Plumpton Rocks is finally set to open to the public in March 2022 after several years of restoration works and investment of £700,000.
When people visit the site near Harrogate they will notice improved paths and dam as well as plenty more spaces and historic buildings to explore.
They will also notice that it is open more often. Rather than just weekends, it will be open for around 250 days in the year.
Robert de Plumpton Hunter, who inherited Plumpton Rocks from his father in 2010, has overseen a major turnaround in the attraction’s outlook.
More areas are now open to explore.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“To have an opening date of March 2022 is a great relief. Plumpton Rocks is now truly a place worth shouting about.
“The help we have had has been revolutionary. I never thought in my wildest dreams that we could do all of this work.
“My family are well-connected to Plumpton Rocks, it feels like it is in my DNA. The place has a great history which we are now able to play up to.”
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A major catalyst for change came when Historic England added it to the “Heritage at Risk Register” in 2012.
In order to make much-needed improvements, Plumpton Rocks closed in 2013 for three years and in 2018 for two and a half years.
The time closed, as well as major investment from Mr Hunter, Historic England, Natural England and the Historic Houses Foundation has made a significant difference.
Not only did Historic England take Plumpton Rocks off its “Heritage at Risk Register” earlier this year but it also now closely resembles the 18th century sketches of JMW Turner.
Plumpton Rocks restoration timeline
- 2012 – Heritage England puts Plumpton Rocks on the Heritage at Risk register
- 2013 – Plumpton Rocks closes for restoration of lake, dam and parkland
- 2016 – Plumpton Rocks reopens after works
- October 2019 – Plumpton Rocks closes for dam improvements
- December 2019 – Dam improvements paused after poor weather
- March 2020 – Dam improvement works due to restart but pandemic restrictions begin
- October 2020 – Dam improvements restart
- January 2021 – Dam improvements completed
- March 2022 – Plumpton Rocks due to reopen after several years of works
