11:42am Wednesday 27th August 2008
ALMOST £8,000 was raised at the Copped Hall summer open day which was attended by some 1,000 visitors.
Visitors could view the mansion and grounds with guided tours undertaken.
Among the rooms on show were the Morning Room in the south west corner which will become a function/music room, and a café in the long term.
The current work on the Grand Saloon with its views of the grounds was another centre of attraction. The cultural element was provided by an exhibition of paintings by well-known local artist James Meeriot.
In addition the recently-acquired Broadwood piano was played.
Of great interest were the current archaeological excavations of the site of the Tudor Mansion in the grounds, where the archaeologists described the nature of the work and some interesting finds.
The Rolls Royce limousine once owned by Mrs Wythes, widow of Ernest Wythes, the last resident of the mansion before the fire of 1917, was also on show.
The next opportunity to visit the mansion and grounds will be on Sunday, September 21 between 10am and noon with entry via the Upshire Road gates between 10am and 11am. Parking and refreshments will be available.