Historic house to open to public

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The National Trust spent £4m restoring the historic home of the Earl of Coventry

An 18th Century Worcestershire mansion house has reopened to the public.

Among the attractions for visitors to Croome Court will be the Saloon where the 6th Earl of Coventry entertained King George III.

The stately home, near Pirton, was bought by the Croome Heritage Trust in 2007 and will be managed as a tourist attraction by the National Trust.

Six rooms have been reopened at a cost of £400,000 but another £4m is needed in order to restore the whole house.

New view

Visitors will be able to find out more about the lives of the Coventry family and the craftsmen who created the home.

The mansion house has had many owners since it was sold by the Coventry family in 1948.

It has been a school, a centre for the Hare Krishna movement and a family home.

Peter Beresford, trustee at Croome Heritage Trust, said: "Much of the parkland was designed to be seen from the court, so visitors will now be able to see the parkland in an entirely new way."