Visit – Hartlebury Castle

Hartlebury Castle dates back to 855AD when the site was established to defend the area against invasions from Wales. It subsequently became the residence and office for the Bishops of Worcester until 2007 when it was transferred to the Hartlebury Castle Trust. The buildings also house the Worcester County Museum.

Bishop Giffard was given permission to fortify the site in 1268. Following the destruction of the defences during the Civil War, a programme of restoration was undertaken in 1675, by Bishop Fleetwood, which resulted in today’s Bishop’s Palace. The Palace has a series of state rooms and the Hurd Library, an outstanding survival of the Age of Enlightenment.

Founded in 1782 by Richard Hurd, Bishop of Worcester from 1781-1808, it is the only example of an Anglican bishop’s library remaining on its original shelves, in the room built for it.  It contains books from the libraries of four 18^th century book-collectors – Hurd himself, his friend and mentor, William Warburton, Bishop of Gloucester from 1760-1779, and Warburton’s two friends, the poet Alexander Pope and the entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ralph Allen of Bath.

The grounds include the Carriage Circle created in 1750 to form a grand entrance to the Castle, a Queen Elizabeth walk, a sunken garden which was once part of the moat and a Perimeter walk. The grounds house a collection of apple and mulberry trees including a 280-year-old specimen and a Worcestershire Black Pear. The palace and grounds were visited by Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1575 and King George lll in 1788. Much of the grounds and the perimeter walk have been restored in recent years by an enthusiastic volunteer group aided by plant donations from local residents.

We have arranged for a visit to the palace, Hurd Library and a tour of the grounds with the Head Gardener.

The formal visit will begin at 2.00pm prompt with an introduction by the Trustees. Please plan to arrive at 1.00pm if you are intending to have lunch at the café beforehand.

Please note there are steps and uneven surfaces in both the Palace and the grounds. Parts of the grounds have steep slopes and deep water.

Hartlebury Castle is located 5 miles south of Kidderminster and 8 miles north of Worcester off the A449. Follow the signs for the Castle. Sat Nav DY11 7XZ

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Photograph by kind permission of the Trustees of Hartlebury Castle