Ten Amazing Houses – A Thousand Years of Extraordinary English History

Treasure Houses of England is a consortium of 10 of the country's finest palaces, historic houses and castles.

Unique in character, each property has its own magical blend of magnificent architecture, fabulous surroundings, world class collections and family attractions to enjoy.

Together they represent more than a thousand years of extraordinary English architecture, art, heritage and history.

The consortium is custodian of some of the most important art collections in the world with famous works from artists as diverse as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. The properties are also home to the finest furniture, porcelain and china; with priceless examples of Chippendale, Wedgwood and Meissen on display.

Many of The Treasure Houses of England are still homes to the great families who have owned them for generations. Others keep their heritage alive by re-creating scenes and events that have dominated and shaped England from the 9th century to the present day.

NEW FOR 2017

All 10 properties are constantly looking at new and exciting ways to share their rich heritage, history and beauty with a wider audience and each has unveiled a host of new events and activities for 2017.

At Beaulieu a team of conservators and historians are restoring the Victorian Kitchen. The finished project is planned to open to visitors at Easter. Part of the late Lord Montagu's private apartment in Palace House has also been opened for the first time, featuring two new exhibitions: The Lady and the Rebel, which pays tribute to two remarkable women in the Montagu family, and the first dedicated Soviet Russian art gallery in the UK, with the Art Russe Foundation.

See Burghley House in a different light this 2017. Enjoy a floodlit Burghley by twilight for a special event in October. This is the first time the House will open at night, offering a magically new perspective on the Tudor building.

Visit Blenheim Palace for their new exhibition, 'A Passion for Fashion: 300 Years of Style at Blenheim Palace'. Running until April 23rd it features unique and historic items from the Palace's own historical collection, as well as items from Christian Dior, Stephen Jones, Princess Diana's 'Revenge Dress' by designer Christina Stambolian and many more beautiful outfits. 

Chatsworth presents its most ambitious exhibition to date: 'House Style: Five Centuries of Fashion at Chatsworth' showcases never-before-seen items from the Devonshire Collection to tell the stories of some of its most fascinating individuals.

Following its starring role as Kensington Palace in ITVs Victoria, visitors will be able to explore Castle Howard's locations and spaces used on screen in a range of television and film productions in a new 'Seen on Screen' trail leaflet. The gardens are open daily and the house will open in April 2017.

The Game Fair (July 28-30) comes to Hatfield House, Hertfordshire for the first time in its 59-year history. This festival of the countryside celebrates everything from clay shooting, archery and gundog scurries to fishing, falconry, ferreting and equestrianism. Artisan food and drink, shopping and hands-on outdoor activities plus camping and glamping facilities available over the weekend.

From March 24th - October 29th visitors can enjoy Victorian Harewood. To celebrate the success of the ITV series 'Victoria', the opulent rooms on Harewood's State Floor will come to life with costumes from the programme including outfits worn by Jenna Coleman who plays Queen Victoria.

Go behind the scenes at Holkham Hall with their new 'What the Butler Saw' exhibition. Discover the lives of the staff who have lived and worked at Holkham. Using unseen photographs and original uniforms, alongside historic documents, hear the personal experiences and colourful stories of the people who have helped to keep this great house running over the last 200 years to the present day.

This summer Leeds Castle presents special activities to mark key events of WW2. Visitors will be immersed in a dramatic surround-sound display of the Battle of Britain over Kent in 1940. Inside the Castle visitors will uncover 'top secret' plans devised by Geoffrey Lloyd, the Minister for Petroleum and Prime Minister Winston Churchill and hear stories of how the Castle was transformed into a field hospital.

Visit Woburn Abbey to enjoy two new exhibitions; 'Design of the Times: 400 years of interior decoration at Woburn Abbey' and 'Queen Victoria: A Royal Visit'. See how different Dukes and Duchesses re-decorated the Abbey with luxurious wallpapers, textiles and trimmings as fashions changed over the centuries. Then follow in the footsteps of the Queen during her 1841 visit. Rarely seen treasures and archive accounts shed new light on the life of a great house as it played host to the monarch. 

www.treasurehouses.co.uk

ENDS

For more information please contact Melodie Manners | melodie@flamingo-marketing.co.uk | 07815 709548