image for illustration: Wilton House by David Spender, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Historic Houses has published a new report on ‘A Fragile Inheritance: the state of the UK’s historic houses’, revealing the state of the UK’s historic homes.
Historic Houses writes:
Much of the UK’s heritage remains in private or independent ownership, including more than a thousand country houses. These houses constitute one of the largest and most distinctive collections of historic and lived-in properties anywhere in the world.
A handful are household names, each attracting hundreds of thousands—sometimes over a million—visitors each year. But most operate on a far smaller scale. They are family-run enterprises, deeply rooted in their local communities, sustaining jobs and economic activity in rural areas where opportunities can sometimes be scarce.
Historic Houses represents this extraordinary sector. We speak for over 1,400 historic houses, parks and gardens across the UK, and each year we survey our members to understand better how they are faring.
This report is, in effect, a health check for the nation’s stately homes. There is much to celebrate: together, these properties welcomed over 21.3 million visitors last year and supported more than12,000 jobs. They are a powerful draw for domestic and international tourism, and a cornerstone of the UK’s global image.
Read the full report HERE
See more background HERE
