Witley Court & Gardens, Little Witley (Worcester)

Enjoy a day out at Witley Court - once one of England's greatest country houses. Today a spectacular ruin.

Summary 19th century buildings Gift shop Gardens Woodland walks Audio guide Free car parking (on site)

Food and Drinks Tea Room Picnic area

Introduction

Enjoy a day out at what was once one of England’s greatest country houses - Witley Court. Today it is a spectacular ruin with magnificent landscaped gardens to explore - bring a picnic and enjoy the fountains, lake and woodland walks.

Attached to Witley Court is Great Witley Church, with its amazing Italianate Baroque interior. The church has a tearoom, and Witley Court has a superb gift shop. The restored Perseus and Andromeda fountain, with even the original high cascades operating, will be firing between April and October.

Weekdays: 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Weekends: on the hour every hour from 11am to 4pm.

History to the present day

A hundred years ago, Witley Court was one of England's great country houses, hosting many extravagant parties. Today it is a spectacular ruin, the result of a disastrous fire in 1937. Restoration work to the West Wing has made several new rooms accessible to the public.

The vast and rambling remains of the palatial 19th-century mansion are surrounded by magnificent landscaped gardens, which still contain huge stone fountains. The largest, representing Perseus and Andromeda - now restored - was described as making the 'noise of an express train' when fired.

Before 1846, when William Humble Ward (later first Earl of Dudley) inherited Witley Court, the land surrounding the house was laid out in the 18th-century English landscape style. As part of Ward's transformation of the estate, he called in the leading landscape designer of the time, William Andrews Nesfield, whose skills in designing intricate and elegant parterres were complemented by his great ability as an artist and engineer.

Following the disastrous fire in 1937 the Witley Estate, including its gardens, fell into long decline. English Heritage has restored the south garden. In addition, Wolfson Foundation funding has assisted with major restoration works in the East Parterre garden, also enabling us to plan development of the formal gardens based on the original Nesfield designs.

Food and Drinks

Tearoom with level access and seats outside, open daily, April -September and Saturday and Sunday during October. Picnics welcome in grounds.

Grounds and gardens

William Andrews Nesfield started work in 1854, creating the South Parterre with its great Perseus and Andromeda fountain. His scheme involved elegantly designed plantings and parterres of clipped evergreens and shrubs. The central avenue of planting from the house led to the fountains, terminating at the South Parterre. The East Parterre garden, with its Flora Fountain, was designed in the Parterre de Broderie style - that is resembling embroidery, with box-edged shapes filled with coloured gravel and flowers.

The showpiece Woodland Walks in the North Park pass many different species of tree and shrub from all over the world.

Other facilities

Toilets: Adapted WC at main ticket office.

Shop: Level access.

Access to house: Via hard path. Steps up to house but there are many good viewpoints all around the exterior.

Grounds: Extensive grounds all accessible on hard paths and fairly smooth grass. Some steps. One bench provided in court, four in North Park estate around lake.

Parking: 500m from house. Hard path but assistance for wheelchair users advised.

Visually Impaired Visitors: Bird song in grounds.

Hearing Impaired Visitors: Audio tour with hearing loop included in admission price.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Witley Court & Gardens, Little Witley, Worcester, , United Kingdom

Address: Witley Court & Gardens, Worcestershire - WR6 6JT

Road Access: 10 miles NW of Worcester on A443

Train Access: Worcester Foregate St 9 1⁄2 miles.

Bus Access: Yarranton 758 Worcester - Tenbury Wells (passes close to Worcester Foregate St railway station).

Opening Times:

April to March

1 Apr-30 Jun 10am-5pm Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1 Jul-31 Aug 10am-6pm Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1 Sep-1 Nov 10am-5pm Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
2 Nov-28 Feb 10am-4pm Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1-31 Mar 10am-5pm Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
24-26 Dec and 1 Jan Closed.
Weekdays: 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Weekends: on the hour everyhour from 11am to 4pm.

Price:

Adult: £5.80

Children: £2.90

Concession: £4.90

Photographs courtesy of English Heritage Photo Library.

More photos of Witley Court & Gardens, Little Witley

Witley Church