Hartlebury Castle, historic home to the Bishops of
Worcester for nearly 800 years, is about to be sold by the Church Commisioners.
The new bishop lives in Worcester.
The Castle has a magnificent medieval Great Hall and
beautiful Saloon. These two rooms, known as the staterooms, are very suitable
for a wide range of public functions. The Castle also houses the wonderful 18th
century Hurd Library, which is a national treasure. It was recently described, by an expert, as one of the most
beautiful library rooms in the UK
You will know that the County Council has a short
lease on part of the building, where the County Museum is housed. The museum has
just undergone a very successful major re-development..
All this will
be lost if the Castle is sold to a property developer.
Worcestershire County Council are seriously
interested in trying to find a way to keep the Castle in the public domain, but
need to work with partners to achieve this (Wychavon District Council is a
strong possibility) and need a solid business case for there to be any
possibility of acquisition.
The County Council are currently working very hard preparing a business case in order to try to keep the Castle in the public domain.
If
you want to help save the Castle for public use and enjoyment, please write to
or email the Council, as soon as possible, saying why you think it is
important to keep the Castle for public use and what sort of events you would
like to see held at the Castle. You might like to refer to things, which you
enjoyed in the past or have new ideas about what should happen in the future.
Please do write or email, as individual letters and emails could make a real
difference. The address is: -
Debbie
Birch,
Heritage Partnerships Manager,
Worcs. County Council, County Hall. WR5 2NP
Email:
dbirch@worcestershire.gov.uk
For more information please contact:-:
Friends
of Hartlebury Castle and the Hurd Library
v_wagstaff@yahoo.co.uk 01299 250883