On Thursday I joined some of our members on a coach trip to Southwell organised by Coventry u3a. Although in theory this was under the banner of a gardens visit, the reality was that it was less about gardens and more about history and culture. I think that the focus of the trip was spot on, given that the weather, although quite pleasant, had a distinctly autumnal feel and the summer days of visiting more formal gardens were definitely over until next year.

Southwell is a charming market town close to Newark on Trent, with attractions including a cathedral, historic Southwell Minster, and a large workhouse which has been preserved by the National Trust. Much of the cathedral is Romanesque in style, also possessing a notable chapter house which is decorated with carved foliage of exceptional quality, and much more recently the stained glass of the west window, by Patrick Reyntiens (maker of Coventry's baptistry window in collaboration with John Piper). Perhaps surprisingly, it is the seat of the C of E bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, with the ruins of what had been a fine bishops palace. In our guided tour of the palace ruins, we were told that it pre-dated the Domesday Book and had been of significance over many centuries.

After lunch in one of several enticing restaurants and cafes, we moved on to the workhouse, dating from 1824, complete with its infirmary and outbuildings. Our self-guided tour showed us what life was like in these institutions and how they developed over time. It was surprising to find out just how recently the building had been in use. Following on from the workhouse, the building continued to be used as accommodation for people who were enduring hard times, until its final role as a care home in the 1980s.