The Wood Norton

On this review we enjoy the grounds of the hall, and then continue with our history after the BBC bought the property during 1939. PHOTO ONE The main entrance faces east, and from the front exit the Hall looks very attractive, and it certainly is well worth while exploring the gardens. PHOTO TWO Simply turn right from the front, and it’s an easy push for your carer along hard compacted gravel. PHOTO THREE to SIX The gardens are south facing so get lots of natural daylight, and there are many different planting areas which contain a series of Rose beds which are planted in a traditional way. You will find many old classic varieties, and on warm pleasant days, their fragrance will catch the air. These have been combined with modern shrub roses, and well known hybrid varieties, all selected for their vigour, fragrance and disease resistance, and combined with a second flush later in the season, you are assured of seeing roses at any time during their flowering period. What is also appealing is that the roses are mixed with other shrubs and perennials which of course helps to provide interest all over the seasons, and you will note Catmint, Peonies, Lilies early in the season, then Buddleia, Meadow Rue and Anemonies give a late season colour. PHOTO SEVEN As you gaze back to the house on the south of the house, the House has three gabled bays, the far right gable has the date of the house on it, 1897, and you can see the family coat of arms. Between these gabled bays, the first and attic floors are timber framed with gabled dormers, and you will see the colonnade with a balustrade above, which adds the appeal to this interesting Mansion. Also worthy of taking a look at are the original lead drain pipes and rainwater heads with Royal cipher and Crowns. PHOTO EIGHT From these windows you can gaze across the gardens, over the lawn, with wonderful distant views of scenic countryside. This makes a wonderful backdrop for any wedding or special events that you may wish to hold here. PHOTOS NINE and TEN A large patio with rattan furniture makes an ideal sitting area while enjoying a cool glass of your favourite tipple, while admiring the hard work that has been taken to make these gardens an attraction in their own right. PHOTO ELEVEN The side door will take you back into the house, but there is a small step unfortunately, so you may need to go back to the main entrance. PHOTOS TWELVE to FOURTEEN Settle back now at the bar, and enjoy lunch. The sandwiches are delightful, complimented with a good portion of fries and a salad side, washed down with a cool drink, well recommended. PHOTO FIFTEEN While Dennis completes lunch with a G and T, we will continue with our history lesson for you, from the time the BBC bought Wood Norton Hall. PHOTO SIXTEEN At that time, the main drive would have been taken by entering the estate through the old gates, winding around then and up to the main house. The position of the house, hidden within acres of woodland on a hill made it ideal for its use of relocating the BBC’s operations as a broadcasting centre. A number of buildings were erected and a dozen studios were built, so that by 1940, Wood Norton was one of the largest broadcasting centres in Europe. Recruiting many refugees from all over Europe during the Second World War, it specialised in broadcasting the special operations to groups around Europe by sending secret messages encrypted via its facilities here, so that fromm1939 until 1943 it was the home of the BBC’s Monitoring service. The estate then became the BBC’s main broadcasting centre, and after the war, Wood Norton became the BBC Engineering Training Department. In March 2013 the BBC constructed the Satellite Earth Station here. For our younger readers, they may be interested to note that Wood Norton was used for some of the filming of DOCTOR WHO in 1970, as part of the serial Spearhead from Space. Then during 1974, the location was again used for DOCTOR WHO in its serial Robot. WE NOW RECOMMEND READING OUR THIRD REVIEW Which will help if you would like to enjoy a short overnight break here at Wood Norton.

If you would like to stay overnight then this review will help you by showing the accessible rooms that are available. Wood Norton has four buildings, THE HALL, PEAR TREE MEWS, THE ORANGERY and SMITHS HOUSE. Sadly, Wood Norton has been rather negleted over a number of years now, and the exterior of the House and other buildings are badly in need of attention, rather off putting so it will be nice to see the owners getting to grips with these problems, such as rotting wood, chipped concrete and walls of the buildings, and a lack of recent paintwork. However, it is still a very delightful old building, and a pleasant stay will be provided. For those who are disabled and would like an overnight stay, then we have provided two reviews of rooms, one in the main house on the second floor, with a lift available, and one accessible room in PEAR TREE MEWS. There is one room available in the main house, HALL DOUBLE, (EXECUTIVE) on the second floor, and this is reached through the main halls hallway, PHOTO ONE, and by taking the available lift up to the second floor PHOTO TWO. It is a bit of a ride to reach the room PHOTO THREE) but corridors are wide enough for chair users, just, and the whole building is well maintained and clean, with pleasant enough deco. The room is basic, just enough room to be comfortable, nicely decorated in period colours and wallpaper, with a few cabinets ideal for short stays. PHOTO FOUR. The bed is high, easy to slip into, and a small wardrobe will hold clothing for short stays. PHOTO FIVE. However, although regarded as an accessible room, the bathroom does have a shower, but with a step to get into it PHOTO SIX. It is a good size, but if wheelchair bound, then it will be difficult for you. The furnishings are modern but in fitting with the room, and a chair can slid under washbasin when needed PHOTO SEVEN. For those who need a walking shower facilities, then perhaps you would consider staying in their PEAR TREE MEWS, a building separate from the main house, which can be made use of in two ways. The lift in main hallway may be used to take you up to the FIRST FLOOR, then exiting the main house with a short walk across to the courtyard of Pear Tree Mews. This would be difficult if raining that day, and a soaking would not really be welcomed. The second way to reach the Mews would be by taking your car from the main courtyard area, PHOTO EIGHT, and drive up hill on the narrow but plentyfull driveway through the hedge, along for a few feet PHOTO NINE and turning left to drive up a small slope PHOTO TEN, and up to the bridge on the right PHOTO ELEVEN and drive under to enter the small car parking area in the courtyard PHOTO TWELVE. This sounds complicated, but it’s not, it’s a very easy drive into the courtyard, but would be more difficult if your carer decided to leave car in main car park, and walk you up to the Mews. Certainly not recommended if raining. A ramp is available on the left to get you into the accessible room PHOTO THIRTEEN, but a small step may be a nuisance for you, and although a narrow doorway, you will get chair inside PHOTO FOURTEEN Inside, the room is smallish but comfortable and pleasantly enough decorated PHOTO FIFTEEN with a comfortable bed, just about right in height for you PHOTO SIXTEEN. The good thing is that it has a walk in shower, the room itself is a good size, nicely decorated, with modern items, and we like the fact it has a radiator to dry you out. So that’s our review of Wood Norton Hotel. PLEASE READ ALL THREE REVIEWS THOUGH FOR AN OVERALL FEEL, It is worth a visit, afternoon tea is a delight, and lunch was very good, the bar is well stocked, rooms are comfortable, so why not treat yourself now and again.

Very recent historical building, interesting, and worth taking a look at. Situated just outside Evesham, an ideal visit after spending the morning touring the area. READ REVIEW FOR “THE VALLEY EVESHAM”. A very pleasant country park with shops. READ REVIEW FOR “CHADBURY FARM SHOP & CAFE”. Then we have THREE REVIEWS for WOOD NORTON, Worth reading the three for a good overall view of this unusual old Hall, now a country style Hotel. WOOD NORTON HOTEL, WORCESTER ROAD, EVESHAM, WR11 4YB. www.woodnorton.com History. The site dates back to medieval times, but It is its modern day history that is interesting, and we concentrate our story after the old hall was bought by “The Duke of Aumale” in 1872, following his move from France. It seems he was well regarded by the people of Evesham who thought him as “a grand old nobleman, gracious and kind to all. Following his death, Prince Philippe, Duke of Orleans, the last pretender to the throne of France, took on the Hall in 1897. PHOTO ONE. The main driveway leads off the A44, a short distance away from the town of Evesham, and the above suggested visits we have reviewed for you. It is a grade 11 listed building, a Victorian stately home, and the entrance for driveway has a mixture of old and new modern buildings which stand in attractive grounds. PHOTO TWO If you arrive from the Evesham direction, as you approach Wood Norton Hall, look out on your right for the very ornate old gates. These came from another property that was owned by Duc d’Orleans, Orleans house, Twickenham, after they came from the Palace of Versailles in 1872. They were damaged by 2003 and repaired by Pershore Black smith, Stephen Cooper. PHOTO THREE Follow the main drive all the way round to reach Wood Norton Hall. The fascinating old Country house of 1897 is well worth checking out. It is a red brick building, with freestone dressing and some timber-framing, with plain machined tile roofs with coped parade red gable ends. The entrance stands on the East of this large mansion, regarded as mainly Jacobean style. In front of it, stands an old fountain (badly in need of attention). PHOTO FOUR There are two disabled bays in the right hand corner of car park. PHOTO FIVE The front door entrance is very close to parking bays, rather dull and unattractive with a large original wooden door, but of note is the ornate lamp above your head. It had to be completely refurbished, the many layers of old paint had to be sand blasted off to reveal the original copper and brass metal work. The metal was lacquered, and the sand blasted steel work was zinc coated and then painted black. The restored lamp was then re-installed to offer a light glow as you enter the Hall. PHOTO SIX You immediately enter the old halls entrance, with its wooden panels and nicely decorated panels, which lead you to PHOTO SEVEN The reception desk. Again there are some lovely carved wooden panels and old paintings to admire. PHOTO EIGHT You are then taken into the bat reception hall, which has a more modern approach to it, well stocked with favourite drinks available. PHOTO NINE But the interiors are disappointing, a few scattered chairs are available, but the deco is not in keeping with the old building. PHOTO TEN and ELEVEN However, venture into other rooms leading off from the bar, and again you can see the wooden panels and carvings that are so attractive. PHOTOS TWELVE TO FOURTEEN show you the very delightful wooden carved staircase and hallway which is so becoming of this historical Mansion. PHOTOS FIFTEEN and SIXTEEN It’s along here you will find the accessible toilet, which was nicely decorated with dark tiles, and plain simple coloured walls, large enough to hold almost all chairs and room to spin around. It had a number of pull grab handles, but no pull cord. PHOTO SEVENTEEN Further along, the passage will lead to the main dining room. PHOTOS EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY Although the room is decorated with the same darkish wooden panelling, it is pleasant enough to be inviting, when you join them for dinner later on. Very clean and comfortable, with more than enough room to place your wheelchair, and will offer you the chance to experience the historical record of the house. The Orleans family left Wood Norton in 1912, selling the house to Sir Charles Swinton, then later, in 1939, the BBC bought the site so that they could move its operations from London, in case of hostilities. WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THIS MODERN DAY HISTORICAL FACTS WITH OUR NEXT REVIEW taking a look at the gardens as we discuss the activity of the BBC at Wood Norton Hall. PLEASE READ. “WOOD NORTON” PART TWO, GARDENS. THEN READ. “WOOD NORTON”. PART THREE, DISABLED ROOMS.