Martians and Time Machines: Uppark celebrates HG Wells

Portrait of H. G. Wells as a young man

This article was about our activities at Uppark in 2016. We’ll be updating this with 2017 event information later in the year. Please go to our main Uppark House and Gardens homepage to find out what we're doing this year.

Join us this autumn as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of HG Wells, author of novels including The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man.
 
Wells spent some of his youth at Uppark, where his mother was Housekeeper. He loved stargazing through his telescope from the top of the house and visiting the well-stocked library.

His time at Uppark helped influence his social and political views, career and writing.

H. G. Wells' mother worked as a maid and housekeeper at Uppark
Photograph of H G Wells' mother, Sarah Wells
H. G. Wells' mother worked as a maid and housekeeper at Uppark

Things to see and do

 
Find out more about Wells’ life at Uppark, with our exhibit in the Servants Quarters. 
The exhbit is open every day from 11am - 4pm 10 September - 27 Novemeber 2016.
 
 
Join one of our regular talks and tours.
Follow in the footsteps of the young HG Wells on one of our daily taster tours run by our knowledegable volunteers. Taster tours run at regular times before 12.30 when the ground floor is normally closed to the public.
Learn more about the National Trust with one of our talks
Audience members listening to a talk
Learn more about the National Trust with one of our talks
We also have a series of talks by our exhibition curator at 2pm in the Lower Servants Hall on 21st & 28th September and 5th and 12th October 2016.
 
Explore the property yourself and visit the tunnels said to inspire sinister Gothic novel The Time Machine while families can discover monsters on Uppark’s Hallowe’en trail (22 October - 30 October) 
HG Wells was inspired by the world in which he grew up.
Image of aliens attacking from book of HG Wells' War of the Worlds
HG Wells was inspired by the world in which he grew up.

Special events

HG Wells bookclub
26 Sept 2016 1pm-2pm  Normal Admission Applies
 
We've teamed up with the University of Portsmouth for our H G Wells season. Join us for a lively discussion about the popular classic book by H G Wells.
 
Star-gazing at Uppark
 8 October 2016 6.15 – 9.30pm, adult £10, child £5, book on 03442491895
 
Famous sci-fi writer HG Wells loved stargazing through his telescope when he was a boy at Uppark. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth, Uppark is hosting an evening with the South Downs Planetarium. Join the National Trust team and spend an evening searching the skies for Venus, Mars and Saturn as well as autumn stars, culminating in an outdoor planetarium show. 
 
The Castle Drogo estate is perfect for star gazing
Visitors looking up at the starry night sky
The Castle Drogo estate is perfect for star gazing
 
Monsters and Martians: Halloween trail
Sat 22 Oct – Sun 30 Oct 2016 10am – 4pm Normal Admission applies
 
Monsters are lurking in the depths of the tunnels of Uppark this half term. Are you brave enough to seek them out? Get the whole family involved in our HG Wells inspired family trail and see if you can find all the monsters causing mayhem. Suggested donation £1 per trail
 
Evening lecture: H G Wells, A look at the man behind the Martians
Fri 11 Nov 2016 6pm -7.30pm £10 book on 03442491895
Join the Senior Lecturer in English Literature from University of Portsmouth at this fun and informative talk about H G Wells and how his writing is still relevant today.