Work to begin on transforming stables at Attingham Park

One of Shropshire’s top visitor attractions, welcoming over 400,000 visitors last year, Attingham is preparing for its most ambitious build yet, as part of ‘The Stables: Reworking a Grand Design’ project to improve visitor facilities.

After many years of planning and raising funds to pay for this major work builders will soon become a regular feature as work compounds are set up and construction begins on the biomass boiler.

Going green to heat the stables and the mansion will be Attingham’s first focus. A brand new building will be constructed by the coach parking to house a biomass system, which aims to be switched on and running by the end of September.

Fuelling the boiler, Attingham will be using woodchip from the estate and Wenlock Edge, to keep the attraction’s carbon footprint low and visitors warm. The scheme will contribute to the National Trust’s target to half its fossil fuel consumption by 2020.

After the summer, focus will shift to expanding and renovating the Carriage House Café. Installing modern facilities in a Grade II* historic building has required the team at Attingham to think carefully about planning and design. The construction of a new production kitchen has been designed to blend in with the original courtyard materials with sensitive planting around it to soften the visual impact.

The expansion will transform Attingham’s catering offer. The relocation of the kitchen into a larger space will enable them to offer a larger range of food and will open up more seating in historic areas with new views of the front park.

Mark Agnew, General Manager said: “We’ve been honest with our visitors for a very long time about our need to improve our facilities and now the builders are about to move in, it’s a really exciting time for us. We’ve worked very hard to get to this point.”

Mr Agnew added: “We will be making sure to keep everyone informed about the ongoing work throughout the year through social media, our website and with interpretation onsite. We will make it our mission to ensure visitors that the works will minimally affect their visit.”

Construction work will continue in the Stables until spring 2017.