A three-year conservation project to repair and restore the Grade I listed Wightwick Manor, ensuring its preservation for future generations to enjoy. Find out more about The Big MEND project.
Wightwick Manor was built and furnished according to the Arts & Crafts ideals; it dates from 1887-8, with a later extension in 1893. It is recognised as an important example of the architecture and design of the later 19th century, containing much work by the leading designers of the day and is one of only a few such houses.
Wightwick Manor's significance comes from its interior equally as its exterior. The iconic & ornate timber frame however is not structural, but instead superficial and allowing for high decorative features. The facades also contain rich decorative bay windows, chimneys, stained glass, bargeboards and stonework.
After more than 125 years, the frame is showing signs of deterioration due to age and weathering and the timber is losing its integrity. This is resulting in movement of the frame, the plaster infill panels becoming loose, oak pegs falling out and window frames requiring repair.
By the end of 2026, The Big MEND project aims to:
This work will be phased over three years, between 2023/24 to 2025/26.
We’re delighted to have been awarded a grant from Arts Council England, on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to allow this extensive repair work to get underway.
This Museum Estate & Development (MEND) Fund is for a total of £658,260, which will go towards the repairs to the exteriors at Wightwick, and also inspires the project’s name, ‘The Big MEND’.
The National Trust is contributing £139,320, taking the total project cost to just under £800,000.
The cast iron gutters and downpipes on the 1887 parts of the house require repair and need modifying from their smaller form (as was per the fashion of the late 19th century) to larger and deeper ones, in order to enlarge their capacity to cope with increased rainfall and volume of water caused by climate change.
Over the next few years, you will also see more repairs and improvement works on other aspects of Wightwick Manor and Garden's built heritage. These include:
The site is open as normal, including the Manor. Some areas of the garden will be closed until the end of July 2023 whilst the scaffolding is being constructed around the Manor. Once the work starts, these areas will be re-opened. Parts of the building will be scaffolded to allow each elevation to be addressed. However, the scaffold will be removed in the autumn for 5 months until April/May 2024, and again the following year. There will be signs onsite to inform visitors of any changes to regular routes, and there will be information boards providing further detail of what's happening.
If you have any questions about the work during your visit, team members will be on hand to answer. Alternatively, you can email the office on wightwickmanor@nationaltrust.org.uk.
September 2023
In September a lead worker will be working on the gutters, gulleys and hoppers. These have suffered damage over the years and many can no longer cope with the increased rainfall we are receiving.
We will also be removing tiles to two roofs over the west wing and re-laying with new tiles, as the existing are no longer fit for purpose. We have been working closely with an Ecologist to ensure no bats are harmed during this work.
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Supporting the arts sector with funding from Government and the National Lottery.
Visit the De Morgan Gallery, a partnership with the De Morgan Foundation. ‘Look Beneath the Lustre’ looks at how Evelyn and William De Morgan were inspired to create art.
The garden at Wightwick is the perfect place for a walk after enjoying the delights of the house. Designed by Thomas Mawson, today it has something to see no matter what the season.
