West Country Alumnae Afternoon Tea

Gail Ham (NC 1975) has generously offered to host alumnae based in South West England to get together for an afternoon tea in the panoramic surroundings of her historic home and garden - The Keep in Dartmouth. Beautifully situated in an elevated position overlooking the river Dart, The Keep was built in 1850 by Colonel James Wooldridge and his wife, Mary Ann Linzee, most probably to his (or their) own design. James was a British volunteer army officer in the Wars of Succession in Portugal and Spain. After they married in 1838, James decided to become a shipowner, which brought the couple to Dartmouth in the mid-1840s. Sadly James was a much better soldier than he was a businessman - in 1855 he went bankrupt and left the country, raising a German Legion to fight in the Crimean War, after which the family moved to India.

The garden has been much developed by successive owners and provides interest all year round, with a wide range of flowers and shrubs able to thrive in the mild Devon seaside climate. The afternoon promises to be a highlight for local alumnae and offers an opportunity to say a personal goodbye to Principal Alison Rose (NC 1980) who will be attending. The event is free for alumnae and a guest, but please book your tickets so we have details for catering purposes. Follow the link to book tickets.

Please note: The garden is on several levels with access to the lowest area only possible by steps. The main upper area and the house are accessible. When booking, please let us know if you have specific accessibility requirements.