A HISTORIC Worcestershire castle no longer faces an uncertain future after it was bought by the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust (HCPT).

Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, who awarded the trust £5million, Hartlebury Castle and its 43 acres of parkland was transferred from the ownership of the Church Commissioners to the trust, in association with Worcestershire County Council and Museums Worcestershire, on Friday (March 27) securing it and its valuable assets for the local area.

Its new owners will now be able to preserve the castle and its valuable assets, as well as embark on programs for activities and improved access.

The trust and Museums Worcestershire will make the castle, Hurd Library, collections of the museum and castle, as well as gardens into an integrated visitor destination that will benefit the local area and serve as a major attraction for visitors from around the UK and beyond. This will continue a thousand years of public access to the former home of the Bishops of Worcester.

Robert Greenwood, chairman of the HCPT said: "We are delighted that with the help of Heritage Lottery Fund award we have now been able to buy the castle after so many years of uncertainty. The generosity of so many organisations, authorities and individuals who have pledged matched funding, revenue support, individual gifts and time now enables us to go ahead with our plans."

Work will now begin with major works within the Bishop's House, including restoring the Long Gallery and installing a new lift to serve the Hurd Library and upper floors, will start next year. Mr Greenwood added, in 2017 the restoration would be complete and the whole castle will once again function as a single building.

Neil Anderson, head of community and environment at the county council, said: "It has been a pleasure to work with the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust to secure the long-term future of this fabulous building steeped in the county's history. We look forward to working as a partnership to deliver a first class visitor attraction which will be a wonderful asset to World Class Worcestershire."