PRESS RELEASE from Nigel Huddleston: Sajid Javid MP visits Hartlebury Castle and Museum‏

The Secretary of State of Culture, Media & Sport and Bromsgove MP, Sajid Javid, visited Hartelbury last week and was given a tour of Hartlebury Castle and the Worcestershire County Museum.

The Castle was for hundreds of years the palatial home of the Bishops of Worcester and since the 1960s a large proportion of the property has been used as the Worcestershire County Museum.

Last year, the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust was awarded £6million in Heritage Lottery Funds and the entire estate covering 43 acres has therefore been saved for the nation.  When it was put up for sale several years ago by the Church Commissioners, the property could easily have fallen into private hands and closed to the public.

Mr Javid was joined on the tour by the current MP for Mid Worcestershire, Sir Peter Luff as well as the Conservatives Parliamentary Candidate for Mid Worcestershire, Nigel Huddleston, as well as a number of leaders of the County Council and Preservation Trust.

The timing of the visit was prescient as last week, Sir Peter Luff was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the Board of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund which provided funds to preserve Hartlebury Castle.

Sajid Javid MP said:
"I very much enjoyed my visit to Hartlebury castle and museum and it was a pleasure meeting the incredibly dedicated and knowledgeable team. I am delighted that Hartlebury castle's future has been secured with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

He added:

“In his new role, Sir Peter Luff will continue to play a key part in protecting our national heritage and I know that Nigel Huddleston is just as passionate about protecting and preserving our historic sites as Sir Peter and I."

Nigel Huddleston said:

“I was delighted to join Sir Peter Luff and the Hartlebury Castle team in showcasing a real treasure of the constituency to the Secretary of State.  Sajid Javid clearly enjoyed the visit – especially the old school room part of the Museum and the magnificent Hurd Library.  He was very impressed by how the Trust plans to use the Heritage Funds to make the Castle an even more enjoyable, interactive and family friendly place to visit.”