Heritage farm site has 200k visitors in first year

Chester House Estate was bought in 2004 by Northamptonshire County Council

An estate which was on Historic England's "at risk" register for 10 years has welcomed 200,000 visitors in its first year since renovation.

Chester House Estate, in Northamptonshire, was bought in 2004 and cost £14.5m to restore.

The site has evidence of human activity from more than 10,000 years ago, along with Iron Age and Roman settlements.

Helen Howell, deputy leader of North Northamptonshire Council, said there were "big plans to grow the estate and ensure its future sustainability".

The house, near Irchester, was built near the site of a walled Roman town.

It was severely damaged by a fire in 2010 and reconstruction work began in 2013.

But financial difficulties at the now defunct Northamptonshire County Council in 2017, a contractor going into administration and the coronavirus pandemic caused delays in the project.

The estate eventually opened in October last year, with North Northamptonshire Council taking responsibility.

Princess Anne was shown around Chester House Estate in July by business manager Jack Pishhorn

Conservative Ms Howell, executive member for sport, leisure, culture and tourism, said: "Since October last year, when the site opened to the public, we are going from strength-to-strength."

Since opening, the site has expanded its full-time staff from six to 19 and it has received help from more than 200 volunteers.

In July, the Princess Royal visited the house and performed an official opening ceremony.

Two new bridges have also been completed at the site to give access over the River Nene to pedestrians and wheelchair users.

Ms Howell said the council wanted to "connect the estate up to Wellingborough, Rushden Lakes, the River Nene and beyond".