Restored – carving that almost fell on future PM (From Malvern Gazette)

Piece of coat of arms at historic Croome Court narrowly missed Stanley Baldwin

11:30am Monday 4th March 2013 in News By James Connell

AN iconic stone carving of the coat of arms which once nearly fell on a future prime minster’s head has been restored to its former glory.

The work at the National Trust’s Croome Court mansion house was possible thanks to donations made to carry out the work.

The coat of arms of the Coventry family, who lived at Croome since the late 16th century, stands proudly atop Croome Court, near Pershore, and has withstood 250 years of rain and wind in its exposed position.

The decline of the coat of arms started dramatically and involved future three-time prime minister Stanley Baldwin, who was standing directly under the coat of arms when the first recorded break occurred Mr Baldwin, who hailed from Bewdley, was a regular house party attendee at Croome Court before he was elected to Number 10, narrowly missed being hit on the head by a large stone jewel that had fallen from the crown at the top of the carving.

A £4,500 donation made by the Winchester National Trust Association and the Friends of Croome Park, a supporter group of Croome, made the work possible after a conservation report highlighted urgent restoration needed to be carried out.

“The coat of arms is such a famous piece of the house, it’s fantastic to see it finally restored” said Amy Forster, house and visitor services manager.

“The edges of the carvings and some of the detail, like the motto and the jewels on the crown, have suffered over the past few decades with breakages that we haven’t been able to repair until now so we’re very grateful to the donations we received.”

Croome Park is now open from 10am until 5.30pm every day. Croome Court is open from 11am to 4.30pm and closed on Tuesdays.