A Northumberland stately home sports a rather unusual addition in the form of a 6.6m slide.
The temporary slide, which descends from the roof of Belsay Hall into the gardens, opens on April 30 and is part of a project giving visitors behind-the-scenes access to the major conservation works that will take place in the hall over the course of 12 coming months. A purpose-built platform has been installed at roof level, allowing visitors to see conservation in action and enjoy views of the Northumberland countryside.
In addition to the conservation programme, English Heritage, which runs the Hall, is restoring the gardens and creating a new family cafe and woodland play area. The project represents a total investment of £8.24 million and is supported by donations from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Foyle Foundation and other donors.
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Samantha Shotton, Property Manager at English Heritage’s Belsay Hall, said: “We are delighted to have opened the slide here at Belsay Hall just in time for the bank holiday weekend. It will undoubtedly prove very popular with our visitors, both young and old!
“In addition to having the chance to try it out and slip into history, we will also race Groups in Belsay – the opportunity to hear the best swing bands in the North East perform with the room as a backdrop. In the meantime, the conservation project is now well advanced and we expect it to be completed next year.
(Image: English Heritage Photo Library)
“It’s a very exciting time for Belsay Hall and we hope the addition of the slide will encourage people to visit us to find out more about the work we do here.”
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David Renwick, Director, England, North of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s fantastic to see the fun and exciting ways the Belsay Awakes project is putting in place to give visitors to the Hall and Gardens a unique view of the conservation works in progress.
“Thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, we are delighted to be able to support the innovative activities put in place which will allow visitors to explore and celebrate the heritage of Belsay, while creating stories for the future. We’re sure the slide will be a must for visitors, but the rest of the hall and gardens will also make for a fantastic day out.”