Campaign to protect castle site

A campaign group has been reformed in a desperate bid to save Hartlebury Castle, near Kidderminster, from falling into the hands of developers.

The campaigners have called for the building to be retained as a tourist attraction and for Church Commissioners to be prevented from selling off a famous library.

The Castle has been the home of the Bishops of Worcester since 1255 and the library was built by Bishop Hurd in 1782 .

Campaigners fear the building could be sold and the library dismantled after Church Commissioners decided to base the Bishop in Worcester.

Now The Friends of the Hurd Library and Hartlebury Castle, are campaigning for the building to be taken over by Worcestershire County Council, which currently holds a lease on part of the building which houses the County Museum.

They are planning an inaugural meeting at the Castle on November 23rd.

Spokesman for the group George Ward said: "We believe that the public, who already visit the museum in large numbers, would welcome the opportunity to view and use this historic building with its beautiful rooms and library."

Councillor Maurice Broomfield, who while the former chairman of Worcestershire County Council, pledged to do everything he could to save the building and library, said: "The council is still in talks with the Church Commissioners about the future of Hartlebury Castle and the Hurd Library."