English Heritage will re-open these four Yorkshire properties in July

They have informed staff and volunteers that Brodsworth Hall near Doncaster, Mount Grace Priory near Northallerton, Scarborough Castle and Whitby Abbey are among 29 priority sites across the country that will re-open on Saturday July 4 in line with government indications.

Several properties will remain closed until further notice, including Conisbrough Castle, Burton Agnes Hall, Howden Minster, Clifford's Tower in York, the Fountains Abbey ruins, Helmsley Castle, Middleham Castle, Pickering Castle, Richmond Castle, and York Cold War Bunker.

Around 200 free-to-enter outdoor sites are already accessible again.

English Heritage chief executive Kate Mavor said in an email to staff: "This is the first step on a long road to resuming operations. Careful and detailed planning is taking place on a site-by-site basis to determine what facilities we will be able to offer our visitors and the social distancing measures that will be in place to keep everyone safe when each site re-opens.

"Alongside this, detailed workforce planning is underway to establish, at each site, the numbers of employees and volunteers that we will need to safely open the sites and the roles that will be required, day by day, to facilitate a great, but safe, visitor experience. We’re also carefully considering the size of the workforce we will need during this phased re-opening period to support the preparations for opening and then the on-going operations."

The charity has also suffered 'substanstial' financial losses since mid-March. Around 90 per cent of employees were furloughed and will remain so until July 31.