A NEW exhibition at Croome Court near Pershore is a fascinating story of loss and survival, with a focus on "lost" tapestries in a very special room.

The Lost Tapestries exhibition, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, reveals the extraordinary story of Croome Court’s Tapestry Room from its intricate creation in the 18th century to the sale of the tapestries and their room in the early 20th century.

Clare Harris, Croome’s Creative Producer, who project managed the exhibition said: “The story is told from the point of view of the tapestries which has helped enliven the sorrowful tale.”

She added: "We’ve also used lots of interactive elements to help people understand what happened here over 60 years ago, but my favourite part is the unexpected conclusion for the heartbroken tapestries and how they were reunited with house.”

Originally, a vibrantly coloured set of Gobelins tapestries, the first of its kind in the country and pride of the Coventry family, adorned the walls of the Tapestry Room in the 18th century. The decline of the room, one of the finest in any country house in Britain, began in 1900 with the sale of the tapestries to pay off the enormous gambling debts of the 9th Earl of Coventry’s son.

In 1948, with the sale of Croome Court and its collection looming and an uncertain future for the family, the whole room including its floorboards, chimney piece, ceilings and skirting boards, were cut up, packed into crates and shipped across the Atlantic to America.

The full story is set over two rooms on the ground floor of the house. The first room, which originally displayed the tapestries, is presented as the family would have seen it after the tapestries had been removed with starkly lit panelled walls.

But moving into the next room, originally the Library, the story has a heart-warming conclusion, in a space where visitors are finally confronted with the beauty of the wall hangings.

“We wanted to tell the fascinating story of the tapestries in an engaging and innovative way, hinting at the lost beauty of the room, rather than trying to reproduce it” said Tom Bennett, Croome’s Creative Director.

He added: “We drew on a wide range of source material and expertise, as well as having bespoke furniture made by local cabinet maker Rick Howie and printed fabric panels, in order to both reflect the original style in a modern way.”

Visitors can see the exhibition until the end of May 2016 in Croome Court. Croome is open throughout the year. The park and lakeside are open from 10am until 5.30pm every day and Croome Court is open on weekdays from 11am to 4.30pm (except Tuesdays when it’s closed).

Further details on 01905 370005 or www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome