Name: Witley Court and Gardens
Address: Worcester Road, Great Witley, Worcestershire, WR6 6JT
Telephone: 01299 896636

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Witley Court and Gardens

Lazy Jazz on Sundays 7-28 July

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Address

Worcester Road, Great Witley, Worcestershire, WR6 6JT

Plan Your Visit

Things to See and Do

In ruins

An art exhibition opens at Witley Court & Gardens this July, shedding a new light on ruined spaces.

Meadow Arts presents In Ruins, an exciting installation set in the heart of Witley's tranquil grounds. A series of contemporary artworks will take you on a journey around the stately mansion, now a spectacular ruin, inviting visitors to explore the fascination with what has passed.

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What's On

Get Hands on with History at Witley Court and Gardens

Sat 20 Jul - Sun 1 Sep 2019 11am - 5pm
Lazy Jazz on Sundays

Sun 28 Jul 2019 12pm - 4pm (with regular intervals)
Outdoor Theatre: As You Like It

Sat 3 Aug 2019 7.30pm (gates open 6.30pm)
Mini Utopias - Family Art Workshop

Mon 12 August 2019 10.30am - 1pm
Walking In Ruins Collages - Family Art Workshop

Wed 14 August 2019 10.30am - 1pm
Make a Future Fossil - Family Art Workshop

Sat 24 August 2019 10.30am - 1pm
Witley Court and Gardens: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Mon 9 Sep 10.30am - 3.30pm
Witley Court and Gardens: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Fri 13 Sep 10.30am - 3.30pm
Summer Nights Outdoor Cinema

Thur 19 Sept - Sat 21 Sept 2019 Gates open 6.30pm, film starts approx 30 mins after sunset
Spooky Witley Court with Creepy Critters

Sat 26 Oct - Sun 3 Nov 2019 11am - 4pm
Enchanted

Thu 5 - Sun 8 Dec 2019 4:30pm - 9pm
Enchanted

Thu 12 - Sun 15 Dec 2019 4:30pm - 9pm
Enchanted

Thu 19 - Sun 22 Dec 2019 4:30pm - 9pm

Witley Court Timeline

1086Norman Roots

A manor at Witley is owned by Urso d'Abetot, a cousin of William the Conqueror.

1610-20Russell Modernisations

The medieval house is rebuilt on a grander scale by the Russell family.

Find out more about Witley Court's history

1655The Foley Family

Thomas Foley, whose family fortunes come from the iron industry, buys Witley.

1720-33Expansion

The 1st Baron Foley enlarges the house, to reflect his enhanced social status and his family’s transition from industrial wealth to landed aristocracy.

1793-1833Nash Renovations

Thomas Foley VII hires the architect John Nash to design ambitious alterations, including massive new stone porticos and a rebuilt east wing.

1837William, Lord Ward

The Witley estate is sold for £900,000 (about £48 million today) to the trustees of 16-year-old William, Lord Ward, heir to vast industrial riches.

1843-6Royal Residence

Witley is let to Queen Adelaide, widow of William IV. She is popular locally and pays for the building of the first village school.

1851-60Witley Transformed

Lord Ward moves in, and begins a major transformation of Witley Court to designs by architect Samuel Daukes and garden designer William Andrews Nesfield. Ward is made 1st Earl of Dudley in 1860.

1890sWitley's Heyday

Under the 2nd Earl of Dudley life at Witley reachs a height of opulence, with his friend the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) a regular visitor at lavish parties.

1920End of an Era

After his first wife’s death, the 2nd Earl, beset with mounting debts, sells the Witley estate to the carpet manufacturer Sir Herbert Smith.

7 September 1937Fire

Witley’s role as a rich man’s house ends abruptly when a devastating fire destroys much of the house. It is never lived in again.

1954Stripped for Parts

An antique dealer buys the house, stripping it of anything of value that remains.

1972–Restoration

The house is scheduled as an Ancient Monument, and restoration work begins, continued since 1984 by English Heritage.

Learn more about Witley Court

Nearby Places
Similar Places

Leigh Court Barn
7.3 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
Edvin Loach Old Church
7.62 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
Halesowen Abbey
17.1 miles from Witley Court and Gardens

J. W. Evans Silver Factory
22.88 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
Boscobel House and The Royal Oak
27.15 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
Over Bridge
28.33 miles from Witley Court and Gardens

Nearby Places
- Leigh Court Barn
  7.3 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
- Edvin Loach Old Church
  7.62 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
- Halesowen Abbey
  17.1 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
Similar Places
- J. W. Evans Silver Factory
  22.88 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
- Boscobel House and The Royal Oak
  27.15 miles from Witley Court and Gardens
- Over Bridge
  28.33 miles from Witley Court and Gardens

Gallery for Witley Court and Gardens

Lazy Jazz on Sundays 7-28 July

Things to See and Do

A Romantic Ruin

Glorious Gardens

Wilderness Play Area

Behind the Scenes

Woodland Walks

Great Witley Church

Shop

Tempting Treats

In ruins

What's On

Get Hands on with History at Witley Court and Gardens

Lazy Jazz on Sundays

Outdoor Theatre: As You Like It

Mini Utopias - Family Art Workshop

Walking In Ruins Collages - Family Art Workshop

Make a Future Fossil - Family Art Workshop

Witley Court and Gardens: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Witley Court and Gardens: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Summer Nights Outdoor Cinema

Spooky Witley Court with Creepy Critters

Enchanted

Enchanted

Enchanted

Guidebook: Witley Court

Witley Court Timeline

1086Norman Roots

1610-20Russell Modernisations

1655The Foley Family

1720-33Expansion

1793-1833Nash Renovations

1837William, Lord Ward

1843-6Royal Residence

1851-60Witley Transformed

1890sWitley's Heyday

1920End of an Era

7 September 1937Fire

1954Stripped for Parts

1972–Restoration

Leigh Court Barn

Edvin Loach Old Church

Halesowen Abbey

Leigh Court Barn

Edvin Loach Old Church

Halesowen Abbey

J. W. Evans Silver Factory

Boscobel House and The Royal Oak

Over Bridge

Gallery for Witley Court and Gardens

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