THE HYDE WINS TOP RIBA AWARD

Dillington’s spectacular new building - The Hyde - has just won the 2010 Regional Architecture Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Announced at the Wallace & Gromit studios in Bristol last Wednesday, the Jury Chairman congratulated the visionary development and commented on the relationship of the building with the historic and landscape setting.

The award was received by architects Dan Talkes and Tim Rolt on behalf of Purcell Miller Tritton of King Street, Bristol.

Wayne Bennett, Director of Dillington House, said “The award vindicates the vision for a building of architectural distinction at an important historic location. It is a fantastic addition to Dillington and it will make an important contribution to the work we do.”

The Hyde offers two large studio-style spaces for meetings and courses, a large glazed dining room with colourful works of art, 15 fully-accessible bedrooms with views across the countryside - most of which have private decks for sitting out and relaxing after a difficult day!

The building sports the largest grass roof in Somerset and is approached across a bridge over a sunken courtyard garden with bamboos, a reflecting pool and abstract sculptures.

The building incorporates many eco-features such as solar heating and rainwater harvesting. By using timber from renewable sources the upper part of the building is relatively lightweight and this allows an daring cantilever to fly over the old cider orchard wall.

Wayne Bennett added “Everyone seems to love the contrast between the traditional charm and elegance of the old House and Mews and the dramatic and inspirational spaces offered by The Hyde.”

See Dillington’s website for more or telephone Jacinta Elliott on 01460 258 610 to arrange a visit.

Photo by Dermot Galvin/Arty Media

RARE PERFORMANCE OF ALL BEETHOVEN'S STRING QUARTETS

As Dillington House prepares for performances of all the Beethoven String Quartets, Wayne Bennett (Director of Dillington) introduces the project and its significance.

A complete performance cycle of the Beethoven quartets is a rare event. The musical preparation is formidable and only quartets who have a serious career under their belts even think about tackling this Everest of the chamber music repertoire outside of the recording studio. To have the opportunity to experience of listening to these works live across the best part of a week is a once in a lifetime opportunity and an opportunity that visits Somerset once in a blue moon.

The Dillington performances will stretch across six evenings with each concert featuring a work from each of the early, middle and late periods. To provide a greater understanding of the works the eminent musicologist, Angus Watson, will give a series of pre-concert talks about the works being performed that evening. Angus is well qualified as his book Beethoven’s Chamber Music in Context will be published later this year.

Listening to a string quartet requires concentration and for some it is an acquired taste. Four musicians playing together, listening and aware of each other’s playing can make for edge of the seat listening. There is no room for error or ego. It is music stripped to the bare essentials. Challenging as it may be for both players and audience alike, for many, the string quartet represents the ideal in small scale music-making where intimacy, skill and musicianship come together as one.

Originating around the middle of the 18th century, the development of the string quartet soon became the touchstone of the classical music period on which most composers were either judged or indeed judged themselves. Joseph Haydn, whilst working in Vienna, is attributed as having developed the form after which Mozart took it to new levels of sophistication. In Beethoven we see a great composer take the string quartet form from its classical incarnation of four separate but related musical lines to a fusion of sound in which the identity of each becomes bonded as one in a profound unity. Here lay the emotional foundations of romanticism.

The eminent conductor, Sir Roger Norrington, in a recent documentary, commented that he always suspected that Mozart composed for Saturday whereas Beethoven wrote music for eternity. We should understand the point. Mozart aims to please whereas you feel that Beethoven is always trying to take you somewhere profound. Through the isolation of his awful and worsening deafness he seems to abandon the everyday in the search for universal human truths.

Beethoven’s quartets can be crudely divided into three groups. The earliest (opus 18) consist of six quartets that owe much to the good-mannered style of Haydn and Mozart. Written between 1798-1800 they have much classical charm and directness. The middle period quartets are characterised by slow introductions and begin to show Beethoven’s departure from the classical style into new territory. The first three were written in 1806 and are known as the Rasumovsky after their dedicatee. The 10th and the 11th quartets are known as the Harp (1809) and Serioso (1810) respectively. In the Late Quartets of 1824 to 1826 we reach one of the greatest achievements of western music. Begun in 1822 when the composer was completely deaf these works are unlike anything before or since. The sonorities daring and the emotional depths extraordinary. They are so profound that the Alberni have quite rightly spread the performances across the week rather than cram the experience in at the end of the week.

To hear these quartets across a single week is a musical adventure of a lifetime. Each concert is a journey in style and content and so is complete in itself. To enjoy the full significance of the Dillington Beethoven String Quartets then get to hear Angus Watson also. You’ll not be disappointed what ever you do.

The Hyde's Architectural Acclaim

THE HYDE, a stunning £3m conference, arts and education facility at Dillington House, Somerset, has been short-listed for one of the country's top architectural awards.

The Royal Institute of British Architects will announce at Bristol's Aardman Animation HQ on May 19, which of 13 South West projects will scoop the coveted prize.

Sara Burton, RIBA Events and Projects Administrator said: "RIBA awards are given for buildings that have high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to the local environment.

"They recognise excellence in architecture and are respected worldwide. The awards honour those who commission and build, as well as those who design."

The winner of the regional award is put forward to a national event and potentially the Stirling Prize, screened by Channel 4 in October with Kevin McCloud.

Dillington House, Ilminster, is the South West''s foremost conferencing centre. It is run by Somerset County Council and it also has a national reputation for its excellence as a residential adult education centre.

It's visionary director Wayne Bennett was the moving force behind the ambitious project.

He said: "The scheme was to construct a building of architectural distinction to be alongside the historic buildings at Dillington."

The Hyde, a state of the art facility housing boutique accommodation and two studios costing some three million pounds, was offically opened to universal acclaim in February 2009.

"At Dillington in beautiful South Somerset you can find one of the region’s best places to meet – a place of real quality and refinement," said Mr Bennett.

"Dillington, a former Prime Minister's residence, has long enjoyed a reputation for first class service but it now boasts something that will inspire anyone in the business world. The Hyde - opened its doors to business a year ago and has been wowing users ever since.

"Designed by the Bristol team of Purcell Miller Tritton, The Hyde boasts many surprising features that impress and surprise. For instance there is the deployment of an audacious cantilever which flies one of the studio rooms over the ancient garden wall.

Although you enter at ground level across a wooden bridge it soon becomes apparent that the ground drops sharply away and through large glass windows you are presented with amazing views of the Somerset countryside.

The effect is totally surprising and impressive. In a similarly stylish way, a mirror-pond reflects ripples across the ceiling of the Garden Room which leads to a sunken courtyard resplendent with giant bamboos and contemporary sculpture.

As well as two large meeting rooms and a stunning dining space, the building also incorporates fifteen boutique-style bedrooms many with their own private deck and extensive western views. Free wi-fi throughout is just part of the inclusive service.

The Hyde also has many eco-credentials. It sports perhaps the largest grass roof in Somerset as well as some very efficient solar panels. Much of the building is constructed in sustainably sourced timber and the insulation used consists of compressed wastepaper.

Rainwater is also harvested and is used for watering the gardens. Of course, locating a contemporary building on a historic site was challenging but with English Heritage support it has been ingeniously achieved without detriment to the other important buildings and their vistas.

This new addition adds enormously to the general offer at Dillington where excellence of service and flexibility are the key to its ongoing success.

PMT architect Dan Talkes, who masterminded the project said: "We are delighted that The Hyde has been shortlisted for such a prestigious award.

"We immediately recognised the poetic potential of exploiting the topography of the site. It was built on a steep incline with dramatic views across the sweeping countryside beyond.

"We were very concerned about its relationship with Dillington House, a beautiful building, itself and that it had to announce itself in its own right and yet remain true to the brief, which included sustainability. It also had to provide exceptional accommodation and a learning environment that was inspirational.

"We are very pleased with the result and the fact that RIBA has short-listed The Hyde is fantastic in itself."

For further information go to www.dillington.com or telephone Wayne Bennett on 01460 258 648.

end

THE HYDE - A YEAR ON

BUILDING projects take a time to get off the ground and timing is everything.

Ask any of the big house construction companies about the recession and they will tell you how the current crisis was not seen at all.

First it was Northern Rock. Then it was Lehman Brothers. Building stopped in its tracks and credit was frozen. Who could have foreseen it?

At Dillington House, near Ilminster, Somerset, the South West's foremost conference venue and adult education centre, the green light was given for a new state of the art building and eventually work began when the crisis was at its deepest in the late naughties.

The scheme was to construct a building of architectural distinction to be alongside the historic buildings at Dillington. The Hyde, a state of the art facility housing boutique accommodation and two studios costing some two million pounds, was offically opened to universal acclaim in February 2009.

The results are impressive but the timing was rubbish admits Wayne Bennett, Director of Dillington House, who recognises that trading conditions have been challenging to say the least.

"It is very difficult to be the Waitrose of the conference scene when some clients are wanting Lidl prices. I accept it is difficult for everyone and so it important that we are as flexible as we can be," said Mr Bennett.

"Dillington is one of the best meeting venues in the South West but real quality cannot be provided at stupidly low prices."

Although it has been a difficult year for everyone, Mr Bennett says things are looking up with Dillington’s forward bookings much stronger than last year.

In business it is often necessary to step back from the day-to-day hurly-burly and look at things strategically; to take stock and think afresh.

At Dillington in beautiful South Somerset you can find one of the region’s best places to meet – a place of real quality and refinement.

Dillington, a former Prime Minister's residence, has long enjoyed a reputation for first class service but it now boasts something that will inspire anyone in the business world. The Hyde - opened its doors to business a year ago and has been wowing users ever since.

Designed by the Bristol team of Purcell Miller Tritton, The Hyde boasts many surprising features that impress and surprise. For instance there is the deployment of an audacious cantilever which flies one of the studio rooms over the ancient garden wall.

Although you enter at ground level across a wooden bridge it soon becomes apparent that the ground drops sharply away and through large glass windows you are presented with amazing views of the Somerset countryside.

The effect is totally surprising and impressive. In a similarly stylish way, a mirror-pond reflects ripples across the ceiling of the Garden Room which leads to a sunken courtyard resplendent with giant bamboos and contemporary sculpture.

As well as two large meeting rooms and a stunning dining space, the building also incorporates fifteen boutique-style bedrooms many with their own private deck and extensive western views. Free wi-fi throughout is just part of the inclusive service.

The Hyde also has many eco-credentials. It sports perhaps the largest grass roof in Somerset as well as some very efficient solar panels. Much of the building is constructed in sustainably sourced timber and the insulation used consists of compressed wastepaper.

Rainwater is also harvested and is used for watering the gardens. Of course, locating a contemporary building on a historic site was challenging but with English Heritage support it has been ingeniously achieved without detriment to the other important buildings and their vistas.

This new addition adds enormously to the general offer at Dillington where excellence of service and flexibility are the key to its ongoing success.

Dillington House doesn’t do ordinary or mediocre and The Hyde demonstrates this in spades.

And so confident is Mr Bennett of Dillington and The Hyde's ability to convince newcomers of its excellence he even offers a free lunch to interested parties who telephone to set up a viewing.

ends

For further information go to website at www.dillington.com or telephone Dillington House on 01460 258 648.

ends

EVER HAD A GREAT IDEA OR FASCINATION FOR IRISH LITERATURE?

Then a couple of residential courses at prestigious Dillington House conference and adult education centre, near Ilminster, Somerset, will, without doubt, satisfy your intrigue.

Enjoy the craic while getting an insight into some of the most important words and ideas of the 20th century.

Sadly you won't be able to attend them both because they run concurrently from Friday 5 February to Sunday 7 February.

But there's always the chance to swap notes after a sumptuous meal and drinks at the foremost meeting place in the south west.

The Modern Irish Literature course will cover a broad range of fiction, drama and poetry since the late 19th century until the present day.

The life and work of writers such as W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Elizabeth Bowen, Sean O'Casey, Seamus Heaney, Edna O'Brien and Roddy Doyle will be studied in historical and cultural context and will be examined in relation to issues of nation, gender and emigration.

The tutor is author Tony Murray, PhD, MA Cultural Studies, BA (Hons), and Deputy Director of the Irish Studies Centre at London Metropolitan University. He has taught Irish and English Literature for many years and has run the annual Irish Writers in London Summer School since its inception in 1996.

Meanwhile the Great Ideas of the Twentieth Century course, with Dr Derek Tatton, will unpack and openly discuss some of the really important political and cultural themes of the last century.

Through participative discussions, the origins, development and legacy of six ideas or themes will be examined.

Taking the British NHS as an example the group will ask why this feature of The Welfare State has remained a popular great idea despite its origins in socialist principles and why it remains off-limits to all but the most right-wing of critics.

Other subjects will include the development of the mass media and its effects on our ideas of what constitute art and culture; the social impact of science and technology via, for example, the Internet, and lastly ecology and the green movement and the challenge of climate change.

This course is run in association with the Raymond Williams Foundation, a Welsh academic, novelist and critic. An influential figure on the political left, his writings on politics, culture, the mass media and literature remain significant. His work laid the foundations for the academic field of cultural and critical studies.

Residential fees for the course start at £177 per person and include en-suite accommodation, meals and refreshments.

For bookings and further information call Denise Borer on 01460 258613

email: dillington@somerset.gov.uk

www.dillington.com

THE DILLINGTON CIDER HOUSE RULES

JAMES Crowden, acclaimed author and leading authority on cider, plants the first sapling in Somerset's newest orchard.

Traditional varieties of native apples will form a 36-tree plantation in the old garden of Dillington House, Ilminster.

In a few years the harvest will produce Dillington's very own cider, which will no doubt delight delegates and guests at the South West's foremost residential conference and adult education centre.

Somerset is a county famous for its cider orchards; in 1894 there were over 26,000 acres devoted to the fruit. Many disappeared over the next century, but cider is trendy again and apple-growing is back in favour...and flavour.

The Somerset varieties to be planted are: Tom Putt, the bitter sharp tasting Kingston Black (which is believed to have hailed from Kingston St Mary, near Taunton) and Dabinett, a bitter sweet flavour which came from Mid Lambrook.

The orchard was the idea of Wayne Bennett, Dillington's director, who says: " I'm keen to capitalise on the local distinctiveness of the area and celebrate another of Somerset's array of wonderful food and fruit.

"Dillington has a reputation for excellence including its food, drink and service. Cider is very much in vogue and I thought it would be wonderful to establish our own orchard and very much look forward to tasting a pint of our own cider in a few years time.

" The project has been made possible by a grant from Somerset County Council and the trees being sponsored by local individuals, keen to support the tradition of orchards in the locality. They will each get a bottle of the first cider to be produced."

Mr Bennett added: “I am delighted that James Crowden did us the honour of planting the first tree. James’ new book ‘Ciderland’ celebrates much of what is unique about Somerset and Dillington is very much part of local landscape in the south of the county.”

Mr Crowden said: "Planting an orchard like this is phenomenally important in keeping a fine tradition alive as well as these old Somerset varieties.

"A while ago people buying properties here would dig up their orchards. Now they are planting trees. This area in particular has been associated with cider-making for many centuries."

Somerset cider gained attention recently as neighbouring Julian Temperley was awarded a top prize at the 'Food Oscars' - the BBC Food & Farming Awards.

The award was partly in recognition of the county's long history of cider-making.

The first orchard dates back to the 13th Century and monasteries had good orchards. Current cider-makers are in fact relying on methods discovered 150 years ago.

Somerset is a popular place for cider-making as the climate and soil characteristics are perfect.

For further information please contact Wayne Bennett, director, on 01460 52427 or wbennett@somerset.gov.uk

www.dillington.com

Notes for Editors

Dillington House dates back to the 16th century and was once the west country home of George III’s Prime Minister, Lord North. Since 1949 it has been run by Somerset County Council albeit in recent years on an entirely self-financing basis. The accommodation has been rated as 5-Stars under the English Tourism Council’s ‘campus’ Inspection Scheme and it is the only venue in England to hold this accolade. Today, Dillington marries the world of learning, business and the arts in a unique programme mix.

James Crowden can be contacted at www. james-crowden.co.uk or 01460 30795

pix and words courtesy of Dermot Galvin and prone (www.prone.biz)

DILLINGTON'S NEW DIRECTORIAL TEAM

Dillington director Wayne Bennett and his new deputy, Helen Chaloner, in an exclusive first picture together as they plot the future success of the South West's premier residential conferencing and adult learning centre.