Restored Tudor hall set to reopen

The work took almost a year to complete

A Tudor landmark in Nottingham that has undergone a £9m facelift is on track to reopen for the Easter Bank Holiday.

Wollaton Hall, first completed in 1588, is situated on 500 acres of property in the west of Nottingham.

The newly refurbished Prospect Room will be opened to the public for first time since the 1950s.

Ron Inglis, head of museum and galleries for Nottingham City Council, said: "We hope the work will ensure the house will last for another 400 years."

"It is a huge challenge to get a project of this size completed."

Deer park

Adrian Davies, project manager, said: "I think the public will enjoy the fact the hall has been renovated and conserved and they will be able to go in rooms they have never seen before."

The hall has had its gardens redesigned with a total of 40,000 plants.

The restored kitchens will be preparing Tudor dishes at the weekend.

Other events planned for the reopening include craft and music displays and a chain-saw artist cutting up trees felled during recent storms.

The 16th Century hall is used as a museum by the city council, but has not had a major upgrade since the 1820s.

The Grade I listed building was designed by Robert Smythson and built by wealthy coal baron Sir Francis Willoughby.

The surrounding Grade I listed deer park is the largest open recreational space in the city.