1. Quarry Bank, Cheshire – The Clockwork Garden exhibition  

An HLF-supported transformation is taking place at Quarry Bank. The 1830s curvilinear glasshouse is undergoing restoration as glaziers fit over 7,400 panes of glass. The derelict back-shed areas have been brought back to life and now house the story of the garden and a lovely shop. 

Thanks to HLF support we have been able to commission exhibition design company, The House of Fairy Tales, to write, design and install, The Clockwork Garden, an exhibition in the mill and a trail round the garden. 

Read more on The Clockwork Garden website.

2. Rainham Hall, London – free family activities 

There is plenty to see at Rainham Hall, a Georgian house in the London Borough of Havering. Our new welcome space has just opened and a new free graffiti art exhibition is on display in the Hayloft until 19 September.

[quote]“We’ll be hosting a number of free family activities over the summer holidays including paper craft activities and gardens ‘muck-in’ sessions.”[/quote]

We’ll be hosting a number of free family activities over the summer holidays including paper craft activities and gardens ‘muck-in’ sessions for the whole family. Our Digital Youth Project will begin soon, while our Oral History volunteer team have now interviewed over 20 people and are seeking those with memories about the Hall and local area. The recordings are helping with exhibition research and will be eventually deposited with the British Library.

Find out more on the Rainham Hall website.

3. Croome, Worcestershire – explore the 6th Earl of Coventry’s collection

As part of the Croome Redefined project, historical objects from the 6th Earl of Coventry’s collection have returned this year after being absent from the house for over 70 years.

Two artists have been commissioned to create original works to present pieces from the collection in thought-provoking ways that respond to Croome’s spirit of ‘expect the unexpected’.

Bouke de Vries’ The Golden Box is a two-metre high reflective cube whose interior is encrusted with exquisite pieces of Meissen, Worcester and Sèvres porcelain from Croome’s important collection. 

Will Datson has created an eye-catching artistic installation over 2.5 metres high - an entanglement of chairs to innovatively present these beautifully crafted items.

Visit the Croome website for more information.

4. Ickworth, Suffolk – discover stories of the families who lived here 

The National Trust is giving visitors to the magnificent mansion and estate of Ickworth a fresh insight into the impact the FIrst World War had on the people who lived and worked in this beautiful corner of Suffolk.

Ickworth and the Great War, an exhibition which opened in July 2016, brings together items from the Ickworth collection, photographs, letters and cherished keepsakes from local families. 

It combines an outdoor estate trail, indoor collections displays and a research booklet revealing more of the stories of the staff and families on the Estate. It follows what happened to the Hervey family – the Marquess and Marchioness of Bristol and their two daughters – and five key families that lived or worked at Ickworth. It includes the story of Charles William Kitcatt, then coachman at Ickworth, who served as a sergeant in France from August 1915; like many, his life was cut short when he was killed on the Somme.

Find out more on the Ickworth website. 

5. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland – outdoor fun 

Thanks to HLF, the Giant’s Causeway project has been able to carry out vital work in community engagement in the nearby village of Bushmills, as well as on-going education and learning projects.

Mid-July found us in the middle of our annual North Coast Summer Scheme, a project for 7 to 11 year olds. The children visit a North Coast site each day, where they are taught about the history of the area and work carried out by the Trust to keep them special. Throughout the week they undertake '50 Things' activities, such as hunting for fossils, rock-pooling and bird watching. We see children return year on year, often bringing younger siblings when they become old enough to join in.

You can explore the Giant’s Causeway with your family too. Read about this further on the Giants Causeway website.

7. Knole, Kent – The Gatehouse Tower opens for the first time 

Knole is in the middle of a five-year, £19.8million project in partnership with HLF, which will conserve Knole’s beautiful building, protect its interiors and precious collection for future generations, open new spaces to visitors and for the first time, create a conservation studio on site.

[quote]“In July, Knole opened the new Brewhouse Café and shop - the perfect place to indulge in a cream tea on the rooftop terrace or pick up a souvenir.”[/quote]

In June, we celebrated opening the Gatehouse Tower to visitors for the very first time. The Gatehouse Tower is the first domestic space to go on display at Knole and was the former home of Eddy Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville, novelist and music critic. Visitors can explore his bedroom and music room, before climbing the steep spiral staircase to the rooftop where they can enjoy panoramic views of Knole Park and its wild deer herd.

In July, we opened the new Brewhouse Café and shop - the perfect place to indulge in a cream tea on the rooftop terrace or pick up a souvenir.

Meanwhile, conservation and restoration work is continuing in Knole’s historic showrooms. Along the way, we have made some fascinating discoveries, including hidden witchmarks and historic graffiti. 

The Inspired by Knole project will continue until 2018.

Explore more on the Knole website.