03/01/2003 Entry: "Historic Houses to Open"

Historic Houses to Open
Almost one hundred historic houses throughout Britain will open their doors to the public for the first time this year. In many, visitors will be able to take afternoon tea or other refreshments with the owners, whose families have often lived there for generations.

The newly open houses are among 273 member properties of the Historic Houses Association, taking part in a scheme to welcome small, pre-booked groups when the houses are normally closed. Included are medieval moated manor houses, castles and Edwardian country houses with beautiful landscaped gardens. Many have fine collections of furniture and artwork.

The newly accessible properties range from Welford Park, a red brick country house dating from 1652 near Newbury, Berkshire, to Island Hall, an 18th century riverside mansion at Godmanchester, Cambridge.

Details of the participating houses and the facilities they will provide are detailed on the HHA's re-designed website: http://www.hha.org.uk