£2.45m price for Hartlebury Castle agreed in deal

Campaigners hoping to buy a castle near Kidderminster to ensure it stays open to the public have agreed a price of £2.45 million, it emerged today.

The Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust reached a deal over the historic building with the Church Commissioners. It now hopes to submit a fresh bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and will be holding fundraising events.

The grade I-listed castle, which was once home to the Bishop of Worcester, has been deemed surplus to requirements. But the trust wants to retain the castle for educational purposes and keep it open to visitors.

Members are also looking at setting up an enterprise centre to help support small businesses in the area.

Preservation trust chairman Alison Brimelow said the price agreed incl-uded the grounds and parkland as well as the long-term loan of important pictures and furniture, including the historic books in the Hurd Library.

"We are absolutely delighted to have reached an agreement with the commissioners. With the backing of the commissioners and the support of Worcestershire County Council, we can concentrate on revising our bid and securing the additional funds," she added. The group is now preparing a second bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for funding to help pay for the building before October.

A previous application was turned down in November last year because of other applications but lottery bosses said they would welcome another bid for development funding in the future.

Rosemarie Jones, a deputy surveyor for the Church Commissioners, said: "Hartlebury Castle is a valuable resource for Worcester and the Heart of England and the Church is committed to working with the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust."