Stories from the
Historic Houses Foundation
Combermere Abbey - revealing an earlier house
Combermere Abbey in Shropshire received two grants from The Historic Houses Foundation (then Heritage Conservation Trust), between 2011 and 2015, for the cleaning and restoration of important paintings. The 2015 grant was for the Bird’s Eye View of the Abbey in 1730 by the Dutch artist Peter Tillemans.
Tickenham Court, Somerset
One of the delights of Britain is that our long history has allowed the survival of charming little pockets of the past in out-of-the-way places. The Historic Houses Foundation has sought out Tickenham Court in Somerset - just the sort of place you would never expect to find hidden from the rush of the 21st century.
‘Enter and Be Happy’ - Kelmscott Manor
The Historic House Foundation is helping to fund essential repairs to the roof of Kelmscott Manor in Gloucestershire at the start of a major programme of restoration which will continue until 2022.
Seaton Delaval Hall: lifting the curse
Funds have been granted to the National Trust by the Historic Houses Foundation for the restoration of the West Staircase, part of a major restoration project at Seaton Delaval Hall which will open up new parts of this palace of the English Baroque to visitors.
Bodrhyddan Hall in North Wales
The formal parterre at Bodrhyddan Hall in North Wales was designed by W E Nesfield in 1874. The scrolling beds of box converge on a central pool , flanked by two shallow stone bowls lifted up on the bills of three stone pelicans. Urgent repairs to these charming garden features will be funded by the Historic Houses Foundation.
Doddington Hall Tapestries
Part of the Historic Houses Foundation’s grant capability is dedicated to the restoration of works of art in historic houses open to the public. An initial 3 month funding phase by the Historic Houses Foundation has seen the newly restored tapestry-hung bedrooms again open to the public at Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire.