TOC 90th Anniversary Staffordshire Tour 15th Sep 2024

On Sunday 15  September a few Midland TOC ‘locals’ attended the Staffordshire Tour to Ingestre Hall to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Talbot Owners Club.

Initially, we met for lunch at the Littleton Arms at Penkridge and were warmly greeted by our organiser James Fack. Taking part were Richard Newby, Glyn Lloyd, Bob and Fiona Diggory, myself and Simon Scott who arrived in his splendid Rolls Royce with his sons, Archie and Austin. We intended to fortify ourselves with a good lunch and a natter before we set off for Ingestre.

We drove to Tixall to the Elizabethan gatehouse, where John Tomsett was already waiting to join us and had parked his Talbot 1933 AW75 Noel Rees saloon stylishly under the arch of the gate, where it looked very much at home. James gave us a short history of the gatehouse, which was a substantial building. Mary Queen of Scots passed under its arches twice in the autumn of 1586: the first time in order to be interned in the now demolished Tixall Hall, which it guarded; the second time in order to be taken to Fotheringhay Castle near Peterborough, where she was tried – and later executed – for her involvement in the Babington Plot.

We proceeded towards the inner area of the grounds and walked down to the newly restored Orangery to admire the neo-Classical architecture and were delightfully serenaded with a practising choir, which made the experience all the more special.

Finally, we drove to The New Stables through the narrow entrance gateway leading into the internal courtyard, which we were very fortunate to be able to access as James had organised afternoon tea in the Talbot Lodge.

The New Stables were built in 1885 and designed by John Birch for 20th Earl of Shrewsbury, the founder and first Chairman of Clement Talbot Ltd, to house his large collection of polo ponies and carriage horses. The Talbot Lodge is one of the stables, which has been converted into a very comfortable apartment retaining its original stable floor. The kitchen area was set up for us with tea, coffee, biscuits, and delicious cakes, which was very welcome!  We concluded the visit and then drove home in the sunshine: it was a great day for everyone.

Pat Laverack