Witley Court was once of the great country houses of England, reaching its peak in the Victorian period when it was the setting for extravagant parties and royal entertainments
It is now a Grade I listed building as well as being
designated a National Monument. It is a spectacular ruin after being devastated
by fire in 1937. It was built by Thomas Foley in 1655 on the site
of a former manor house near Great Witley. Subsequent additions were designed
by John Nash in the early 19th century and the Court was subsequently bought by
the Earls of Dudley in 1837.
The house and 40 acres were acquired in 2008 by a wealthy family for less than £0.9m, but remains in the guardianship of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and managed on their behalf by English Heritage since 1984
The two immense fountains have survived. They were designed by Nesfield and executed by James and William Forsyth, who were carrying out sculpture in the house and the church.
The largest, the Perseus and Andromeda Fountain, has been restored to working order by English Heritage. It spouts forth (and upwards) on the hour for about 15 minutes.
For more details of the history of this property see Witley Court
After Witley Court we visited Bewdley, then Whitlenge Gardens, and Droitwich before travelling to our hotel on the west side of Wolverhampton. For some photos of these places click here Bewdley etc
... and for some more of Witley Court click here Witley Court
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