Historic sites welcome record numbers to

More than 840,000 visitors have gone through the doors of the heritage charity’s homes and estates, where visitors pay an entry fee, between March last year and this February – a four per cent increase on the previous year’s figures.

In addition, the Trust’s retail and catering outlets in the region have seen an increase in sales compared with the previous year, with increases of 6 per cent and 3 per cent respectively.

Joanna Royle, head of marketing and supporter development at the National Trust in Yorkshire said: “It can be easy sometimes to forget just what there is on your doorstep waiting to be rediscovered or explored. That’s why we’re absolutely thrilled at the National Trust so many more people came to visit our places in the last year and enjoyed a great day out with us.”

More than half of the Trust’s Yorkshire places have welcomed record numbers of visitors including Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Nostell Priory and Parkland, near Wakefield, Beningbrough Hall and Gardens near York, Treasurer’s House and Goddards Garden in York and East Riddlesden Hall in Keighley.

Nicky Grace, assistant director of operations for the Trust in the Yorkshire said: “We’re delighted to have welcomed nearly 840,000 visitors to our places in the Yorkshire.

“It is really heartening to see that in times of recession people are valuing the enjoyment that days out at Yorkshire places can offer.”

She said the public’s continued support has enabled the National Trust to re-invest income from membership sales, paying visitors and retail and catering sales into conserving the places it looks after.

Kevin Dessoy, property manager at Nostell Priory and Parkland said yesterday: “We’ve genuinely been thrilled to have such record numbers for Nostell.”