As the festive season gets into full swing, Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury, will be opening its doors for a very special evening of Christmas magic, just a week before the big day!
On the evening of Wednesday 18th December, James Hervey-Bathurst, the owner of Eastnor Castle, will be welcoming visitors from 6pm until 8.30pm to sample the delights of Christmas at Eastnor.
The castle doors will swing open for three scheduled tours, each led by James himself and will take in the beautifully decorated Great Hall including a 20-foot tree featuring decorations handed down through generations. The historic bedrooms and the atmospheric, candle-lit dining room will give people a glimpse into Christmas from a bygone era.
The tour will include a glass of wine and a mince pie as well as Christmas carols by members of the Ledbury Choral Society.
The event is to raise funds for the Eastnor Church Tower Appeal in which James is heavily involved. Up to £120,000 needs to be raised for a project to repair the ancient and beautiful church and to improve its facilities to allow wider use.
The Church is a grade 1-listed Place of Worship and on the Historic England Buildings at Risk Register. The church plays an important role at the centre of the village for regular worship and is used daily by the village school and weekly for bellringing practice. It is situated within the Malvern Hills AONB and enjoyed by visitors to Eastnor Castle and the deer park.
Tickets for the Festive Christmas Evening cost £25 per person and are available online at eastnorcastle.com