The Grade I listed Hartlebury Castle built in the mid-13th century, with its surrounding 43 acres of parkland, will now enjoy a new lease of life with a series of programmes of conservation and educational activities.

Hartlebury Castle was the home of the Bishop of Worcester until 2007, when the Church of England decided to sell the estate.

The castle trust said in 2012 it had agreed to pay £2.45m for the freehold of the castle, gardens and parkland.

A HCPT statement said: “The Trust has been formed with the aim of acquiring Hartlebury Castle from its current owners, the Church Commissioners.”

The castle houses the county museum and the Hurd Library, a collection of 5,000 volumes ranging in date from 1476 to the early 19th Century, which includes more than 40 volumes from the library of Alexander Pope.

The HCPT said the castle will become an integrated visitor destination and plans to complete the purchase from the church by early December.

“The Trust intends to preserve the property for education, the use and enjoyment of everyone and to allow the Hurd Library to remain intact and located within the Castle,” the statement said.

 

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