6 minute read
West Midlands
Nudging up against the Welsh border and rising towards the Peak District, the lush countryside of the West Midlands is packed with historic variety. From a Tudor royal romance and Civil War sieges to the Victorian high life, discover the stories told by medieval castles, timber-framed houses and graceful ruins.
58 Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden 59 Stokesay Castle 60 Witley Court and Gardens 61 Boscobel House and The Royal Oak 61 Goodrich Castle 61 Wroxeter Roman City
ITINERARY IDEA
Kenilworth Castle is a great fit for tours to Shakespeare’s Stratford-uponAvon. Take a guided tour to learn about the colourful history of the site as we prepare lunch for your group in the converted Tudor stable block. A visit to Stokesay can easily be combined with a trip to nearby historic Ludlow. ‘Foodie’ capital of the region, Ludlow is famous for its specialist shops, markets, fine houses, great church and mighty castle.
KENILWORTH CASTLE AND ELIZABETHAN GARDEN
In 1575, Kenilworth Castle was the setting for a 19-day party, when Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, attempted to win the hand of Queen Elizabeth I. Today, visitors can scale the heights of the tower he built to woo her and get a queen’s-eye view of the recreated garden which he planted to impress her.
01926 852078 kenilworth.castle @english-heritage.org.uk english-heritage.org.uk/ kenilworth Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1NG
FACILITIES
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Coach Parking Parking for three coaches. 150 metres from the entrance.
Catering The tearoom can accommodate 50 people inside and a further 30 people outside. The menu includes drinks, cakes, sandwiches, as well as hot and cold light lunches. Coach drivers and tour leaders can enjoy a free lunch and all groups receive 10% off per person in our café, on the day of the visit. Call 01926 852577 to book.
VISITS
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VISIT LENGTH
3h From medieval fortress to Elizabethan palace, Kenilworth Castle has been at the centre of England's affairs for much of its 900 year history. Today, you can scale the heights of the tower built to woo Queen Elizabeth I and marvel at the mighty Norman keep. Explore the exhibition in the Gatehouse, and imagine the majesty of the Great Hall playing host to medieval monarchs and early Tudor kings.
■ Wander through the most complete evocation of an Elizabethan garden anywhere in England – including a dazzling 5.5-metre (18-foot) high marble fountain and a bejewelled aviary. ■ Explore the imposing and complete
Elizabethan gatehouse, housing an exhibition that tells the royal love story of Elizabeth and Robert. ■ Climb Leicester's Tower, see staterooms of Elizabeth 1 and enjoy stunning views of the Warwickshire countryside. ■ Wander through the massive, red sandstone Norman keep and medieval great hall, a favourite residence of
Henry V and the early Tudor kings. ■ Explore the exhibition celebrating the life and achievements of Kenilworth’s last owner, John Davenport Siddeley and relive the glamour of early motoring.
Tucked away in the peaceful countryside of the Welsh Border, Stokesay Castle was founded by a wealthy medieval wool merchant in the 13th century. It retains many of its earliest features, although later generations added a delightful timber-framed 17th-century gatehouse and a fine panelled chamber. To help you enjoy it we’ve converted a neighbouring cottage into an attractive tearoom and added tactile interpretation inside the manor house so your groups can really get a feel for the history of this Shropshire gem. ■ View the mighty timbers of the great hall, unaltered since the carpenters completed them in 1291, including the precipitous staircase with treads cut from whole tree trunks.
■ Admire the rich wooden carvings, particularly in the gatehouse (built in 1640), where visitors can spot angels, dragons and even Adam and Eve. ■ Immerse yourself in medieval life by taking the audio tour and wander the pretty moat walk round the castle to admire the recent garden renovations.
West Midlands STOKESAY CASTLE
01588 672544 stokesay.castle @english-heritage.org.uk english-heritage.org.uk/ stokesaycastle Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 9AH
FACILITIES
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Coach Parking Coach spaces in car park, 250 metres from entrance.
Catering Tearoom seats 40 and is located in the old potter’s cottage. Pre-booked groups can choose from a menu of regional dishes alongside the usual favourites. Coach drivers and tour leaders can enjoy a free lunch, and all groups receive 10% off per person in our café on the day of the visit. Please contact the property or check website for more details.
VISITS
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VISIT LENGTH
2h
West Midlands WITLEY COURT
AND GARDENS
01299 896636 witley.court @english-heritage.org.uk english-heritage.org.uk/witley Great Witley, Worcestershire WR6 6JT
FACILITIES
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Coach Parking Parking in visitor centre car park. Catering Tearoom is situated by the parish church, open daily Easter to end of October. For information call 01299 896016 (not managed by English Heritage). VISITS
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VISIT LENGTH
2h The extensive ruins of this Victorian country house evoke a lost sense of grandeur. Once staffed by over 100 servants, Witley Court was the setting for lavish parties attended by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and his friends. The house was accidentally destroyed in a fire in 1937, but the dramatic shell of the house is well worth exploring. The centrepiece of the extensive grounds and restored formal gardens is the huge Perseus and Andromeda fountain, which fires every hour between April and October. ■ Wander the dramatic Italianate ruins and imagine the ballroom’s huge
Christmas tree, hung with jewels as gifts for female guests. ■ See the restored East Parterre in full bloom, complete with seasonal topiary and colourful planting. ■ Take time to wander Witley’s extensive wilderness and wildlife gardens and discover the lakeside path to the rustic Victorian boathouse.
West Midlands OTHER PLACES TO VISIT IN THE REGION
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BOSCOBEL HOUSE AND THE ROYAL OAK 01902 850244 english-heritage.org.uk/boscobel Brewood, Bishop’s Wood, Shropshire ST19 9AR Just off the M54 and M6, stretch your legs at this historic property which once provided shelter to the future King Charles II following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Charles hid from Cromwell's troops in an oak tree and a priest-hole in the house. You can see the priest-hole where Charles spent the night of 6 September 1651 in the attic of the lodge, there is also a second priest-hole built into a chimney stack off the Squire's Room, which was originally the escape route down to the garden. g U s F B
GOODRICH CASTLE 01600 890538 english-heritage.org.uk/goodrich
Ross-on-Wye, Hertfordshire HR9 6HY Standing on a rocky crag, above the beautifully wooded Wye Valley, Goodrich Castle is one of the finest and best-preserved English medieval castles. Step into its Civil War history, climb the Norman keep, enjoy the views and leave time for a cream tea in the café. g r V U s 4 F B
1. Boscobel House and the Royal Oak 2. Wroxeter Roman City 3. Goodrich Castle
WROXETER ROMAN CITY 01743 761330 wroxeter.romancity@ english-heritage.org.uk english-heritage.org.uk/wroxeter Nr Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 6PH Discover urban living 2,000 years ago at Viriconium (Wroxeter) – once the fourth largest city in Roman Britain. Explore the unique recreated Roman town house, complete with painted rooms, bath and replica furniture. Imagine the lives of the people who lived here through their everyday objects and an audio tour. g w V U s F B
