Places Stories

Not since the battle lines were drawn between the Royalists and Parliamentarians during the English Civil War in 1642, has there been such an air of uncertainty surrounding Hartlebury Castle.

The historians will tell you the North Worcestershire gem – the historic seat of the Bishop of Worcester - could fall into the wrong hands.

But this time, it's not the outpost of a titanic struggle between King and country – its future rests on whether cash hungry developers will get their mitts on the gate keys to turn it into luxury flats or perhaps even attracting the eye a millionaire footballer and his wannabe WAG.

Saying that, those of a sensitive nature when it comes to all things of a heritage nature in England’s green and pleasant land, will be encouraged from events 366 years ago.

As civil war raged back then, the castle was held – albeit briefly – by a groomed garrison of Royalists troops; 120 foot soldiers with 20 horses to be precise all under the command of Colonel William Sandys.

The 18th-Century Hurd Library

A two-day siege ensued and the Parliamentarians took control – largely thanks to some shrewd tactics of that Westminster warrior Colonel Thomas Morgan who negotiated the Royalists surrender under what's believed to be a "gentleman's agreement" without a shot being fired.

By the end of 2008, local government in the guise of Worcestershire County Council may know if this time its been successful by buying the castle complete with the famous 18th-Century Hurd Library for a cool £3.5million.

That figure will be offset by private investment and possibly Heritage Lottery funding, but just like 1642, only by winning the tax payers' hearts and minds will secure a significant victory for future generations to enjoy.

Cost-cutting?

Despite a clear link at Hartlebury between the Bishop of Worcester and the monarchy dating back to c 850, the castle's custodians – The Church Commissioners – would rather it be part of its own history than any future vision.

The idea's been mooted for more than half a century and the Right Reverend Dr Peter Selby did indeed become the last Bishop of Worcester to call the castle his home when he retired last September.

The Commissioners have been quick to play down any suggestion it was heavily motivated by cost-cutting; instead preferring to emphasise "practical reasons" for giving the new Bishop of Worcester - the Right Reverend Dr John Inge - the boot to the more modest surroundings of a house near to the Worcester Cathedral.

"Such a castle is just not a suitable dwelling for a bishop," the Commissioners' spokesman Steve Jenkins told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "We've been having that kind of debate as far back as 1860 and the policy was finally made in the mid-1990s to vacate the castle - so the idea isn't really a new one.

"The concerns are the size of the building and maintaining it. Its location is also not the best for other clergy to get to either for meetings and so on."

In truth, objections to more than a millennium of the Bishop of Worcester housed in 40 acres of Hartlebury splendour are thin on the ground.

Majestic library

The location of the majestic Hurd Library - housed in one of the castle's three stately rooms - continues to be more of a hot political potato.

The suggestion by the Commissioners that the jewel in the Hartlebury crown could be moved to the cathedral sparked the rise of the Friends of the Hurd Library and Hartlebury Castle protest group, which today has more than 250 members.

Bishop Hurd who built the library

Built by Bishop Hurd (1720-1808), the 18th Century library houses a collection of works - some, of which, were given to him by close friend King George III. The library's long, awe-inspiring room overlooking the mossy moat is just as impressive as the priceless books themselves and has stoked up vocal passions rarely seen in librarians across Worcestershire.

George Ward, from the group, is the loudest voice breaking protocol across the dusty shelves which include the very first book published in France - Legenda Aurea Lyons in 1476.

"The Hurd Library is a fantastic resource for the county council and I'm convinced it'll stay at the castle," he says. "We’re working with everyone involved to convince them this is the best interests of the castle’s long-term future.

"It just wouldn’t make sense to separate the library from the castle. It's simply a stunning place and on a sunny day with the light coming through the bow window, it's just the most peaceful place to be in the world."

He added: "We’ve put our own business plan together to keep it there and we've already told the council we've got a band of librarians within our group who are prepared to volunteer to run it."

Book worms

As it turns out, this band of book worms may not need to do much wriggling to convince the council and its potential commercial investors to keep the library as a centre piece to any heritage visitor centre complete with the serious cash spin-offs of conference and wedding facilities.

Spenser's Faeirie Queen 1st edition

While the Church Commissioners remain rather coy about the library's future, the council realises it would be akin to marketing Disney Land without it star attraction Mickey Mouse.

It already leases a wing of the castle to house the refurbished county museum.

And with its all-out buyout proposal backed by English Heritage, the council's Heritage Partnership manager Debbie Birch, made it clear: "We're talking here about an historic monument and the Hurd Library is a hugely significant part of that.
"We want to see it remain at the castle and in the public domain. This is a chance to purchase a Grade I-listed tourist showcase for North Worcestershire and provide educational opportunities for children and expand our range of placements for volunteers.

"But there are a lot of things to consider - not least the maintenance of the building, so our proposal is very much a work in progress. We're certainly not about to pre-judge anything our cabinet will decide come the autumn."

The smart money though, like 1642, is on the people from the government getting their way.