Five Physical Phenomena & More Iconic Buildings
Mondays 2.00pm to 4.00pm
2 sessions of 5 meetings each, 2 hours from Monday 7th September and from 26th October 2026
Tutor: Tim Parrott
Cost: £85
Location: Function room, Plough & Harrow
Five Physical Phenomena: Galileo was one of the first scientists to engage with the public about the nature of the physical world. Newton and Einstein completed our understanding of a cosmos ruled by physical laws.
This course aims to make their discoveries accessible to those without a scientific background.
More iconic buildings: We will look at five of the world's great buildings including the famous leaning tower of Pisa and more contemporary buildings such as Fallingwater; exploring their structure and history.
Please note: There will be an extended half term break on 12th and 19th October 2026.
Music Appreciation - How did music develop?
Tuesdays 10.00am to 12.00pm
10 meetings each of 2 hours from Tuesday 15th September 2026
Tutor: Michael Winter
Cost: £85
Location: Function room, Plough & Harrow
Each century has produced a different type and style of music and this course will trace developments over the last 500 years -the symphony, the concerto and the orchestra in particular. Some composers became famous, others are names in history books; the same is true of musical instruments. There will be some wonderful music to hear, whether familiar or not.
No knowledge of reading music or performing is necessary.
Please note: There will be a half-term break on Tuesday 27th October 2026.
Abode of War: The Middle East since 1900. (Short Course)
Wednesdays 10.00am to 12.00pm
5 meetings each of 2 hours from Wednesday 16th September 2026
Tutor: Michael Williams
Cost: £45
Location: Randall Room, Harpenden Trust Halls
This course seeks to explain why the heartland of Islam has become an arena of almost perpetual (and tragically escalating) conflict since the early years of the last century. The course will begin by examining the decline and fall of the Ottoman Empire that once embraced most of the Middle East before looking at the peace settlement imposed by Britain and France following the First World War and the century of conflict that it sparked.
There’ll be an opportunity to discuss the latest developments in an unfolding tragedy.
Please note: There will be no class on 7th Oct continuing on 14th Oct.
British Art in the 1930s (Short Course)
Wednesdays 10.00am to 12.00pm
5 meetings each of 2 hours from Wednesday 28th October 2026
Tutor: Rosanna Eckersley
Cost: £45
Location: Randall Room, Harpenden Trust Centre
The 1930s began in Britain with the economic shock of the Great Slump and ended with the onset of WW2. Between these we see a fascinating range of artistic styles and subject matter: politically engaged artists such as Clive Branson depicting working class resilience in hard times; other artists fashioning abstract paintings and sculptures, with Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson just two examples; the rise of a distinctly British Surrealism (e.g. Paul Nash) and towards the end of the decade Neo-Romanticism, a take on our nation’s landscape that was both unsettling and nostalgic.
Please note: There will be no half-term break on this course.
Hertfordshire Country Houses & Lesser known London Country Houses.
Wednesdays 2.00pm to 4.00pm
10 meetings each of 2 hours from Wednesday 16th September 2026
Tutor: Adam Smith
Cost: £85
Location: Randall Room, Harpenden Trust Centre
Hertfordshire Country Houses. This course looks at a selection of country houses in Hertfordshire setting them in the context of the history of the area and country house history. Houses studied will range from well known mansions like Hatfield House to smaller houses like Tring Mansion.
- Knebworth House, Architectural Evolution and Inheritance.
- Hatfield House, Political Power House.
- Gorhambury, Elizabethan and Classical architecture.
- Tring Mansion, London and villas.
- Ashridge, the Gothic Revival.
Lesser known London Country Houses. After half term, we will look at houses which were once in the countryside but have now been swallowed by London. Although these houses are not very well known they still have interesting stories to tell about architectural and social and economic history. All the houses or their grounds are open to the public.
- Valence House and a Grand Tour in 1844.
- Charlton House; an Important Jacobean House.
- Boston Manor; a Jacobean Villa.
- Fulham Palace; evolving for the Bishops of London.
- Hogarth's House; an Artist's Retreat.
Please note: There will be an extended half-term break on Wednesday 21st and Wednesday 28th October 2026.
Italian Renaissance Art (Short Course)
Thursdays 10.00am to 12.00pm
5 meetings each of 2 hours from Thursday 22nd October 2026
Tutor: Dr Valerie Shrimplin
Cost: £45
Location: Function room, Plough & Harrow
- Giotto and the early Renaissance, sculpture and the late 14th century.
- The Quattrocento/15th century.
- Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
- Michelangelo and Copernicus.
- Shadows in painting, with a focus on the Renaissance.
We will first look at the early Renaissance in the work of Giotto moving on to the masters of the period; Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo. Both painting and sculpture will be discussed both in the context of the period and exploring the materials, and developing techniques, the artists used to create these great works.
Please note: There will be no half-term break on this course.
Fin de Siècle: British writing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This course is now full but others are available.
Thursdays 2.00pm - 4.00pm
10 meetings each of 2 hours from Thursday 24th September 2026
Tutor: Michael King
Cost: £85
Location: The Charles Hill Lounge, Harpenden Trust Halls, 130a Southdown Road.
This was an era of tumultuous changes, which both positive and negative. Issues to be explored include changing attitudes to sexuality, the situation of women in society, scientific discoveries and developments and the drift towards Word War.
Writers to be considered, in both poetry and prose, will include:
- Oscar Wilde
- H.G. Wells
- Arthur Conan Doyle
- W.B.Yeats
Please note: There will be a half-term break on Thursday 29th October 2026.