Hartlebury Castle, former residence of the Bishops of Worcester, is a Grade I listed building near Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
I was unfortunate enough to be in Kidderminster last November for work and thought I’d make a day of seeing the main attractions in Worcestershire. These included Hartlebury Castle; Shipston-on-Stour and Worcester itself. The former impressed me the most. Recently, the Bishop moved to Worcester proper to lessen the hour commute between the two locations.
Truly the jewel in Worcestershire’s crown, the castle is home to historical recreations of many kinds. The first part of the visit comprises a relocated full scale cider press. Worcester, historically, was well known for producing the nation’s finest cider. This has moved to Somerset more recently.
Next was one of the largest collections of antique caravans in the country. This may not sound riveting but it is quite the sight to behold.
In the main house, there are a series of historical recreations including a scullery; Victorian school room; war tribute room and even a room filled with old toys. I really enjoyed my visit and found it quite refreshing and informative. It is not often one finds a museum so welcoming and so varied. Nor does one often find a museum housed in such a beautiful building.
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Hartlebury Castle is a great place for a day out with family or friends. You’ll find out about the history of the county as well as the most prolific trades there. Not to mention the resplendent beauty of the surrounding countryside.
The West wing is being refurbished and will open to the public in April, thanks to the £5m awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust.
You can find out more information here.