Leith Hill Place celebrates five years of welcoming visitors

23rd July 2018

The National Trust’s Leith Hill Place has been open to the public for five years, offering inspirational views, mouth-watering scones and a changing programme of events, concerts and exhibitions.

(Image NT Leith Hill Place)

In 2013 the National Trust took the decision to open the house to the public, following a long term tenancy by a local boarding school. An enthusiastic team of volunteers led by project manager Gabrielle Gale stripped walls, cleared out rubbish and undertook repairs to get the house ready to open on 26 July 2013. Since then over 83,000 visitors have come to the house, experiencing the house as it slowly evolves into a sustainable venture.

The house and estate were given by composer Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1945, he desired the nation to be able to enjoy the incredible views from the unspoilt landscape around the house, which his family had enjoyed for over 100 years. He assisted the National Trust in finding a tenant for the house as it wasn’t seen as significant enough to be opened to the public. However, that view has now changed, with the significance of the past occupants (Vaughan Williams, the Wedgwood family and Charles Darwin) overcoming the fact that the house has no gifted contents.

Over the past five years the Trust have been working on developing the visitor experience at the house which now includes an audio tour of the attics, a changing programme of art exhibitions, a display on the life and music of Vaughan Williams, informal music events, evening concerts and, of course, widely renowned freshly baked scones. All of this has been made possible by a very dedicated and hard working team of volunteers who keep the house running from welcoming visitors to baking cakes and scones and making general repairs.

Leith Hill Place Visitor Operations Manager for the National Trust, Natalie Savage said, “The house offers an exciting challenge in terms of creating a great experience for visitors. In its most basic form it’s an empty shell, but its location really fires people’s imaginations, as shown by the work of the artists who are exhibiting at the house. We’re looking forward to the next five years and all the changes that will bring.”

(Image NT Leith Hill Place)

To celebrate the five year anniversary, staff and volunteers who volunteer across the hill enjoyed a party at the house and a display of images showing how the house has taken shape and the hard work of the volunteer team will go on display from 28 July until mid-August. After this time the information will be captured in a folder which visitors can sit and read through during their visit.

For more information on Leith Hill Place