On a rather showery September morning 21 villagers set out for a visit to Hartlebury Castle, just south of Kidderminster, home to the Bishops of Worcester for over a thousand years.
On arrival we were greeted warmly and given a short explanation of the history of the site. We then went into the Saloon, a beautiful Georgian room, for some very welcome refreshments – tea and coffee served in china cups and delicious cakes, before our introductory talk by the state room guides and librarians.
We were shown round the State Rooms by two very knowledgeable and entertaining guides who told us about the various Bishops who had lived at Hartlebury and showed us the magnificent chapel and long gallery upstairs.
The Hurd Library was founded by Bishop Richard Hurd in 1782. Hurd was close friends with King George III and his wife Queen Charlotte, who visited often, and the library was built to house his collection of 3000 books, some of which he collected himself, and others which he inherited from his mentor, William Warburton, Bishop of Gloucester, the poet Alexander Pope, and the philanthropist Ralph Allen of Bath. The three librarians showed us some of the oldest and most interesting books in the collection, and then we were free to look at any volume we wished. One of the most fascinating things was seeing the notes made in the margins of the books.
After such an interesting morning, it was time for lunch. Some people found a dry spot to have a picnic; others ate in the excellent café. The afternoon was spent exploring the grounds and the County Museum, which, as well as sending us on a trip down memory lane to the 1950s also had an area devoted to market gardening, including some of the letters written by Badsey schoolchildren in 1933. It was good to hear that they had gained some of their inspiration from the Badsey Society website!
After another break for refreshments in the café we got back on the bus for our return to Badsey. Everyone was unanimous that it had been a brilliant day out, and that Hartlebury Castle was a hidden jewel in the crown of great places to visit in Worcestershire. If you haven’t been, do make an effort to go. It’s a fantastic place to visit for both adults and children, and there are special events throughout the year, too.
The Badsey Society organises 3 trips each year. These are open to non-members as well as members, and we try to choose places that appeal to all interests. So, if you would like to know more, keep an eye on the Community News, or contact Shirley Tutton – 07740 286941 or shirleytutton@talktalk.net.
The next trip is to Gloucester Cathedral and Christmas shopping in Gloucester on 4th December.
