Hartlebury Castle

Om museet

Hartlebury Castle near Kidderminster was the main residence of the Bishops of Worcester for several hundred years. The fortified manor was built in the mid-13th century on land that had been given to the bishops, and Bishop Godfrey Giffard completed the work in 1268. Bishop Carpenter added the gatehouse in the 15th century. In 1646 the castle was held for Charles I but surrendered to Parliament within two days and was damaged, and the bishops regained it at the Restoration in 1660.

Bishop Richard Hurd built the library that bears his name in 1782, and it still holds his book collection. The palace was remodelled several times and stayed a bishop's residence until the late 2000s. Worcestershire County Council took over the north wing in 1964, and the Worcestershire County Museum opened there in 1966.

When the castle was put up for sale in 2010, local people formed the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust, which bought the castle and about 43 acres of grounds in 2015 with the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. After renovation the castle reopened to visitors in 2018. Visitors can now see the Bishop's Palace with its Great Hall, chapel, long gallery and Georgian saloon, as well as the county museum, the gardens and the grounds.

Højdepunkter

• Bishop's Palace with the Great Hall, chapel, long gallery and Georgian saloon
• Hurd Library of 1782
• Worcestershire County Museum with a Victorian schoolroom, an archaeology gallery and a toy gallery
• Captivating Costume exhibition on three centuries of fashion
• Most objects can be handled, and furniture can be sat on
• Gardens, orchard and an adventure playground

Permanente udstillinger

• Bishop's Palace – The former palace of the Bishops of Worcester with its Great Hall, chapel, long gallery, Georgian saloon and the Hurd Library.
• Worcestershire County Museum – Themed galleries and room sets on the history and everyday life of the county, including a Victorian schoolroom, an archaeology gallery and a toy gallery.
• Captivating Costume – An exhibition on three centuries of fashion, from Georgian gowns to 1960s miniskirts.

Grundlagt

1966

Ejer

Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust

Entrépriser & rabatter

The full ticket covers the whole site and is valid for 12 months after purchase. Historic Houses members enter free, but not on event days. Standard and annual tickets are not valid on event dates.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

The reception, museum, Bishop's Palace via the museum entrance, café and main toilets have level access, and there are two lifts serving all floors; the lift in the Bishop's Palace is a platform lift that is not suitable for mobility scooters. The main castle entrance has two stone steps, so wheelchair users and pushchairs enter through the museum. Floors are uneven in places, some rooms are dark, and stairs lead to some upper rooms. Three accessible parking bays are next to reception, and a wheelchair can be borrowed from reception or booked by phone. Accessible toilets are in several buildings. Braille and tactile maps and large-print information are available on request, written transcripts of audio displays are in the Bishop's Palace lobby, and glass doors have contrast markings. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the site and in the café.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Interaktive stationer
• Barnevognsvenlig
• Puslerum
• Legeplads / legehjørne

There is an adventure playground in the grounds, a children's playroom on the first floor reached through a wardrobe door, a toy gallery and a Victorian schoolroom in the museum, and seasonal events such as Halloween trails. Objects can be handled and visitors can try on dressing-up outfits. The site is described as pushchair-friendly, with level access through the museum, and baby changing is in the reception toilet. A family ticket covers two adults and three children, and under 5s are free.

Transport & parkering

The castle is about 5 miles south of Kidderminster and 8 miles north of Worcester, just off the A449; follow the Hartlebury Castle signs into the village. what3words: square.daring.exact.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Museumsbutik

Hayley's Kitchen café serves hot and cold food and drinks, and dogs are allowed at its outdoor seating. There is a gift shop, a second-hand book shop and a picnic area in the orchard; the Tickenhill Room can be used as an indoor picnic space.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Bryllupper / vielser

Venue hire enquiries go to the marketing team and wedding enquiries to the weddings team; the castle also runs events and murder mystery dinners.

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