Hartlebury Castle

Hartlebury Castle stands on manorial land near Stourport-on-Severn in Worcestershire, built in the mid-13th century as a fortified manor house. It became the Bishop of Worcester’s principal residence from the early 13th century until 2007. The gatehouse was added in the reign of Henry VI by Bishop Carpenter, and the Hurd Library was built by Bishop Hurd in 1782. The castle was fortified during the First English Civil War and held for King Charles I before being slighted and later returned to the bishop after the Stuart Restoration. The remains of a Civil War-era bastion ditch were excavated in 2023, revealing 17th-century finds. The castle has hosted royal visitors including King Edward I, Princess Mary, Queen Elizabeth and King George III. Bishop John Whitgift signed the paper allowing William Shakespeare to marry Anne Hathaway in 1582. The Hurd Library still contains Bishop Hurd’s extensive collection, including works from the libraries of Alexander Pope and William Warburton. The castle became a Red Cross hospital during the First World War, with soldiers’ scrapbooks preserved. The Worcestershire County Museum opened in 1966 in the former servants’ quarters. Visitors explore the Bishop’s Palace with audio guides, talking portraits and interactive displays. The grounds feature a nature trail, sunken garden, orchard terrace and carriage circle. The Worcestershire County Museum displays local history, toys, costumes, crafts and transport artefacts. A café serves visitors, and the castle’s estate includes a cider mill and a Transport Gallery with historic vehicles. The Hurd Library offers a virtual reality tour, and the museum’s period rooms include a schoolroom, nursery and scullery.