September 25th was a busy day – Function Three 3.00pm
Opening of Croome Court and a celebration of volunteers Work.
Only part of the Croome Court park is in Wychavon. It is in part of Eckington ward.
View of the house from near the main entrance.
St Mary Magdalene Church: This Grade I listed building was built in 1763 by Capability Brown for the Earl of Coventry. A medieval church was demolished to make way for this church, the interior of which was designed by Robert Adam.
Croome Court is a landscaped country park surrounding Croome Court, near Besford in Worcestershire. It was Capability Brown|Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s first complete landscape design begun in 1751 for George Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry. The mansion house was also designed by Brown and is a rare example of his architectural work.
Given the overwhelming predominance of Brown’s aesthetic in the 18th and 19th centuries, Croome Park has often been described as the single most influential landscape in Europe. Robert Adam and James Wyatt designed temples and follies for the park and surrounding estate.
In 1996 670 acres of the park were acquired by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust, which has undertaken an ambitious restoration.
Croome landscape park is made up of many different buildings, the Court being the central focus. Named “eyecatchers”, these buildings are set high on ridges seen from near the court such as Pirton Castle, The Panorama Tower and Dunstall Castle.
In November 2007, Croome Court was bought from the private owner by The Croome Heritage Trust which will manage the property along with the National Trust.
There is masses of information about the Park and court here:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croome_Park
We were greeted on arrival by Hare Krishnas and music in celebration of their occupation several decades ago.
The back of the house where the ceremony took place
Turn round 180 degrees and this is the view across the park
Speeches on the steps from Jane Farrington (Chair, National Trust West Midlands Regional Committee) and Dr Eric H Jones ( Chair of the Friends of Croome Park)
And the music played on
Once the doors were open we were allowed to view the early work and look at the magnificent rooms.
Early ‘excercise equipment’
Information boards adorn the walls
and the rooms
and audio boxes giving all sorts of interesting facts and figures
Family tree
Another of the magnificent rooms and ceilings.
With much regret at this point we had to leave. Time was against us today and we had to move onto our forth function of the day. We will certainly return.
Now I can reveal a little more of the message on the wall. There was lots more to do. An excellent evening. Thank you.
