Heritage Open Days at Croome
As part of Heritage Open Days, the National Trust is offering free entry to Croome from Monday 9 September – Friday 13 September inclusive (10am – 5pm each day). Celebrating the wonderful and varied history of Croome, 2024 also marks the 10-year anniversary of the RAF Defford Museum. For Heritage Open Week, we will be hosting tours, walks and lectures to tell the story of Croome. There will also be a choice of free guided tours around the house and garden too for you to enjoy.
Monday 9 September
10.30 - Health Walk in Partnership with Worcestershire Council - Develop your fitness and wellbeing with our free guided health walk in Croome's parkland. Our trained volunteer walk leaders will offer a choice of 30-, 60- or 90-minute walks (no pre booking needed).
12.00 pm & 2pm – Boys School house tour
1.30pm - “Most Secret - The Story of Defford Airfield”. A special talk detailing the construction of the airfield, notable achievements and what happened next. The talk should last for approx. 1 hr in the SOQ (Sergeants and Orderlies Quarters)
Tuesday 10 September
11.00am - Guided Walk to the Panorama Tower - Join us for a 5-mile guided walk through the beautiful parkland to the Panorama Tower and enjoy fantastic views from the balcony before continuing back to the Visitor Centre.
Meet at 10.30am at reception for a 11am start.
On arrival at the Panorama Tower, we will stop for 45 minutes to enjoy the far-reaching views and if you wish to bring snacks, drinks and lunch to enjoy during the stop, you are welcome to.
12.00 - 14.30 - Panorama Tower Open day - Peek inside one of Croome's eye-catchers which is usually closed to the public. With fantastic panoramic views across the surrounding countryside from the top of the tower, you'll understand why James Wyatt chose this location to build the Panorama Tower for the 6th Earl of Coventry in 1801.
12.00 pm & 2pm – Boys School house tour
12.30 - Guided House tour with our wonderful volunteers.
Again at 13.45,14.45
Wednesday 11 September
11.00 - 12.00 Guided Garden tour - An introduction to the landscape at Croome. Find out more about the history and restoration of the garden and park at Croome on one of our volunteer-led tours.
11.00 - 13.00 - History of RAF Defford walk - This secret airbase was where Radar was put into the aircraft of the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) and tested and developed to help win the war. Walking round the various points will give the walker an idea of the scale of the operation. Led by an RAF Defford Museum Volunteer telling stories of the various sites around the airfield and the grounds, the walk will take approximately 2 hours, starting and finishing at the museum with the opportunity to visit the museum afterwards.
12.30 - Guided House tour with our wonderful volunteers.
Again at 13.45,14.45
Thursday 12 September
12.00pm - “Most Secret - The Story of Defford Airfield”. A special talk detailing the construction of the airfield, notable achievements and what happened next. The talk should last for approx. 1 hr in the SOQ (Sergeants’ & Orderlies Quarters)
14.00 - 15.00 Guided Garden tour - An introduction to the landscape at Croome. Find out more about the history and restoration of the garden and park at Croome on one of our volunteer-led tours.