Island Hall - Tours and Events

Island hall welcomes Groups throughout the year. We provide various visit and refreshment options, from teas or lunches through to candlelit dinners. All tours are given by a member of the family and last for around 1- 1.5 hours, after which guests are free to explore the house and gardens and enjoy their refreshments. To book, please download, complete and return a booking form to us.

Groups may book directly through Island Hall. Individuals or parties of less than ten should book through Invitation to View.

I am sure you will appreciate we are unable to accommodate children under 13 years old in the house during the day and under 16 years old in the evening.

Tours of the house are all guided, but informally so, and always by a member of the family. Island Hall is very much a privately owned family house and this is the atmosphere the Vane Percys try to preserve. The owner Christopher Vane Percy, takes a very great pride in this beautiful house, with which his family has been associated since 1804.

Mr Vane Percy is also by profession a specialist interior decorator, working on country houses, such as Hagley Hall, and town houses all over the world, including institutions and clubs such as the Garrick, where he has overseen the re-hanging of the club's famous collection of paintings.

He is author of a book, 'The Glass of Lalique', and has been Chairman of the British Interior Design Association. Christopher has also worked for the Connaught Hotel and Asprey, as well as on the royal and presidential suites of the Le Vendome Intercontinental in Beirut.

Tours are conducted by members of the family and usually last one and a half hours, excluding refreshments served in the stone-flagged entrance hall or in the garden. The length of time a visit takes, can of course be tailored to suit groups who have other houses or gardens to visit on the same day. Groups should try to arrive neither too early nor too late.

The tours give visitors a chance to see the classical detail and panelling in the main rooms, handsome pedimented doorcases, carved overmantels and marble chimneypieces, and the elegant oak staircase. The tour includes the history of the family who shaped the house - at one time in the 19th century, there were 13 children in one generation of the family raised here and the entrance hall was used as the family's principal drawing room. Also included are reflections on the story of the recent restoration and revival of the house.

This is a family home and Christopher says: "In restoring and decorating this house, I have always sought to recapture the quality of the early 18th century interior, while making it a comfortable home for my wife, Linda, our three children, and our dogs. Portraits and furniture have been chosen to reflect the interior quality of the house, and include pieces associated with my family and this house, as well as Linda's family, the Grosvenors, and especially her favourite grandmother, Denise Orme, a famous Gaiety girl who married Linda's grandfather Lord Churston in 1907, and who later became Duchess of Leinster. Linda is also a collector of vintage prams some of which can be seen in the house."

"We have three children, Maxim, who works in property, Grace, who is a busy portrait photographer and took the photographs for this website, and Tryce, our youngest, who is still in education. It has been a dream house to raise a family in, and is always full of family, friends, children's friends and dogs, and it responds well to interested visitors."

While this is very much a privately owned family house, the Vane Percys are delighted to hire out the principal rooms for special events, catered dinner parties, lectures or presentations, as well as drinks parties and classical concerts for up to sixty people, by prior arrangement.

Island Hall has been visited by many hundreds of parties and tour groups with general and specialist interests over the years, and the house written up by numerous magazines. Comments from visitors can be seen on the comments page. I trust you can appreciate that we are unable to accommodate children under 13 years old in the house during the day and under 16 years old in the evening.

From the Archive: An extract from a letter from Emma Baumgartner to her brother Charles, Godmanchester January 1850

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:13:47 +0000

My Dearest Charlie, I think I wrote to you last before the winter began. Oh isn’t it cold! How I did wish for you – when the river froze over – I rejoice to hear of your skating renown. As you know, they say they have had very good skating on the Ouse down as [...] Read Entire Article

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: Desert Island Discs broadcast from the Island

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:57:22 +0000

On 29th January 2012, BBC Radio 4 celebrates the 70th anniversary of a broadcasting institution – Desert Island Discs. To mark the occasion, at midday on the 29th, all BBC Local Radio and the stations in Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland will simultaneously broadcast their own, very special, editions of Your Desert Island Discs – [...] Read Entire Article

SCHEDULED TOURS FOR SMALL GROUPS 2012

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:14:34 +0000

� These are scheduled tours for small groups (groups of under ten) or individuals, that you can join, with like minded people to view the house and gardens guided by a member of the family.�Included in your admission�is�homemade tea and cake �16.50per head.� (*THESE TOURS MUST BE BOOKED DIRECTLY THROUGH�INVITATION� TO VIEW details on booking [...] Read Entire Article

Events Island Hall 2012 Announced

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:13:12 +0000

February Saturday 19th Valentine Celebration Champagne Tea Experience a tour of the house and peruse our collection of the family’s Victorian Valentine’s Cards Enjoy a full english tea with a glass of champagne �23.00 per adult May Sunday 27th National Gardens Scheme Garden Opening, homemade teas and plant sale. (Garden only) 11.00am to 5.00pm 4.00 [...] Read Entire Article

Christmas Carol Concert 2011

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:54:13 +0000

Lady Linda requests the pleasure of your company for an evening of Carols at Island Hall Performed by Tapestry on Friday 16th December, 7.30pm to 9.30pm In aid of the ‘Raise the Roof’ Church Restoration Fund which was set up to fund vital repairs to St Mary’s Church. The committee is grateful to Christopher and [...] Read Entire Article

From the Archive: Spring 2011

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:08:15 +0000

An extract from The Hunts Post August 1906 DAZZLING PROCESSION OF ILLUMINATED BOATS Nothing could have been more successful than the Water Carnival which took place at Godmanchester on Thursday week, and all concerned from the energetic Committee, on whom the brunt of the preliminary arrangements fell, not forgetting Miss Tillard, who acted as honorary [...] Read Entire Article

From the Archive: Spring 2010

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:59:59 +0000

An extract from a letter written by Dr John T Baumgartner to his son, Colonel Mowbray Baumgartner in India The old Nest (Island Hall GMC) 15th May 1861 My dear Mowbray Here we are as you see halfway over the month of May, there is not a leaf on the Elms to shelter the young [...] Read Entire Article

May
Sunday 29th National Gardens Scheme Garden Opening, homemade teas and plant sale.
(Garden only) 11.00am to 5.00pm
3.50 Pounds per adult (accompanied children under 16 free) tickets at the gate.

July
Sunday 10th Red Cross Garden Opening, homemade teas, plant sale and Court Yard Market.
(Garden only) 2.00pm to 5.30pm
4.00 Pounds per adult (accompanied children under 16 free) tickets at the gate.
Visit www.redcross.org.uk/gardens for more information.

Sunday 17th 3.00pm, Octavia Hill Birthplace House Appeal Tea Party.
Island Hall was described by Octavia Hill as 'the loveliest, dearest house...
An entertainment, including full afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes
NB Please apply to Octavia Hill Birthplace Museum for tickets 20 Pounds
www.octaviahill.org
Tel/Fax: 01945 476358
email: society@octaviahill.org

December
Friday 17th An Enchanting Evening of Carols at Island Hall, performed by the acclaimed local choir Tapestry in aid of a charity yet to be announced. Champagne reception followed by a concert of carols
7.30pm 23.50 Pounds per head

Tour options
Groups of more than 10 should book teas and lunches using our booking form. Groups of less than 10 should book tours through Invitation to View.

Coffee/Tea and Biscuits (12.50 Pounds per head)
House tour and garden
Coffee or Tea and biscuits

A Light Lunch (up to 45 guests, 39.00 Pounds per head)
House tour and garden
Two course lunch in Hall

Afternoon Tea (up to 45 guests, 14.50 Pounds per head)
House tour
Full Tea (tea, biscuits, finger sandwiches and fresh home-baked cake)
Garden

Croquet Afternoon Tea - weather permitting (up to 30 guests, 22.50 Pounds per head)
House tour and garden
Full Tea (tea, biscuits, finger sandwiches and fresh home-baked cake)
Croquet

A Riverboat Afternoon Tea (up to 25 guests, 27.00 Pounds per head) House tour
Garden
Full Tea (tea, biscuits, finger sandwiches and fresh home-baked cake)
Served on the river boat

Evening meals and concerts:
To book a dinner or concert, please call us 01480 459676 or email.

Luxury Dinner Concert (up to 40 guests)
Champagne on arrival
Four course dinner and coffee
Concert

Intimate Dinner (up to 10 guests)
Champagne on arrival
Candlelit in panelled dining room
Four course dinner and coffee

Celebration Dinner (for 20-30 guests)
Champagne on arrival
Candlelit in our stone-flagged hall
Four course dinner and coffee

Luxury Intimate Dinner Concert (up to 10 guests)
Champagne on arrival
Candlelit in panelled dining room
Four course dinner
Concert