National Trust property to open as holiday let in Worcester
Greyfriars in Friar Street has been under the care of the National Trust since 1966
Visitors to Worcester will soon be able to stay in an historic National Trust property.
Greyfriars is turning part of the building previously used by staff into a holiday let.
The timber-framed Grade I listed building in Friar Street has been under the care of the National Trust since 1966.
The ground floor of the house, bookshop, cafe and garden are free to visitors, and guided tours of other parts of the house are also available.
Other parts of the house were used as staff accommodation but now sit empty.
Plans submitted to Worcester City Council set out the trust’s plan to turn this part of the building into a holiday let.
“No structural changes are proposed and the refurbishment is largely cosmetic,” the plans state.
The trust says some of the required work was identified during a fire risk assessment.
“The remainder of the items proposed are general refurbishment works that any residential property would need to have undertaken during its cycle of maintenance.
“Little investment has been made into the fittings and finishes for several years and so it is proposed that these will be updated.”
Particular attention will be paid to “historic” wallpaper in the hallway, which is in need of repair.
National Trust conservators will “repair and consolidate” the wallpaper and manage its conservation through “education of its guests and ongoing monitoring”.
The trust adds: “This holiday let is inaccessible for wheelchair users as it is on ground and first floors, and it would not be reasonable to install a lift within this grade I listed building.
“The National Trust does have alternative holiday accommodation locally which is wheelchair accessible.”
City planners said: “It is considered that the proposals will preserve and enhance the Grade I listed building and will preserve the Historic City Conservation Area.”
Historic England said: “Overall, we have no objection to the proposed conversion of the northern rear range for a holiday let which would see the positive reuse of a currently vacant part of the building.”
The National Trust’s Becky White said: “This will be a great opportunity to stay in the fabulous building of Greyfriars and also support the work we do.
“All of our commercial activity feeds back into looking after Greyfriars for the community.”
She said future visitors will be able to stay in the bedroom of Elsie Moore, one of the siblings who helped save the building.
“This is a really unusual opportunity,” she said. “National Trust holidays are well regarded but its unusual to have a city centre location. Friar Street is absolutely the best bit of Worcester so people will be able to stay there and also fund the work we do as an organisation.”