As of today, all Areas of outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales have been renamed as National Landscapes.

The new name reflects their national importance; the vital contribution they make to protect the nation from the threats of climate change, nature depletion and the wellbeing crisis, whilst also creating greater understanding and awareness for the work that they do.

This is a significant milestone for the UK and the next step in fully realising the National Landscapes’ vision to be the leading exemplars of how thriving, diverse communities can work with and for nature in the UK: restoring ecosystems, providing food, storing carbon to mitigate the effects of climate change, safeguarding against drought and flooding, whilst also nurturing people’s health and wellbeing.

Eastnor Estate sits at the foot of the former Malvern Hills AONB and this will now be known as the Malvern Hills National Landscape. Every National Landscape has a new logo, sharing a similar look, and we’re thrilled that the Eastnor Obelisk appears in the Malvern Hills National Landscape logo. Inspired by an image of a dog walker on the Malvern Hills, the new logo displays the distinctive earthworks of British Camp as well as the Obelisk.

Tune into BBC Two on Friday 19^th July at 6.30pm to see Eastnor Castle featured in Michael Portillo’s Great British Railway Journeys.

In this series, Michael travels the railways of the UK and spends time exploring places and communities along the way. We were thrilled to host Michael during the Tewkesbury to Filton leg of his journey as he spent some time with James Hervey-Bathurst, discussing post-war country estates.

In this episode, James and Michael talk about how Eastnor was used during the Second World War, inheritance taxes and how James and his family went about restoring the house and boosting revenues from hiring the state rooms out for weddings and corporate events. James discusses how commercialism had to be accepted and embraced by stately homes in order for them to remain viable.

Michael finally spends some time with Land Rover Experience, Eastnor and is put through his paces on some very steep inclines! Land Rover Experience have been based on the Eastnor Estate for many years and provide unique and exciting adventures for drivers to push the vehicles to the limit. There are over 66 miles of carefully managed trails within our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the relationship between the Eastnor Estate and Land Rover is very special.

We hope you enjoyed your visit to Eastnor Michael!

It was a day of celebration at The Woodshed yesterday as the new toilet block was officially opened!

The Woodshed, sitting in the entrance to Eastnor Deer Park, has been open since July 2021 and has become a great community hub with regular events and a fantastic relaxed atmosphere. It also provides facilities for those walking in the Park and the Malvern Hills beyond.

The existing toilet facilities needed upgrading and we were fortunate to have been given a DEFRA grant aid for some new facilities, provided through the Malvern Hills AONB Joint Committee under the Farming in a Protected Landscape Scheme. The toilets were officially opened yesterday afternoon by Sebastian Bowen, former Chairman of Herefordshire Council.

The new toilets were built on the site of former storage sheds and mirror the construction of The Woodshed itself; the work was undertaken by estate staff and local specialist contractors.

James Hervey-Bathurst from Eastnor Estate said: “We are delighted to have been able to add these facilities to enhance the experience of The Woodshed Café customers and for the benefit of walkers in Eastnor Park. Our team has finished the project to a very high standard and the extension fits in very well with the older building it serves. We look forward to welcoming more visitors to the Park and the café as a result.“

We love this new video from Matthew Macfadyen on YouTube which shows lots of behind-the-scenes filming from Season 1 of Succession here at Eastnor Castle.

Click below to watch the video or read more about the filming.

Warning of explicit language within the video.

It was our great pleasure to welcome the Malverns District Scouts to plant a lime tree at Eastnor Deer Park yesterday to contribute to the Queen’s Green Canopy project, marking Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee later this year.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates are encouraged to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees during the official planting season between October and March. Tree planting will commence again in October 2022 and run through to March 2023.

With a focus on planting sustainably, the project will encourage planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the Nation, which will benefit future generations. 

Eastnor Deer Park has a long and proud history of scouting groups planting trees. Three oaks were planted in 1937 at the Scout Jamboree held in the Deer Park; this jamboree was held at the invitation of Lord Somers, then deputy Chief scout and owner of the Eastnor estate, and was attended by Lord Baden-Powell. For the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, a Camp was held in the Deer Park for all Scouts in the Malverns District and a 4^th Oak tree was planted.

James and Lucy Hervey-Bathurst attended the tree planting this morning alongside Pauline Richardson, District Chair of Malvern Scouts, and Nat Hone, a Deputy Lieutenant of Herefordshire.

James Hervey-Bathurst, who is the Hereford Chairman of the Green Canopy Campaign, said “We were delighted to welcome the Scouts on Sunday. My grandfather succeeded Lord Baden-Powell as Chief Scout in 1940 so we have a long tradition with the Scouting community which we hope will continue into the future”.

We look forward to seeing the new lime tree grow as it settles into its Eastnor home!

The Woodshed at Eastnor Deer Park is officially open!

A walk in Eastnor Deer Park became much more appealing this morning as we opened The Woodshed by the old Woodyard Entrance.

Open daily and serving take-away hot & cold drinks, delicious freshly-baked cakes from Home Farm Kitchen in Eastnor village, ice creams and light snacks, The Woodshed is a great place to stop for refreshments before or after a walk in the Deer Park or the Malvern Hills.

It’s also the perfect spot for meeting friends for coffee and cake or for a pit-stop on a bike ride. There’s sheltered seating as well as outdoor picnic tables and logs to sit on. 

Eastnor Deer Park

Eastnor Deer Park sits across the road from Eastnor Castle and spans over 300 acres, leading onto the Worcestershire Way and the Malvern Hills beyond. Walkers are very welcome, as are dogs!

We’ve detailed some suggested walks on a sign at the entrance to the Deer Park; these picturesque trails vary in length and lead on to some popular Malvern Hills walks.

A 45 minute walk will lead you to the 90ft high Eastnor obelisk which was put up in 1812 and can be seen for miles around. The obelisk is a memorial for various distinguished members of the Somers Cocks family and is a Grade 2 listed monument. 

So keen are we to provide a connection between Eastnor and the Malvern Hills, we’ve even included the profile of the Malvern Hills on The Woodshed logo!

The Woodshed History

The rustic Woodshed building was constructed over 100 years ago and was used by the Eastnor Estate Forestry Team for sawing and storing firewood; it was also used for making and selling chestnut fencing stakes. The in-house forestry operation ceased about 25 years ago and the building has stood empty ever since. 

Aware of a need for this local provision, plans to turn The Woodshed building into a ‘Gateway to the Malvern Hills’ have been in the pipeline for around 15 years so today’s opening is a big day for the Eastnor Estate, not least for the present-day Estate Works Department who have worked hard over the last few months to turn The Woodshed building back into a habitable state.

Dog Friendly

We’re a dog-friendly estate and love to welcome dogs of all shapes and sizes! As well as a great place for local dog walks, we’ve thought about the needs of our 4-legged friends and have fitted a dog wash to The Woodshed building to ensure muddy paws can be cleaned before a car journey home! We’re also selling Waggy Doggy Ice Cream so your dogs can have a post-walk treat!

Sustainability

In a bid to keep our carbon footprint low, we’ve ensured as many materials as possible have been recycled from the estate, especially the wood. We’re using compostable packaging and sourcing our produce from the local area as much as we can, keeping our food miles to a minimum.

Facilities

Keen to ensure The Woodshed and Eastnor Deer Park is accessible to as many people as possible, we’re providing free car parking, free wi-fi and toilets. A bike rack, litter bins and a dog waste bin are also available.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to The Woodshed and hope it continues to serve the local community for many years to come!

As a house of significant age, there is always a long list of renovations that need attention. Many of the smaller fixes are completed in the day-to-day running of the Castle but the larger projects can take months, sometimes years, of planning.

One such larger project has been the restoration of the wrought-iron bridge over the weir.

An area enjoyed by many of our visitors, the weir sits at the far end of the 14 acre lake and leads to a stilling pool. The bridge over the weir connects the north and south sides of the lakeside walk and was initially installed in 1828. The views from the bridge are impressive and, over the years, thousands of visitors have stood there to admire the views and watch the weir in action.

All this traffic and spray from the cascading water have taken their toll on the bridge and so it was decided, sometime before 1939, that the bridge should be reinforced with two RSJ’s and a concrete footway to replace the former one. By 2020, the RSJ’s were beginning to fail, so the restoration of the bridge to its original condition was considered. Work was due to start in 2020, but the Coronavirus pandemic forced us to defer all non-essential repair projects.

In July 2020, however, the UK Government and Historic England announced an unprecedented Heritage Stimulus Fund of which the Historic Houses Foundation would be a beneficiary.

Based on its knowledge of historic English houses and their value to the local community through supporting jobs and visitor economy, the Historic Houses Foundation carefully chose 18 nationally- important properties to benefit from grants. We were thrilled to be chosen and set to work immediately to re-ignite our bridge restoration project.

Enlisting the help of Colin Birks (the Eastnor Estate surveyor) and Nick Joyce (Herefordshire Council Listed Buildings Officer (acting) and Conservation Architect), a more ambitious restoration project was considered which involved replacing lost wrought-iron elements and putting the structure back to its original form using Barr & Grosvenor, a traditional iron foundry, led by Dominic Grosvenor and based in Wolverhampton.

Engineer Charles Shapcott was commissioned to specify the work and design the cast iron plates for the footway as the original designs had been lost. A redundant cast iron girder from the Castle and found underneath the Castle Portcullis was taken to Barr & Grosvenor and melted down to be recycled in the bridge.

With the components all delivered and fitted, the final touches of paint colours were specified by Lucy Hervey-Bathurst (Lucy Manners Interiors) and the final stonework repairs were executed by Richard Martin of Heritage Stone Access.

With work finally complete, today saw the ceremonial joint opening of the new bridge by Edward Harley OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire, and his wife, Victoria, a recent Commissioner for Historic England, attended by some involved in the project.

Here’s to many, many more feet crossing the weir bridge!

The new Weir Bridge

Official bridge opening by Victoria Harley, former Commissioner, Historic England and Edward Harley OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire

Spring is definitely showing its pretty face at Eastnor Castle today and, as we lift our puzzled heads from the depths of reading about new dates and regulations, we’re delighted to let you know about our plans for spring!

First and foremost, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, our customers, for your support throughout the toughest of years. This time last year we were busy planning our 2020 visitor opening season, completely unaware of what lay ahead.

Coronavirus hit in March 2020 and, without warning, we had to adapt to new ways of working, implement new systems, tear up the leaflets and, quite frankly, wing our way through the rest of the year. But you, our customers, were with us every step of the way with smiling faces, understanding and resolve. For this, we are truly grateful.

We’re confident this year will be calmer, more ‘normal’ and a lot happier for everyone. Here’s what we’ve got planned…

Easter at Eastnor Castle

After seeking clarification that the grounds of heritage sites can open, we’re happy to confirm we’ll be opening our grounds for Easter from Friday 2^nd April until Thursday 8^th April. Sadly, it won’t be on the same scale as our usual Easter Treasure Hunt… tickets will be very limited and our usual treasure hunt will be replaced with a smaller event where visitors can enjoy a good walk, appreciate the arrival of spring and look out for some signs of Easter hidden around the grounds with a simple trail. In keeping with tradition though, we will of course be offering a chocolate treat to all children!

Sadly, the castle will remain closed for Easter but we’re taking the opportunity to carry out some much-needed repairs inside whilst the doors have to stay closed.

Tickets will be on sale for Easter soon along with further information; please keep an eye on our social channels for news and be sure to book your tickets as soon as possible as we’re anticipating we’ll sell out due to such a limited capacity.

Eastnor ChilliFest

With a heavy heart, we can confirm that Eastnor ChilliFest will not be taking place this year. Rest assured it will be back next year though, bigger and better than ever! We will be open over the early May Bank Holiday weekend, keep an eye out for details coming soon!

Eastnor Castle Steam & Vintage

We’ll be opening again at the end of May for the Whitsun Bank Holiday and for a few days of half term. We usually hold our Steam & Vintage event this weekend and hope to do the same this year. There may be aspects of the event we’re unable to manage due to Covid regulations but we’ll update you on this soon!

Eastnor Outdoor Theatre

We’re delighted to confirm our 2 outdoor theatre performances which we had to cancel last year can go ahead this year. ‘Mr Stink’ by David Walliams and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ will both be performed on our lower terrace in the summer. Details will follow soon!

Deer Park Campsite in Malvern

As a campsite with no shared facilities, we can thankfully open the Deer Park Campsite on Monday 12^th April. It will be open in the first instance until Sunday 6th June and the online booking system for this will open next Friday.

Other updates will follow in the coming weeks as we pull the pieces of this year’s jigsaw together. One other piece of good news we do have though is that we won’t be increasing our prices this year, we also pledge to continue to be a great-value day out for all the family – including the dog!

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Eastnor Castle is set to receive capital funds towards vital restoration from the Historic Houses Foundation.

Historic Houses Foundation

The Historic Houses Foundation is one of the beneficiaries of the Heritage Stimulus Fund, announced last week by the UK Government and Historic England, which will provide finance for restoration work in historic buildings. This is the first time in its history that the Historic Houses Foundation has received government funding, despite distributing over £10million to nearly 250 vital restoration projects in England over the last 17 years. The Heritage Stimulus Fund grant of £3million is a great accolade for this small, well-respected foundation and testament to its wise decision-making and expertise over the years.

Now, through its collective capability, insider knowledge of beautiful, historic English houses and their particular value to the local community, jobs and visitor economy, the Historic Houses Foundation has carefully chosen 18 nationally important properties throughout England to benefit from these funds – of which Eastnor Castle is one.

Eastnor Castle and the Historic Houses Foundation

In 2010, owner James Hervey-Bathurst discovered that the decorative ceilings in the Long Library and Dining Room were becoming degraded, and work was first done to secure the structure. These rooms were given a makeover in Italian Renaissance style in the 1860s, and specialist restoration of the painted panels that make up the ceilings is now urgent. The grant will also cover repairs to the cast iron bridge that allows visitors to walk around the lake for the best view of the castle, probably the work of British Museum architect Robert Smirke, who built the castle for 1st Earl Somers in 1812.

James Hervey-Bathurst said: “Eastnor attracts over 50,000 visitors a year, and the richly-decorated Long Library and Dining Room are very important parts of the visitor experience, as is the path round the lake which crosses the stilling pool below the lake weir by the original cast-iron bridge. We had deferred all this work, with the risk of further deterioration taking place, until the offer of the grant came through, so I am delighted the work can now go ahead and am very grateful to the Government and Historic England for channelling this support through the Historic Houses Foundation to secure our heritage at this difficult time.

Work will be carried out over the winter months before the start of the new tourist season in spring 2021.”

Norman Hudson OBE, chairman of the Historic Houses Foundation says “Our grants go to historic buildings in all categories of ownership, so range far wider than the National Trust. That we have been selected as a Delivery Partner for this money indicates that the Government likes what we do and recognises the exceptionally cost-efficient way in which we achieve it. It is good news for historic buildings and good news for jobs and the local community.”

Find out more about the Historic Houses Foundation.

Eastnor Castle is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

Culture Recovery Fund

445 organisations will share £103 million, including Eastnor Castle to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on cherished heritage sites, keeping venues open and supporting those working in the sector.

Eastnor Castle will receive a much-needed sum of money which will help retain experienced, loyal staff who work on the upkeep of the building and the running of the day to day business. In turn, this will ensure the Grade 1 listed castle is maintained and ready to welcome visitors again next Spring.

This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund – funded by Government and administered at arms length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both funds are part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

UK Heritage Sites

433 organisations will receive a share of £67 million from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage to help with costs for operating, reopening and recovery. This includes famous heritage sites across the country, from Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Blyth Tall Ship to the Severn Valley Railway, the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincolnshire to the Piecehall in Halifax. The funds will save sites that are a source of pride for communities across the country.

12 organisations, including English Heritage, Landmark Trust, Historic Royal Palaces and the Canal and River Trust, will receive £34 million from the Heritage Stimulus Fund to restart construction and maintenance on cherished heritage sites to preserve visitor attractions and protect livelihoods for some of the most vulnerable heritage specialists and contractors in the sector.

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has also been awarded a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund through Historic England. The AHF will use the funding to support charities and social enterprises occupying historic buildings to develop new business plans and strategies for organisations affected by the pandemic.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

“As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post covid.”

Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator, Historic Royal Palaces, said:

“There’s no truer way to experience the past than to walk in the footsteps of those who have lived it – that’s why preserving our built heritage is so important.

“At Historic Royal Palaces, we care for six nationally significant buildings, opening them to the public and preserving them for future generations. Sadly, the pandemic meant that we had to stop some of our critical conservation work. The grant we have received from the Culture Recovery Fund will enable to this work to resume – so we can give some of Britain’s most historic buildings the care and attention they deserve while supporting the specialist craftspeople who are vital for the future of our national heritage.  We are enormously grateful to the Government for this support.”

David Littlewood, General Manager of Eastnor Castle, said:

“We are extremely grateful for this generous funding from the Culture Recovery Fund. We have had a very worrying 6 months with the vast majority of our events and functions cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Thankfully we were eventually allowed to open to visitors on a limited basis which bought in some income, but we have suffered a huge loss of earnings.”

“The next 6 months will be very quiet but it’s imperative we keep our standards up and ensure the castle doesn’t deteriorate. This grant money has taken away the very real possibility of more staff redundancies and means we can protect our Grade 1 Listed castle, maintaining it as a viable business for the local community and for future generations.”

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive said:

“It is heartening to see grants, both large and small, from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund helping heritage sites and organisations across the country which have been hit hard by the effects of Covid-19. These grants range from giving skilled craft workers the chance to keep their trades alive to helping heritage organisations pay the bills, and to kick-starting repair works at our best-loved historic sites. The funding is an essential lifeline for our heritage and the people who work tirelessly to conserve it for us all, so that we can hand it on to future generations.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund said:

“It is absolutely right that investing in heritage should be a priority during this crisis and this support by Government is crucial.  Heritage creates jobs and economic prosperity, is a major driver for tourism and makes our towns, cities, and rural areas better places to live.  All of this is so important for our wellbeing and will be particularly vital when we start to emerge from this incredibly difficult time.

“Our heritage is still facing a perilous future – we are not out of the woods yet.  But this hugely welcome funding from Government, and the money we continue to invest from the National Lottery, has undoubtedly stopped heritage and the organisations that care for it being permanently lost.”

Kate Mavor, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said:

“This support for our nation’s heritage is fantastic news.  Over the last few months, our teams have been working hard to welcome visitors back safely to the great castles, stone circles, abbeys and historic houses in our care. This funding will help us invest to safeguard the historic fabric of these much-loved places, which everyone can learn from and enjoy.”

Thing To Do Outdoors

As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, there is even more opportunity for us to get outside and enjoy activities such as walking, hiking, cycling and boating. Whilst we were once only allowed to enjoy one form of exercise per day, there is now no limit to what we can enjoy outdoors, and we should be taking advantage of this. The coronavirus pandemic, whilst painful and sad for many, has been an opportunity for the world and its inhabitants to take a break and simply breathe. We at Eastnor Castle believe that the great outdoors is one of the greatest gifts we have and that its beauty should be enjoyed. 

Summer Holiday Fun at Eastnor Castle

We’re delighted to be able to open (almost in full)* throughout the summer and will be open Wednesday to Sunday (+Aug BH Monday) from 22^nd July to 31st August. We’ll also be hosting an ‘added extra’ event/activity each day we are open – all included in your entrance price! Here’s what we have coming up:

*The Castle Maze will sadly remain closed for the summer. Our Little Land Rovers will remain closed for the summer other than for our Little Land Rover Circuits event from 22nd to 26th July.

We’ll be open from 10.30 am until 5.30 pm and tickets are limited so pre-booking online is recommended.

Online Eastnor Castle tickets are discounted and are priced as follows:

All of these events/activities are free of charge for Privilege Cardholders but we recommend you book your tickets online wherever possible (please choose Privilege Card Holder tickets when selecting your tickets).

All of these events/activities are free of charge for Historic Houses members but we recommend you book your tickets online wherever possible (please choose Historic House Member tickets when selecting your tickets).

BOOK YOUR TICKETS

Eastnor Castle Grounds 

Eastnor Castle is surrounded by miles of beautiful rolling Herefordshire countryside, located at the foot of the wonderful Malvern hills. We are very lucky to have such an amazing space, it is the perfect place for those wanting to walk in Hereford, Malvern or Worcester areas. We are delighted that following updates in government guidance, Eastnor Castle has been allowed to open its visitor attraction to the public to enjoy, with social distancing measures in place.

Kids Adventure Playgrounds

Throughout the summer holidays, many parents will be looking for things to do with kids in Worcestershire and the surrounding area. Eastnor Castle is a perfect solution, with our woodland play area, junior obstacle course, adventure playground and rope swings all now open for children to enjoy. If the kids need to run off a bit more energy, we also have a beautiful castle lake and arboretum walks for them to adventure in and around. If you’re making it a day out, our Tea Room is open offering hot and cold drinks and snacks or you’re welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds. Our Ice Cream Parlour is also open daily offering delicious ice cream flavours sourced locally.

A place to Walk Dogs in Malvern and Herefordshire

If your day out in Hereford, Malvern, Worcester (or wherever you are in the surrounding area) includes a dog friendly too, that is no problem at Eastnor Castle. We are very proud to be a Dogs Welcome tourist attraction and one of the few historic houses where dogs are welcome into its grounds and house. You are free to roam the grounds wherever you like with your four-legged friends. We ask that your dog is kept on a lead and waste bags are provided on arrival. We do also have dedicated dogs off-lead areas, where your pets are free to adventure and run through the trees. 

COVID-19 Health and Safety

We strive to stay on track with the government guidelines on COVID-19 health and safety and have carried out extensive risk assessments. Measures are in place around the grounds to help keep our visitors and staff safe such as hand sanitiser stations, signage and floor markings. Please adhere to the signage in place at all times to help keep everyone safe. We will be operating as a cashless venue so please bring a card to make any payments. Find out more about our Covid-19 Health & Safety measures.

Please kindly note that from 8th August it will be compulsory to wear a face covering if you go inside the castle as it is classed as a museum. Please bring a face covering with you when you visit if you intend to go inside the castle. Thank you.

Visit Eastnor Castle

So what are you waiting for? Come and visit Eastnor Castle today for the perfect day out in Herefordshire, or wherever you are travelling from. We would be delighted to welcome you into our grounds again and offer a sanctuary for fun, relaxation and enjoyment. Get in touch with us today for further information and details before your visit. 

DDA/Equality Act 2010

As a result of the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we are sorry advise that neither the Castle Stair-Climber or the Disabled Lift can be used safely for the foreseeable future.

 The access stairs to the  Castle and it’s Upper Floor are not suitable for Non-Ambulant visitors.

 This decision has been based on current UK.Gov. Guidance on the reduction of the transmission risk of COVID-19. This restriction will be reviewed as and when updated UK.Gov Guidance is issued.

Tough Times

We know it’s tough at the moment. Like many of you, we’re trying to work, to home-school, to keep upbeat and calm. It’s like nothing we’ve ever known before and it’s hard.

With the news yesterday that the majority of children probably won’t return to school until at least September, we hope we can help in some small way by offering an affordable Outdoor Learning Day.

You might already know that we re-opened our grounds at weekends on a limited basis a few weeks ago, and from next week (15^th June), we will also be opening up on Mondays.

An Outdoor Learning Day About Castles

We’ve set this page up as a one-stop resource for an Outdoor Learning Day at Eastnor Castle. A change of home-school scenery and a day in the fresh air might be just the ticket and what better topic to focus on than… Castles!

It’s worth noting that Eastnor Castle, at around 200 years old, is a ‘new’ castle and has never been involved in the battle. It has many traditional castles features however such as turrets, a keep, a portcullis, battlements, a flag and thick stone walls.

Below are some free child-focused educational resources for learning all about castles*. Perhaps you could spend some time learning about Castles with your child(ren) and then visit us to see a real-life Castle!

Resources

General Information on Castles:

The School Run

DK Find Out

Primary Homework Help

An Information Video on Castles:

YouTube video on Castles

How to Draw a Castle:

How to Draw a Castle

Eastnor Castle History:

History of Eastnor Castle

*Please note that other than the Eastnor Castle History page,  these all link to external resources which have been reviewed but for which we do not hold any responsibility for the content.

Why Visit?

• Find out all you can about castles and then visit one in real-life;
• Tickets are limited so social distancing can be observed at all times;
• Toilets are open and cleaned throughout the day;
• Enjoy the ‘Great Outdoors’ with woodland and lakeside walks through 100 acres of land;
• The Ice Cream Parlour is open for an ice cream treat!
• Plenty of picnic areas throughout the ground;
• Ticket prices are currently just £2.50 for children and £5.00 for adults;
• Dogs are welcome too!

Tickets 

We hope to see you soon, find out more about our Limited Grounds Opening and Buy Tickets.

We are delighted to announce that following an update to Government guidance, we are now able to reopen parts of Eastnor Castle grounds to visitors on selected days throughout May, June & July.  

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our visitors for their patience and support during the last few months and we look forward to welcoming you back again.

We take the safety of our visitors very seriously so changes have been put in place in order for us to reopen our gates; this means a visit to Eastnor Castle will be a little different for now.

Please find below a summary of the information which we hope will help you decide if you’d like to visit.

Covid-19 Safe Space

We have been working extensively with an external Health & Safety Consultant to ensure we have Covid-19 controls in place. A full risk assessment has been carried out and recommendations implemented as necessary.

We respectfully request that all of our visitors adhere to social distance rules whilst they are here (signage is in place to support this) and wash/sanitise their hands regularly. Please stay away if you or any of your household are showing symptoms of Coronavirus.

Dates and Times:

We will be open on the following days:

Saturday 30th May until Sunday 7th June: SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
Saturday 13th June until Monday 20th July: SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS & MONDAYS

 10.30am until 5.30pm. Last admission will be at 3.00pm.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR SUMMER HOLIDAY OPENING FROM WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY

Facilities and Attractions:

The following facilities and attractions will be OPEN:

• The Grounds (including the arboretum, valley lawn and lakeside walks)
• The Portcullis Toilets
• The Ice Cream Parlour (card payments only)
• The Woodland Play Area 
• Junior Obstacle Course (open from Saturday 4th July)
• Adventure Playground (open from Saturday 4th July)
• Rope Swings (open from Saturday 4th July)
• Tuck Shop selling hot & cold drinks and snacks (Saturdays & Sundays only)
• Tea Room (open from Saturday 11th July)

The following facilities and attractions will be CLOSED:

• Castle
• Castle Maze
• Little Land Rovers 

Tickets:

Tickets are LIMITED and are ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE. No entry will be given to anyone without a pre-purchased ticket. Tickets are £5.00 for adults (aged 16 or over) and £2.50 for children (aged 3-15 years). Children aged 2 and under are free of charge and do not require a ticket. Tickets will be checked on arrival so please have them printed out if possible ready to show. Buy your tickets here.                          

Car Parking:

We are limiting the number of visitors, therefore, there is lots of room in our car parks. Please don’t park too close to others. Car parking is free of charge.

Hand Sanitisers:

We have provided hand sanitiser stations as you enter the grounds and also near the Ice Cream Parlour. Please also bring your own sanitiser if you wish.

Toilets:

The Portcullis toilets will be open during your visit and cleaned throughout the day. We will be limiting the number of people allowed in at any one time and operating a ‘one in, one out’ policy.

Face Coverings:

Members of staff may be wearing face coverings in certain areas. They will still be giving a welcome smile, but you just won’t be able to see it!

Picnic Benches:

The picnic benches around the grounds are all 2 metres apart.

Bins:

All our bins will have their lids removed.

Playgrounds:

Playgrounds will be closed in line with Government guidance.

Ice-Cream Parlour:

Payment will be by card only; WE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING ANY CASH PAYMENTS. There will be a queuing system in place, please keep 2 metres apart.

Tea Room:

The Castle Tea Room will not be open so visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnics. On Saturdays and Sundays there will be a Tuck Shop operating from the Courtyard selling hot & cold drinks and snacks.

Drinking-Water:

Bottled water will be available to buy in the ice cream parlour and tuck shop. Alternatively, there is a drinking water tap on the Valley Lawn for visitors to refill their own containers.

Eastnor Castle Privilege Cards:

Eastnor Castle Privilege Cards are valid for this period. Please ensure you have your card ready to show to the Admission staff on arrival. Please kindly note that all Privilege Cardholders will be contacted in due course to arrange an expiry date extension once our Visitor Opening is back to normal.

Discounted Tickets / Promotions:

Discounted/complimentary tickets or affiliation cards and memberships such as English Heritage, Gardeners World etc. are not valid during this period.
Historic House members are welcome but must pre-book tickets by selecting ‘Historic Houses Member’ ticket(s). Membership numbers must be inputted at checkout.

Handouts:

We will not be giving out any Children’s Fun Booklets or selling Guide Books. A simple Grounds Map will be available to pick up from the admission area. If you would like to print this out at home and bring it with you, you can download it here. We have also provided links to some external resources for an Outdoor Learning Day at Eastnor Castle, based on the home-schooling topic of castles.

Dog Friendly:

Dogs are welcome at Eastnor but must be kept on a lead at all times, other than in the ‘Dogs Off Leads’ area.

Finally…

A short note to say this has been a particularly challenging period for a lot of people. We are a small family business and have had to close our doors throughout a period which would normally be our busiest time. We are reopening cautiously and doing so in circumstances which are completely new to us. During your visit, should you notice anything we could be doing better, please let us know in person so that we can take measures to fix it.

If you choose to visit then thank you for your support. We have reduced our ticket prices to reflect our scaled-down attractions but any tickets sold now will help us to recover as a business and open again in full as soon as we’re able to.

Buy your tickets here.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Following last night’s Government update with regards to the Coronavirus outbreak, it is with great sadness we announce that Eastnor Castle, grounds, arboretum and Deer Park Campsite will remain closed to visitors until further notice.

This is a tremendously sad and difficult time for so many people and our thanks go out to all the healthcare and key workers who are doing such an incredible job trying to keep us safe.

We’re all aware of what is happening in the world right now regarding the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Firstly, we want to extend our thoughts to those who are feeling the effects of this terrible situation, be it through illness, worry, business closures, changed plans (or all of the above!).

The health of our staff and visitors is important to us and, like everyone else, we’re adhering to all guidelines issued by the British Government and Public Health England.

We were due to open our doors to visitors for the season on Friday 10th April and we’re keen to ensure we can still do that in some capacity. As it stands today (and this may change); please see below for our Easter opening plan.

Easter Opening Plan

We are fortunate enough to be situated in a beautiful rural area with lots of outdoor space around us. We will therefore still be opening for Easter but removing any unnecessary episodes of contact and crowds. If you wish to visit to enjoy some fresh air and a runaround in our 100 acres of grounds, please read on for details (please bear in mind that all of these steps are to try and keep everyone safe, please make your own decisions on whether to visit based on your own personal circumstances).

• We will open our grounds only (NOT the castle) from Monday 6^th to Sunday 19^th April from 10.30 am until 5.30 pm.
• We will not be operating our OlympEgg Easter Treasure Hunt. Instead, we will have our grounds open and operate a simple ‘Spot the Eggs Easter Treasure Hunt’ around the grounds. Children can look for clues, complete a Treasure Hunt form and swap it for a MaltEaster chocolate bunny as they depart.
• Tickets will be available for this event ONLINE ONLY. We wish to minimise the amount of contact between visitors and staff so our visitor entrance will be closed and an outdoor ticket-check station will be operating near the entrance. To re-iterate, visitors WILL NOT be able to buy tickets when they arrive.
• We will not be operating our giant chocolate Easter Egg draw and will instead be donating the eggs to charity.
• Please watch this space for details on our Tea Room and Ice Cream Parlour opening. As always, picnics are welcome and visitors are welcome to enjoy a picnic in their own space within the grounds.
• We will have extra hand-washing stations around the grounds so that our visitors can regularly wash their hands.
• Signs will be placed around the grounds advising guests to take extra caution around areas which may get busier than others (such as the Adventure Playground).
• Dogs are still very welcome but must be kept on a lead other than in the Dogs Off Leads area.
• If you have already purchased a ticket for our Easter OlympEGG Treasure Hunt, you may transfer your ticket and visit on another date throughout the year or you may still visit at Easter and we will happily refund part of your ticket as you’ll no longer be able to go inside the castle. If you have already purchased a ticket we will contact you directly by email.
• Tickets will be available to buy online at the end of this week (20^th March) and will be available to buy until 3.30pm on the day of your visit.
• Please keep an eye on our website and social media channels for further updates. Facebook | Twitter
• Tickets will be limited to avoid any overcrowding.
• No promotions such as Historic Houses or English Heritage will be available for this event.
• Privilege Card holders are welcome as usual.
• Tickets will cost £8.50 for adults, £5.50 for children and £23.00 for a family of 2 adults and up to 3 children.

Eastnor ChilliFest news to follow as soon as we have it.

If you have a wedding, party, event or Eastnor holiday cottage booked in the coming weeks and have any concerns at all, we’re here to help!

Thank you for reading; if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

With very best wishes from the Eastnor Team.

With great excitement, we announce that our ‘Charity of the Year 2020’ will be Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Charity of the Year Programme

Running for the 4^th year in 2020, our Charity of the Year programme allows us to pledge support to a local charity in a number of ways including the use of the castle for a fundraising dinner, the use of the grounds for a family fun day, complimentary tickets, collection boxes at the Visitor Entrance and an open invitation to be present on any day we are open to visitors.

Acorns Children’s Hospice

We were keen to support Acorns Children’s Hospice after a chance visit to the hospice in Worcester last April when a visitor to Eastnor Castle’s Easter Treasure Hunt asked if she could donate the giant Easter Egg she had won to a local Children’s Hospice. Happy to oblige, the giant chocolate egg was dropped into Acorns for the Three Counties on the Bath Road in Worcester.

Becky Williams, Head of Marketing at Eastnor Castle said: “From the first chance visit to Acorns last April, it was clear that Acorns was a very special place indeed and we were keen to discuss our Charity of the Year programme with them as soon as possible.”

She continued: “Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life-limited and life-threatened babies, children and young people, and support for their families. They need £27,000 per day to run their services and rely on donations and fundraising by the community and local businesses for 70% of this amount. We hope that we can contribute towards this amount and also raise the profile of Acorns Children’s Hospice amongst our visitors. We’ve already met with the team and are looking forward to working together on a number of events throughout the year.”

Mel Hall, Area Fundraiser for Acorns Children’s Hospice adds: “We are thrilled to be chosen as Eastnor Castle’s Charity of the Year. We rely on the generosity of supporters to continue providing our vital services to children and families – so this partnership is really important”

 “We’re excited to see what the year brings, not just in terms of fundraising, but the awareness this will help bring Acorns as we aim to deliver the best possible care and support to all the families across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire that need us”

Charity Event

Details of the events being arranged at Eastnor Castle by Acorns Children’s Hospice are being finalised and will be announced soon… stay tuned to our social channels!

Photograph Left to right: Becky Williams, Head of Marketing and Sarah Littlewood, Head of Visitor Services from Eastnor Castle meet with Janine Warner, Deputy Head Nurse and Susan Hayward, Head of Care from Acorns Children’s Hospice. 

We’ve enjoyed our fair share of location filming here at Eastnor over the years and have featured in many different  productions from documentaries to dramas and music films. One of our most memorable filming projects however came in February and March 2018 when we had the pleasure of hosting a 350 strong cast and crew for HBO’s ‘SUCCESSION’ as they filmed all over the Eastnor Estate during one of the coldest winters for years (remember the ‘Beast from the East’ brrrrr?)

Succession Director Chairs set up in the Long Library 

Chairs for the stars!

HOW IT CAME ABOUT…

Award-winning Supervising Location Manager and industry veteran, Sue Quinn, whose impressive back catalogue includes family favourite films such as Notting Hill, Love Actually, and the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises, has an enviable reputation for knowing her historic houses and flagged Eastnor Castle as a potential location. After multiple recces of the castle interiors, grounds and the wider estate, Eastnor was chosen to be the location for Succession Season 1, episodes 9 and 10, to be directed by British Director, Mark Mylod (Game of Thrones, Cold Feet and The Affair).

SUCCESS FOR SUCCESSION

Little then did we realise just how successful this brand new HBO TV satirical drama, Succession, would become (the clue was probably in the title!). As the Succession team proudly won 2 coveted awards at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards earlier this week (‘Best Television Series – Drama’ and ‘Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Brian Cox) – Drama’), we’re looking back at some of our highlights from when Succession filmed at Eastnor Castle.

THE BEAST FROM THE EAST

From the day the location team arrived, temperatures started to plummet, and soon blizzards, strong winds and drifting snow caused widespread disruption throughout Eastnor as the ‘Beast from the East’ combined with storm ‘Emma’, to give us some of the most testing weather conditions ever experienced.

Despite what the weather threw at us though, it did not deter the highly professional cast and crew who battled against the elements both day and night to ensure that filming stayed on schedule.

Ice on the Upper Terrace

Hats and warm coats for all the crew

EPISODE 9 – “PRE-NUPTIAL’ AND EPISODE 10 – ‘NOBODY IS EVER MISSING’

Eastnor has played host to hundreds of weddings over the years and we’ve seen some pretty spectacular sights along the way (décor, entertainment, dresses, flowers), but nothing could prepare us for the stunning glass marquee that was erected on the castle’s Lower Terrace (courtesy of Good Intents Marquees) for the star-studded ‘wedding’ of Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) in episodes 9 and 10.

The huge glass structure, which took a week to build, filled the Lower Terrace, and the night shoots with in-bound helicopters, crowd scenes and glamourous setting, soon became the talking point of Eastnor.

The stunning glass marquee on the Lower Terrace

The glass marquee setting for ‘the wedding’, dressed by an amazing Props Team and food stylists, was spectacular!

The equally stunning marquee interiors (image from Good Intents)

EXTRAS, EXTRAS, EXTRAS

“We need lots of extras and fast” was a cry early on in the project. So we did what we do best at Eastnor Castle, and rallied the local community (friends, waitresses, students, gamekeepers daughters, sons of staff) to help! This created a real buzz in the community as everyone enjoyed their 15 minutes or more of fame, and even kick-started a film career for some!

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

Never had we seen so much food! We were surrounded by food villages, rolling hot and cold buffets, and 24/7 smoothies, chocolate and artisan coffee in the Tea Room, Courtyard and Visitor Car Park. Some days we were invited by the locations team to enjoy the ‘leftovers’ and as a team of foodies, we were more than happy to oblige!

FILMING TRUCKS

Location trucks, production trucks, crew trucks, catering trucks, prop trucks… there were hundreds of trucks! Everywhere we looked there were trucks and temporary marquees housing the stars of Succession, the location team, production, costumes, props and make-up. The huddle of Movie Makers trucks in our Woodyard, in full view of passing traffic, was the cause of widespread local curiosity. Despite countless calls to the Castle office asking what was being filmed, our lips remained sealed, even when someone claimed to have spotted Tom Cruise in the vicinity!

Trucks on the Lower Terrace

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

From the warmth of the Castle Office we were able to see plenty of filming action! In fact, we could barely move for cabling, lights, cameras, rigs and props, not to mention people! Even the boss’s office doubled up as Kendall’s (Jeremy Strong) hotel room for 6 weeks, including the erection of a temporary 6ft false wall, forcing our General Manager to climb over his desk every morning to get to his computer!

Ready for a Night Shoot

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

With over 350 cast and crew onsite for nearly 8 weeks, plenty of overnight accommodation was needed in the local area! As the Castle Bedrooms were being used as sets, our self-catering holiday cottages were in demand. The Director of Photography stayed at Golden Gates Lodge in the Eastnor Deer Park, whilst the location team stayed at Hillend House prior to it being renovated into a 9 bedroom/bathroom rental property. Other members of the cast and crew stayed in hotels in Ledbury, Malvern, Cheltenham and Hereford.

Hillend House

FORGING FRIENDSHIPS

It is fair to say that once the full complement of cast and crew arrived on site, we were initially shell-shocked by the sheer volume of people and the level of activity. But after nearly 8 weeks of working alongside the whole team, we all agreed that they were one of the best film crews we have had the pleasure of hosting at Eastnor Castle.

Everyone working on Succession, without exception, from the carpenters to the sparks, to props and the locations team, to the Director, were all incredibly friendly and professional, respecting the heritage and integrity of the castle for the duration.

By the time we said our fond farewells, lasting friendships had been forged. As the last of the locations team headed out of Eastnor onto the next shoot location, our Filming Co-ordinator Charlotte, admitted to missing the daily frenetic activity that a full-on shoot of this scale brings with it.

Charlotte feeling star-struck!

IT’S A DOG’S LIFE!

As a dog-loving team and a dog-friendly venue, we couldn’t have been happier to dog-sit the dashing Dachshund, Louis, whilst his ‘Mummy’ was busy on set. Louis settled in very quickly, swaddled in his very own cashmere dog blankets and cuddling his red bouncy bone, and become part of the Eastnor Castle office team!

Louis!

A NOTE OF THANKS

Feedback is very important to us so we were thrilled to receive this feedback from Sue at the end of the filming project:

“120 miles from London and well worth the fight to be out of the 25-mile radius. Eastnor is a magical and wonderful location to film at, it has everything. One of the very few intact and privately-owned castles that is a rare Gothic Revival stately dream. Because it is a working home it is not too precious and is, therefore, more ideal for working with film crews. The owner James is very accommodating and so are all the amazing staff that work for him, it is a “can” do environment in which they work. Anything is possible. Apart from having a very happy time filming in every kind of weather, snow, ice, floods and high winds we were able to able to continue. The castle itself is also a star, it is nestled into the Malvern valley with the beautiful surrounding countryside, but the interiors are a dream with rich colours that are set off with the beautiful interiors by Pugin. I can’t wait to come back and hope I am involved with another project that I can use Eastnor for.”

AND FINALLY…

Congratulations Succession on your tremendous success; we are so proud to have played a small part in your incredible journey! 

Click below for a behind-the-scenes video from Succession’s time here at Eastnor Castle (warning of explicit language within the video)

#succcession #season1 #hbo #skydrama #goldenglobes #filming #filmlocation

As the festive season gets into full swing, we’re delighted to be opening our doors for a very special evening of Christmas magic, just a week before the big day!

Christmas Celebrations

On the evening of Wednesday 18^th December, James Hervey-Bathurst, the owner of Eastnor Castle, will be welcoming visitors from 6 pm until 8.30 pm to sample the delights of Christmas at Eastnor.

The castle doors will swing open for three scheduled tours, each led by James himself and will take in the beautifully decorated Great Hall including a 20-foot tree featuring decorations handed down through generations. The historic bedrooms and the atmospheric, candle-lit dining room will give people a glimpse into Christmas from a bygone era.

The tour will include a glass of wine and a mince pie as well as Christmas carols by members of the Ledbury Choral Society.

Raising Money

The event is to raise funds for the Eastnor Church Tower Appeal in which James is heavily involved. Up to £120,000 needs to be raised for a project to repair the ancient and beautiful church and to improve its facilities to allow wider use.

The Church is a grade 1-listed Place of Worship and on the Historic England Buildings at Risk Register. The church plays an important role at the centre of the village for regular worship and is used daily by the village school and weekly for bellringing practice. It is situated within the Malvern Hills AONB and enjoyed by visitors to Eastnor Castle and the deer park.

Tickets for the Festive Christmas Evening cost £25 per person and are available online at eastnorcastle.com/christmas-tours

We are delighted to announce that our ‘Charity of the Year 2019’ will be the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

Charity of the Year Programme at Eastnor Castle

Now in its 3rd year, our Charity of the Year programme allows us to pledge support to a local charity in a number of ways including the use of the castle for a fundraising dinner, the use of the grounds for a family fun day, complimentary tickets, collection boxes at the visitor entrance and an open invitation to be present on any day we are open to visitors.

We were keen to support the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity after meeting them at our Eastnor SOS Day in June and hearing of the critical work they do throughout six Midlands counties, including Herefordshire.

David Littlewood, General Manager at Eastnor Castle, went to meet some of the Midlands Air Ambulance Team based at their Strensham airbase to see first-hand how donations from local businesses support the service they offer. He’s pictured here (3rd from left) with Dr David Balthazar, Pilot Tim Hutchins and Critical Care Paramedic Colin Apps.

Meeting the Midlands Air Ambulance Members

He said: “We are thrilled to able to support the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity this year. We are in awe of the work that they do and had no idea that the charity receives no Government or National Lottery funding and relies solely on donations and fundraising. They need to raise in excess of £9 million each year to operate and we hope that we’re not only able to contribute in some way towards this but that we can also help to raise their profile amongst our visitors. We’ve already met with the team and are excited about working together on a number of events throughout the year.”

Mary Seldon, Fundraising Executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity in Herefordshire added: “Midlands Air Ambulance Charity relies solely on donations from local businesses and the general public, to undertake around 2,000 air ambulance missions every year. We’re so grateful to Eastnor Castle for choosing to support us this year, as it will help to raise vital funds and awareness in the local area. We’re really excited to partner with such a stunning visitor attraction.”

Details of the events being arranged here by the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity are still being finalised but will be announced soon… Stay tuned to our social channels!

As we’re waking up to regular frosts on the ground now and winter has definitely set in, it got us thinking about what makes a winter wedding so special. Here are our top tips for why a winter wedding is a smart choice!

Don’t worry about the weather

Let’s face it, if you plan a winter wedding, the chances are that you’re not going to be able to spend your entire drinks reception outside having photos taken and mingling with your guests. It’s probably going to be cold. Although this shrieks alarm bells for many, just have a little think about how much time the average couple spends checking the weather forecast and praying for dry, warm weather in the lead up to their wedding, and think about how better you can spend that time!

Just assume it’s going to be cold. Anything warmer will be a bonus, right?! The good news is that we’ve got the indoor wedding thing all covered here so there’s no need to worry about back up plans; we’ve got plenty of space inside to conduct your whole wedding, from the morning preparations to the evening celebrations… it can all happen inside a warm cosy castle with no need to step a foot outside unless you want to!

Bring on the romance

Winter weddings are undeniably romantic. That dusk light and pinky-orange glow to the sky make everyone feel warm and fuzzy. Add some open fires, candles and lanterns into the mix and you’re suddenly living the winter wedding dream. A dusting of fresh snow too (disclaimer – we can’t promise this, sorry)… and yes you get the idea, it’s all about creating the magical Winter Wonderland scenes worthy of a Pinterest prize!

Wedding Availability

It’s all about supply and demand for winter weddings. They’re just not as popular at summer weddings so use this to your advantage when negotiating with suppliers. Venues and suppliers will have more dates available in the winter so don’t be afraid to ask for a discount or special deal… most suppliers will be glad of the winter work when it’s normally quiet so will welcome the booking at a discounted rate. Some wedding venues, we included, offer a discount for holding your wedding mid-week too so take a look at those dates between Christmas and New Year when the majority of your guests will be off work meaning a full guest list at a less-than-normal rate!

Wedding Decorations

Who doesn’t love a glorious, twinkling Christmas tree?! Every year, around the beginning of December, we create all the festive vibes when a 20ft Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree arrives in the magnificent Great Hall and is professionally decorated with baubles and lights to within an inch of its life. Add in some super festive garlands down the stunning staircase and glorious festoons above the fireplace and you’ve suddenly got yourself a fully-decorated venue! Apart from some simple table centrepieces and candles which you can provide on a minimal budget, you’re good to go!

Wedding Food

Two words… Hearty Food! Sometimes the heat of a summer wedding can impinge on the appetite of your guests. At a winter wedding, your guests will appreciate a delicious, hearty menu. The menus at Eastnor Castle are designed in collaboration with the happy couple and cooked by our talented in-house chefs, using locally sourced produce. Popular winter menus include Fillet of Herefordshire Beef, Rack of Welsh Lamb and Cotswold Chicken Supreme. A firm favourite for evening food is the traditional hog roast served on the Upper Terrace next to a roaring fire pit! Is your mouth watering yet?

If nothing else, your winter wonderland wedding will always be remembered, your wedding day will stand out from all the others held during the spring or summer and provide your guests with a reason (other than snow and Christmas!) to be excited about winter!

Find out more about Winter Weddings at Eastnor Castle or call us on 01531 633160 to arrange a viewing.

Autumn Events at Eastnor Castle

Elf House Making & Broomstick Building, Giant Leaf Pile Kicking & Conker Collecting… Eastnor Castle Gets Kids Outside with Magical Events. The fact that the castle nestles on the fringes of the Malvern Hills, the landscape that inspired Tolkien’s Middle Earth, ensures a fairy tale visit in its own right. However, we’ve added to the magic for children and adults alike with two magical autumn events this September. What’s more, the dog can come along too as we welcome our furry friends in all areas of the castle and grounds.

Autumn Antics – Sunday 23rd September

There’s no need to travel to New England to see spectacular displays of Autumn foliage. Our Breath-taking arboretum and tree trail is a testament to the Victorian’s passion for creating exotic gardens based on worldly travels.

Children are encouraged to climb the trees, dive into giant piles of leaves and collect conkers and cones to their heart’s content.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust will also be on hand to teach elf-house making and also hands-on lessons in pressing apples to make your own apple juice.

Broomstick Making & Racing – Sunday 30th September

Don’t miss the castle’s last Open Day of 2018 – it’s going to be spellbinding. Budding witches and wizards can attend broomstick-making classes against the enchanted backdrop of Eastnor Castle and then take part in broomstick races and zoom off around the grounds hunting for clues in a magical treasure hunt.

Both of these events are included in the entrance prices alongside the collection of permanent attractions which include a maze, adventure playground, tree-top walkway, woodland play area, rope-swings, tree trails and lakeside walks. Opening times are 10.30 am until 5.30 pm and prices are Adults: £7.00, Children: £5.00, Families: £20.00 (Grounds only admission, castle upgrades are available. Online ticket prices shown, tickets cost more on the gate).

FIND OUT MORE AND BUY TICKETS

As mentioned in an earlier blog, this is a useful phrase, with a respectable pedigree and it can certainly be applied to the snow we had last week. After two days of fine snow and wind ie blizzards, this pile of snow was found under the roof over our Pugin bedroom, luckily just as the thaw set in.

Snow Blizzards Hit Eastnor Castle

We do not have one of those vacuum cleaners that suck up water and so presumably are also fit for snow. Anyway, if we did, it would probably suck up the fibreglass insulation as well, so we use traditional methods: hand shovel and black plastic bags. Anthony Marriott, one of our house managers and the one who detected the tell-tale drip, and I lit the roof space with a bright lamp and set about scooping up the snow and bagging it up to be disposed of for melting outside. If it melts under the roof, it can bring down a ceiling or at least make a mess of the paintwork. An hour and a half later (there were other piles elsewhere) it was all gone, and we had managed not to step between any rafters and damage the ceiling below in a more forceful way.

The photograph not only shows the offending snow but also the cast-iron roof trusses designed by the castle architect, Robert Smirke. The slates rest on cast iron purlins and are held in place by nails. It is a system that has survived the test of time, but unfortunately, the seal between the slates or torching as described here,  has long dropped off, and we have not replaced it, allowing, as an architect might say, the ingress of snow. If we had the wrong type of snow every winter, I would think about it.

James Hervey-Bathurst

4^th March 2018

The heavy snow produced a magical and seasonal appearance to the landscape, and the lake froze over. We cleared the drive before anyone slipped off the road and drove into the yew hedge, which was already under a lot of pressure from the weight of snow, which, at least for the natural world, was definitely the “wrong kind of snow“.

Snow at Eastnor Castle

Sadly, our cedars and other confers suffered heavily as the weight of snow broke boughs off close to the trunk. All night we could hear cracks and crashes as they came down. Other trees, such as the magnolia in our garden, suffered too, but not as badly.

New Trees for Eastnor Castle

In a well-timed visit, however, Martin Gardner, Co-ordinator of the International Conifer Conservation Programme at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, appeared yesterday with a supply of young specimen trees from seeds taken from native trees under threat. They included firs from Turkey (Abies nordmanniana) and a critically endangered Notofagus Alessandrini from Chile. They will be very welcome additions to our stock and will be carefully planned out as soon as the snow clears.

On a different note, a team of men has been clearing the snow from the valleys on the roof to allow the water to run off unimpeded when the snow melts. In the case of the roof, it has been the right kind of snow as it is the powder kind that blows in between the slates and causes trouble to our interiors.

James Hervey-Bathurst
19^th December 2017

MICHAEL BALL AND ALFIE BOE ANNOUNCE ‘TOGETHER AGAIN’ TOUR DATES FOR 2017

Following the stunning success of their Platinum-selling album ‘Together’ and 29 sold-out shows across the UK in 2016, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe have announced today that they will return in 2017 for a selection of exclusive dates throughout the country.

Summer will see them performing outdoors at some of the UK’s most beautiful stately homes and castles, with six dates announced in June. In winter, they’ll come back inside to play ten arena dates in November and December.

Tickets for all dates go on sale on Friday, December 16th at 10 am from www.livenation.co.uk and www.gigsandtours.com. VIP Hospitality and Meet & Greet packages are also available to purchase via VIP Nation.

JUNE 2017

SUNDAY 18TH: EASTNOR CASTLE, LEDBURY
TUESDAY 20TH: WALCOT HALL, SHREWSBURY
WEDNESDAY 21ST: STANSTEAD PARK, CHICHESTER
SATURDAY 24TH: EUSTON HALL, THETFORD
SUNDAY 25TH: LINCOLN CASTLE, LINCOLN
WEDNESDAY 28TH: OPEN AIR THEATRE, SCARBOROUGH

NOVEMBER 2017

THURSDAY 30TH: MOTORPOINT ARENA, CARDIFF

DECEMBER 2017

SATURDAY 2ND: CENTRE, BRIGHTON
SUNDAY 3RD: INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, BOURNEMOUTH
TUESDAY 5TH: GENTING ARENA, BIRMINGHAM
THURSDAY 7TH: ARENA, MANCHESTER
FRIDAY 8TH: FIRST DIRECT ARENA, LEEDS
SUNDAY 10TH: SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
MONDAY 11TH: AECC, ABERDEEN
WEDNESDAY 13TH: MOTORPOINT ARENA, NOTTINGHAM
THURSDAY 14TH: O2 ARENA, LONDON

Micheal Ball and Alfie Boe History

Having first met 10 years ago, performing together in ‘Kismet’ at the London Coliseum, Michael and Alfie became lifelong friends. That same year, Michael Ball made history as the first musical theatre star to be given a solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall’s BBC Proms and asked Alfie Boe to join him to perform at the classical music festival.

This instant personal connection and professional mutual admiration make for the perfect pairing and, to the delight of their hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe, has been finally realised with the Decca-­released ‘Together’ to spectacular success. The album has gone Platinum in just 6 weeks and is on track to become the biggest selling domestic release of 2016!

Michael and Alfie say, ‘There are simply no words for how incredible this is for us. We have always wanted to work together, it was just a case of getting the timing right. We are so grateful to all our fans who have supported us and everyone involved for believing in us. We are literally having the best time and are so happy with the success of the album and the tour’.

Ongoing Success

The two critically-­acclaimed artists have received a plethora of prestigious awards, record-breaking sales and chart successes. Over his extraordinary 30 year career, Michael’s outstanding performances have made smash-­hit box office history. He is a double Olivier Award winner, multi-­platinum recording artist, top-selling live concert performer and hugely popular radio and TV presenter. Alfie’s exceptional voice has made him Britain’s most popular and biggest-­selling tenor He has conquered the world’s greatest opera stages and arenas, led the cast of Les Misérables, stole the show at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace– as well achieving UK album sales of over a million, and four top ten albums.

Tickets are on sale from 10 am on Friday 16th December and are available from www.livenation.co.uk and www.gigsandtours.com.

Our lake is an important feature in the landscape and was made by blocking up two streams once the old house, Castleditch, was demolished in 1818. A few years ago, we had to restore the weir and did so with the help of English Heritage, now Historic England, and the Country Houses Foundation, but this time we have been on our own, as it were.

The first image shows Tony Mckenna and his team from AES Europe https://www.aeseurope.co.uk/ Corby, in the process of hanging netting along the south bank where wave action over the years has severely undermined the bank, causing soil, trees etc to fall into the lake and making the edge unstable. The AES system, also used by the National Trust, will encourage the growth of vegetation to stabilise the bank over the period when the netting is still in place and after a couple of years, we are assured, the bank will look quite natural. If it works, we will extend the protection to other affected areas.

The second image shows Rob Shail and his team adopting a more structural approach using gabions to strengthen the all-important bund that blocks the valley in which the lake lies. This work is being done with guidance of a structural engineer, Mark Hayward, of Fairhurst https://www.wafairhurst.co.uk/ to comply with the requirements of the Reservoirs Act 1975. The bund has also been undermined and has had tree stumps threatening to weaken it further. When finished, we are told that the lake should be able to survive a once in 1000 years “event” ie a very big lot of rain, as we had on 19^th July 2007 when it was a once in 250 years’ event with 150mm or 6” of rain.

It is good to know, though I may not be around to see it when it happens.

James Hervey-Bathurst
6th December 2016

SIR CLIFF RICHARD JUST FABULOUS ROCK ‘n’ ROLL UK 2017 TOUR

Legendary Singer To Play A Series Of Fully Seated Outdoor Concerts In Intimate Arenas Built Especially For Sir Cliff And His Fans

Support Act To Be Announced

To celebrate the release of his incredible new album “Just…Fabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll“, the UK’s most successful hit-maker, Cliff Richard, will be heading out on a summer tour of the UK’s most beautiful castles and historic locations in 2017 for a series of fully seated outdoor concerts in fabulous intimate arenas, built especially for Cliff Richard and his fans. Tickets will go on general sale on Monday 14^th November from www.livenation.co.uk

Cliff has returned to his roots to record an album of his favourite songs from the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll. These include Cliff’s renditions of seminal tracks such as Roll Over Beethoven, Great Balls of Fire, Sweet Little Sixteen and his very own debut single, Move It. The album also features a duet with fellow idol Elvis Presley on Blue Suede Shoes. This has been a career-long dream of Cliff’s, which now becomes a reality. The new release follows the huge success of his last studio album, ‘The Fabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll Songbook’ in 2013, and the celebratory ’75 at 75 – 75 Career Spanning Hits’ in 2015.

Cliff released his debut single Move It in August 1958. It is credited with being the first British rock ‘n’ roll hit, bringing what had previously been an American genre across the Atlantic, for the first time. ‘Just… Fabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll’ will, astonishingly, be his 102^nd album.

The ‘Just Fabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll Tour’ will stop by the following UK venues through June and July 2017:

 SIR CLIFF RICHARD JUST FABULOUS ROCK ‘n’ ROLL UK 2017 TOUR With support to be announced 

 JUNE
Saturday 17^th               Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire
Sunday 18^th                  Stansted Park, Hampshire
Wednesday 21^st           Walcot Hall, Shropshire
Thursday 22^nd              Catton Hall, Derbyshire
Saturday 24^th                Lincoln Castle, Lincolnshire
Sunday 25^th                   Euston Hall, Suffolk
Wednesday 28^th            Harewood House, Leeds
Thursday 29th               Open Air Theatre, Scarborough

JULY
Saturday 1^st                  Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich London
Sunday 2^nd                    Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich London

Tickets go on sale at 10 am on Monday 14^th November (subject to per-ticket charge plus order processing fee) and are available from www.livenation.co.uk

LIMITED CAMPING IS AVAILABLE IN THE EASTNOR DEER PARK CAMPSITE FOR THE CLIFF RICHARD CONCERT

We have been restoring Clencher’s Mill, a watermill near the edge of the estate off the Glynch Brook. It was bought in about 1700 and has medieval origins. It was modernised in 1812 and redundant after 1939.

Most of the original mechanical equipment has survived and has been put back into working order with the help of a number of grants, referred to in more detail in my earlier blog, but one vital machine was missing, namely the bolter, perhaps not unexpectedly given one alternative meaning for its name. When in place, its job is to separate the meal ie the ground wheat that comes out of the millstones and consists of flour and bran. Some mills just supplied wholemeal ie the mixture, but there is clear evidence that we had a bolter at our mill as certain elements remained.

Rather than have a new one made, we looked for an old one. Alan Stoyel from the SPAB: https://www.spab.org.uk/spab-mills-section/ identified one at Wormbridge Mill, near Hereford, which had closed in about 1900. It was still in place, and the owner, a good friend of ours, was happy to part with it as all the rest of the equipment had already been removed, probably for scrap. It did not quite fit through the door and needed quite a bit of wood replacing, which was undertaken by John Churchill of Burns & Churchill in Ledbury. It was also narrowed to fit.

The images show John, with Steve Howick, our project manager and dedicated volunteer, and Adam Marriott, our millwright, taking a break from fitting new parts and talking to Norman Walker, a retired gamekeeper who used to live at Wormbridge Mill and who remembers the bolter and rest of the mill machinery in place. He was glad to see it being restored and put back to work, though there is some way to go before fine bolted flour is available for baking.

We have also recently had the benefit of a visit by John Brandrick a great expert in the matter of recording mill structures and machinery. His skills in the art of technical drawings are clearly evident in the picture below which allows us to see in one view all aspects of the mill.  John’s work is of exceptional quality and more can be viewed on his very informative website at   https://milldrawings.com/

The team has made excellent progress and seems to have enjoyed the job so far. We hope to be ready when the mill has an open day on 14^th May at 10.30am.

JH-B
21^st February 2016

Electricity first arrived at Eastnor in 1910 when a generator was installed where the Land Rover Experience centre is now. It was used to power 110-volt lighting circuits, some of which survived until a couple of years ago when we had the chandelier in the Pugin Gothic Drawing Room rewired, not before time, we were told. The old bulbs, with their robust tungsten filaments, produce some light and quite a bit of welcome heat, so they were still fit for purpose if supplemented by more modern lights at a lower level.

We have rewired gradually, introducing three-phase in the 1990s and a stand-by generator, acquired second hand from a local authority, to keep the lights on during power cuts. But the demand for power has risen, with multiple and simultaneous uses of hair driers, more by wedding guests than by my wife and daughters, and the installation of a new electric oven, a ten rack Rationale, in the catering kitchen. I admit I have also caught my younger children using an electric fire occasionally in their draughty playroom (my mother used to hide electric fires and reserve them for guest use only).

Our last distribution board has run out of capacity, so we are installing a new Hager model to meet ongoing needs. The image shows Justin Hill and Jason Blewitt working on the two-day job. The mains and generator supplies are switched off, of course, but there is a temporary generator to supply light and my laptop and office. Justin and his father, Michael, fitted the original distribution board when the three-phase came in. The house is unnaturally quiet, apart from the plaintive squeaking of the fire alarm system telling us the power is off. The emergency lighting has worked for the statutory time required and is now rather dim. I am using a head torch to access areas away from natural light. Most of the staff have a day off, though calls are being diverted to the Estate Office. It will be a relief to have the job done and to have a safer system with more capacity.

JH-B

5^th February 2016

In the image, from left to right, are Peter Walker, Stephen Price and Robin Whittaker who have been previously involved in the Worcestershire County Archives, Robin having just retired as the County Archivist, and Hazel Lein, the archivist at Eastnor. The gentlemen, with guidance and assistance from Hazel, have just complete 5 years’ work, at a rate of about one day a month, sifting through and cataloguing deeds that cover among others, land, in the parishes of s of Stoulton, Bransford, Leigh, Castlemorton and Strensham, where our family owned land until it was mostly sold at the beginning of the last century. The reason given for the sale was that the houses and farms had suffered from underinvestment in previous 40 years partly as a result of the Agricultural Depression and probably also because the family diverted the money to other purposes and were not fit to let. They could also make more money by selling off the land to developers especially in the area of the new town of Malvern Link, hence the road names like Somers Park Avenue and Somers Road.

It has been a sometimes slow but for these historians a very exciting task. The original deeds that were still wrapped in the solicitor’s bundles had been placed in six large cupboards in the muniment room. Many of the deeds antedate our ownership of the properties concerned, as well as covering important manorial records. Some of the documents are mediaeval, most on vellum and often the lingua franca seems to be Latin, which Robin can read with ease. But he modestly asserts that that is quite normal for a man of his profession.

They have recorded 3500 items from 67 archive boxes. They have cleaned, sorted indexed and placed everyone in archive quality boxes. They have found deeds relating to various subjects such as houses in Worcester and Droitwich as well as land sold to build Malvern Link Station. There are records of the Worcester Yeomanry’s formation during the Napoleonic Wars, and include a note of a consignment of cutlasses being returned to the Tower of London, then an arsenal, because they were rusty. Attacking an invading Frenchman with a rusty weapon would clearly have been bad for our reputation and possibly not very effective.

Peter, Stephen & Robin have enjoyed the task and been genuinely excited by the chance to view documents that have not seen the light of day for several hundred years. We could not have had a more eminent, knowledgeable, group of experts. Hazel is thrilled to see the project complete, but will miss the fun and the ad hoc tutorials! A note of what we hold will go to the County Archive, and we will allow scholars and other interested parties to inspect the papers on certain conditions. We are very grateful to the team for completing the job.

James Hervey-Bathurst
January 2016