I’ve lived in Knebworth a long time, but I have never seen the Watchman’s Tower of Knebworth House look as good as it looks this morning. For as long as I have known it, it has always looked unloved and crumbling. Of course it’s never been the former, but it has always been the latter. It’s simply that there’s always been more important worries regarding the masonry of Knebworth House. And in truth there still are. But sometimes it’s worth focusing on an individual project and making some visible progress. It’s good for the spirit.
So, on behalf of the The Knebworth House Education and Preservation Trust charity, a big thank you to all who have added their support to make the Watchman’s Tower renovation possible, especially Historic England, the Country Houses Foundation and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The scaffolding came down yesterday, and the results are to marvel at.
The Watchman’s Tower at Knebworth House ~ Before and After
Only the exterior is viewable for the moment – we have to wait until the oak from Knebworth Woods dries before the internal staircase can be recreated later in the year – but I do encourage you to come and admire the work. And what better day to do that than our Parish Open Day on Sunday 24th March. Admission to the Park, Gardens and House will be free to everyone with a copy of the Parish News magazine (or proof that they live in the Parish). Enter the Park via Old Knebworth, and the gate at St Mary’s – the only entrance for Parish Open Day – and there it will be, in all its splendidness, on your left… the Watchman’s Tower.
Henry Lytton Cobbold
@HenryCobboldKH