Great Witley Court, Worcs

I finally managed to take Paul to Witley Court this morning- since childhood after the ruins of the place were abandoned after a fire in the 1930s, I have found this skeleton of a monument fascinating. My Mum and I used to climb into the grounds and wander about long before it had become a tourist attraction owned by English Heritage . Nash had much to do with the architecture and the magnificent fountain shows Perseus and Andromeda . Billy Butlin wanted to buy the fountain at one time .
The Orangerie still contains an original camellia and the charred timbers are showing in the Ballroom .
It was originally owned by first the Foley family ( a well known name in the Kidderminster area) and then the Earl of Dudley .
Edward V11 came to shooting parties here, when he was Prince of Wales . The photos of the building as it was inside and out in the 19th century and early 20th are fascinating and dotted around the site . It must have been a mini Versailles .
We didn’t have time for the unique Baroque Church today - another visit ..
Paul can be seen photographing it for scale in front of the fountain !
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/witley-court-and-gardens/history/