HISTORIC HOUSES & ISCOYD PARK
AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!
We are so proud to announce that Iscoyd owner Philip Godsal has been appointed as the Chairman of Historic Houses Wales. This not for profit organisation exists to protect a huge range of historic properties ranging from gothic castles and impressive palaces, elegant stately homes and hidden, sleepy, manor houses.
If you weren’t already aware of the work that Historic Houses do then let us tell you more. Historic Houses differs from other historical property organisations such as English Heritage and The National Trust in that it does not own nor control the properties within the organisation. Instead, Historic Houses is democratically run by the representatives of the houses and gardens that the organisation seeks to help and protect and whom in return for representation by the organisation, give its members free access to the houses within its portfolio.
Phil and of course Iscoyd Park have been members of Historic Houses since 2021 and is now very honoured to be appointed the Chairman of Historic Houses Wales.
If your passion is history and historic homes and buildings, then Historic Homes is one for you! Consisting of an association of thousands of independently owned historic houses including stately homes, parks, and gardens throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, Iscoyd is proud to feature along some well known houses such as Inveraray Castle & Gardens, Bodrhyddan Hall, Knebworth House and Burghley House.
Historic Houses exists to support this independently owned heritage, but their wide-ranging work (which stretches from lobbying ministers to offering free technical, commercial, financial and legal advice) is mainly funded by their tens of thousands of visitor members. Without this invaluable member support, the organisation wouldn’t be able to continue the work that they do or provide the extensive support to the owners of these wonderful history imbued buildings.
And it’s not just the current owners that they support either; the Organisation also runs its ‘Next Generation’ campaign offering a series of events and lectures aimed specifically at those who may one day succeed to a property, to prepare them for what they’re set to take on.
Many of these historic houses are owned by individuals and families – like Phil and Susie – or by small charitable trusts, and educational institutions. Their independence makes them diverse and can make it hard for them to be heard and to find the expertise and money they need to keep these wonderful places going. Historic Houses helps to protect these places through representation and research, advice and guidance, and marketing and membership.
And this is where you can help too. By joining forces with Historic Houses and becoming a member you can play a vital part in helping to protect these wonderful buildings for the future.
A Historic Houses membership permits free entry in participating properties, a copy of the “Historic House” magazine sent four times a year as well as special access to exclusive tours not available to non-members.
Membership is valid for 12 months from purchase and also includes an annual handbook which lists all the places that offer members free entry, plus all those that offer charged pre-booked tours, and those in which you can stay overnight. In short, the Historic Houses membership card gives free access to more mansions than any other pass or membership available from other providers. Now that’s what we call good value!
Current membership fees for Historic Houses start at £65.00 for a single membership and £103.00 for a double membership. If you plan to visit more than a few historic houses in Britain, Historic Houses membership will quickly pay for itself and better still you’ll have made happy memories and discovered lots of hidden gems to boot.
We have been lucky enough to be given a discount code by Historic Houses especially for our readers which you can use when signing up for a membership or even gifting one to a loved one. Simply type the code ISCO85 when signing up to qualify for this wonderful offer. In doing so you’ll be supporting us here at Iscoyd too as the organisation will make a matching donation to us for each membership that is fulfilled.
We hope we have inspired you to join and we can’t wait to welcome you back to Iscoyd and to hear the stories about other beautiful buildings you may have visited too.
All our Iscoyd love xxx
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