generous in sharing them with us. We also had the chance to explore the beautiful grounds and gardens.
It was a rare opportunity to see inside a house normally hidden from view, and a lovely reminder of just how much history is tucked away on our doorstep.
Members visit to Quy Hall Estate - 2026
Island Hall
Our second visit was to Island Hall, an elegant Georgian house in Godmanchester. It takes its name from the two-acre ornamental island in the River Great Ouse beside the property.
Here we were welcomed by Christopher Vane Percy, who bought Island Hall in 1983 and has spent many years restoring it. We explored the beautiful gardens running down towards the river, finishing our garden tour with tea and cake on the lawn. This gave everyone a chance to chat, ask questions and enjoy the surroundings before moving inside for a detailed house tour.
Christopher told us about the house’s changing fortunes: its use during the war years, its division into flats, the fire it suffered and the enormous task of bringing it back to life. His enthusiasm for Island Hall and its history was infectious.
Towards the end of his talk, Christopher also mentioned his family connection with the Pepys family of Impington Hall. A small world indeed!
We have our final visit planned in late summer 2026 where we have been invited to Pembroke College garden for an exclusive members tour with the Head Gardener. Having these often unique visits organised for you to join (NB an additional cost per trip applies) are just one of the benefits of being a Village Society Member so do considering joining today.