Over 2,000 people have flocked to Shugborough since the estate
opened a small part of Patrick Lichfield's private apartment as a
special sneak preview ahead of its 2011 grand opening.
Last Friday the doors to the Boudoir and the corridor area
surrounding it were thrown open to visitors allowing them to see
one of the most important rooms in the mansion house.
In just four days, two thousand people had come through the
doors to admire the elegant décor and to leave comments and
suggestions on how the project should develop over the winter.
In 2011 the estate will launch Shugborough Revisited - a project
which will see the opening of the private family apartments
(literally doubling the mansion house in size), a £50,000
Lottery funded redevelopment of three of the County museum
galleries plus the opening of the island garden with new sculpture
trail for the first time. A new exhibition of Patrick Lichfield
photographs entitled Lichfield's Shugborough and featuring many
famous faces at the estate will also be launched.
Over the winter an exciting programme of redecoration,
furnishing work and interpretation is due to take place.
The opening of part of the ground floor area of the family
apartment gives visitors an interesting sneak preview ahead of this
work.
Shugborough group manager, Liz Carruthers said: "It is great to
see so many people visit the small area we have opened up so soon
after its unveiling. It is an absolutely unique opportunity to see
the space before we redecorate and fully re-furnish and I'd urge as
many people as possible to come before we close for the
autumn."
The Boudoir and the corridor areas will remain open for three
more weeks until October 28 before re-opening in March 2011. As
visitors walk through the areas they can find out more about the
Shugborough Revisited project as well as admire the original 1794
wallpaper inlaid with real silver leaf and the handpainted ceiling
of the Boudoir.
Other highlights in the area include a magnificent painting of
Henry VIIIs largest ship, HMS Great Harry built in 1488 and the
imprint of 18 ceremonial swords left on the mustard coloured walls
of Patrick Lichfield's private entrance hall.