Hartlebury Castle has over 1000 years of history from 850AD – 2007, with both local and national significance. It is a heritage attraction, open to public visitors, group visits and private hirers. It consists of the Castle & grounds, including a new popular adventure play area.
Volunteering – Hartlebury Castle relies on its volunteers to remain sustainable. There are individual opportunities for regular small time volunteering (such as weekly grounds maintenance or house stewarding), or we can discuss one-off project based opportunities for companies and larger groups.
Make a donation – Launching in 2018 as a whole site, we are still in our infancy, not helped by the pandemic and cost of living crisis. We are therefore seeking financial support through donations to keep the Castle and its future alive. We will provide public acknowledgement of your donation, through our website, social media and on site (if requested).
Sponsor an event – We hold an annual programme of public events including family-themed Bank Holiday events, outdoor cinemas and murder mystery evenings.
Corporate Supporters Club – Alongside regular small scale events, we host large events such as The Sealed Knot, with over 200 Civil War re-enactors on site, and targets of 750 visitors a day. We are seeking a number of key local businesses to make a financial contribution who will join our Corporate Supporters Club.
About Us
Hartlebury Castle was the home of the Bishops of Worcester for over 1000 years until 2007. Three of our bishops became saints, two were burned at the stake for their faith, one became the Pope who refused Henry the VIII his divorce and another was present at the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. It’s not just the bishops, one of the butlers went on to appear in Doctor Who! They have amazing stories to tell and their history and that of Hartlebury Castle is inextricably linked with the history of the nation.
Initially set up by the local community, today, Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust works to ensure the Castle is cherished, celebrated and understood, providing an unmissable experience that inspires, informs and delights all who visit. Through learning the Castle’s history, we aim to inspire our visitors to look at the present and change the future.