Croome Court

Croome Court stands in south Worcestershire near Upton-upon-Severn. The house is a mid-18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion set in large landscaped parkland designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Robert Adam worked on some of the rooms inside. St Mary Magdalene’s Church sits within the grounds and is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. The mansion is owned by Croome Heritage Trust and managed by the National Trust. The surrounding parkland belongs to the National Trust and is open to visitors. The house has a long history tied to the Coventry family and notable visitors. George III was entertained here by the 6th Earl. Queen Victoria stayed as a child, and George V visited when he was Duke of York. During the Second World War the Dutch Government briefly used it as a possible refuge for Queen Wilhelmina. The building has been restored in stages since 2009. Six rooms were brought back to their former state, including the Saloon. Fundraising helped pay for repairs and an oral history project recorded memories of Croome. Inside, the entrance hall has four fluted Doric columns and moulded doorcases. The dining room lies to the east with a plaster ceiling and cornice, while the billiard room to the west has fielded panelling and a rococo chimneypiece. The saloon on the south side features an elaborate ceiling with three panels and two Ionic chimneypieces. The Tapestry Room was designed by Robert Adam and once held tapestries made by Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins. The restored rooms show the craftsmanship of Brown, Adam and their plasterers.