Visitors can become part of Tudor house's history

Six people gather in front of a Christmas tree on a gravelled courtyard and hold up tiles with images and words written on them.Image source, National Trust
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Visitors can write their names on tiles that will be used in the restoration of Coughton Court's roof

  • Published

Visitors are being offered the opportunity to become part of a Tudor country house's history by decorating tiles used to restore its roof.

A £3.3m repair project is currently under way at 15th Century Coughton Court, near Alcester in Warwickshire.

Sections of the roof have been restored alongside other maintenance work at the Grade I-listed building, which owners National Trust said should be finished in June.

As part of the project, the charity is giving people the opportunity to decorate recycled tiles that will be placed on the roof.

National Trust said people could sign their names, write messages to loved ones or commemorate a special date or event.

Simon Pickering, operations manager, said the team was excited to give visitors "the opportunity to become part of Coughton's incredible story".

"For the first time, visitors can leave a lasting message on Coughton’s roof, which will in turn help to ensure the conservation of this special place for hundreds of years to come," he explained.

Image source, National Trust
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The project to restore Coughton Court has cost the National Trust £3.3m

The trust will be running sessions on 13 and 14 December and people can book a place on the charity’s website.

Each tile costs £20 and the money raised goes towards the restoration project.

Mr Pickering described the project, called Through The Roof, as one of the most ambitious to have ever been undertaken by the National Trust.

He said work had begun on the restoration's final phase to "repair and preserve the whole building's roof and facade".

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