TALKS are progressing in a bid to keep a much-loved museum at Hartlebury Castle after fears around the lease threw its future into doubt.
Worcestershire County Museum has long told the story of Worcestershire’s social, industrial, and archaeological past.
However, uncertainty has surrounded its future since the existing lease arrangement came to an end, prompting urgent discussions about how the museum can continue to operate at the site.
The museum’s 60-year leases for the museum at Hartlebury Castle ended in February 2026.
Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for communities, Councillor Ian Cresswell, said he has held active discussions with key partners, including representatives of Hartlebury Castle and council officers, in a bid to find a lasting solution that would allow the museum to remain at Hartlebury.
Coun Cresswell has claimed that while final arrangements have not yet been concluded, a solution has been agreed in principle.
He said: “The museum at Hartlebury Castle is far more than a collection of objects.
“It plays a key role in telling the story of Worcestershire and is an important attraction that brings visitors into the county.
“Those visitors don’t just stay at the castle, they go on to explore nearby historic towns such as Stourport-on-Severn and Kidderminster, supporting local businesses and strengthening the wider visitor economy.”
“This is about protecting an asset that benefits the whole county.
“By leading the charge to secure the museum’s future, we are also supporting tourism in places like Stourport and Kidderminster and ensuring that Worcestershire remains an attractive place to visit.”
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “We’re currently working with the landlord, Hartlebury Castle Trust, on a new lease for Worcestershire County Museum to remain at Hartlebury Castle.
“Officers are reviewing the details of the lease with the aim of agreeing this as soon as possible.”
The Worcestershire County Museum tells the story of what life was like for people in the county over the ages, and features a Victorian school room and a classic toy gallery.
The land that Hartlebury Castle sits on was granted to the Bishop of Worcester by King Burghred in the late 9th century, although the foundations of the building that now stands here is believed to date back to the 13th century.
