October
2002
Elvaston Castle Country Park |
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| The
stable yard at Elvaston Castle |
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Elvaston
Castle Country Park opened to the public in 1970. It was the first
of it’s kind in Britain and spans more than 200 acres of varied landscape.
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Elvaston
Castle Country Park
- today and the future |
Work
has begun on a conservation plan to assess the viability of restoring
the gardens at Elvaston Castle Country Park to their original glory.
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| Some
of the castle gardens |
The grade
two star listed gardens are recognised as being of national importance,
and Derbyshire County Council would like to restore them to their
original state.
It is expected that such a project would cost over £10 million, however,
before the council can finalise plans for a restoration project it
first needs to produce a conservation plan looking at such factors
as how the restoration of the gardens would fit in with plans to develop
the whole of the estate at Elvaston.
The conservation plan will be paid for, in part, by Derbyshire County
Council, and in part by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.
If the plan supports the proposals for restoration then the council
will looking to make a major bid of around £8 million to the Heritage
Lottery Fund, to help towards the estimated £10 million costs of the
restoration work.
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| The
magnificent lake |
Even if
everything goes ahead according to plan it will be at least 2005 before
work can begin on the gardens, and 2010 before the restorations will
be complete.
Historical material, including photographs taken of the garden in
the 19th Century and a book written by William Barron who designed
the gardens at Elvaston, would be used to help make the restored gardens
as close to the originals as possible.
Finally, it is planned that a conservation study will also be undertaken
for the castle and its associated buildings, and the council hope
to put some ideas concerning developments for the whole estate before
the public next year.
Located
off Borrowash Road (B5010), Elvaston.
The park is well signposted off both the A6 and the A52 (M1 J25).
From the M1 north bound take the A50 exit, the A6 Alvaston turn off,
then follow the brown tourist signs.
Opening times of the park office are 9am to 5pm Monday to Sunday.
The grounds are open from 9am to dusk all year round.
The car park is open: summer 9am to 8pm; winter 9am to 5pm.
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| Contact
Us |
BBC Derby
PO Box 104.5
Derby
DE1 3HL
(+44) 01332 361111
derby@bbc.co.uk |
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