Snowshill Manor and Garden in Gloucestershire is celebrating 70 years open in the care of the National Trust with a weekend of music and theatre.

2022 marks 70 years since the National Trust opened the doors of Snowshill Manor to visitors.

The property team are inviting visitors to join in with celebrations marking the occasion on 7 and 8 May, with a weekend of music and theatre in the garden.

John Bassett of Spaniel in the Works Theatre Company returns in the guise of former owner Charles Wade to share the stories of Snowshill, and Jonathan and Claire Darby will evoke the era of the early 1950s with music and sketches from the time.

Charles Wade gifted Snowshill and his collection to the National Trust in 1951, declaring that 'I (have) achieved at Snowshill Manor what I set out to achieve as a very small boy.'

He had spent a lifetime building up his collection of treasured objects and Snowshill was the result of his creativity, time and money. Having seen many prized collections broken up and sold at auction he did not wish this for Snowshill.

In August 1938, he approached the Trust outlining his concerns and asked if they would be interested in owning the property and collection one day.

James Lees-Milne, secretary of the Country House Committee of the National Trust, visited Snowshill soon after. He felt 'so strongly that Snowshill should be safeguarded permanently that we should make every effort for its preservation'. Wade then made a new will leaving Snowshill Manor and its contents to the National Trust.

On 3 May 1952, with the rain pouring down, the National Trust welcomed its first visitors to Snowshill with a ceremony in the manor. Since then, many thousands of visitors have been intrigued and enchanted by Charles Wade's remarkable home.

Kate Groome, operations manager, said: 'We are very excited to be celebrating this milestone in the history of Snowshill. Carrying on Charles Wade's tradition of welcoming visitors to Snowshill and making the place resound again with music and theatre as it did so often in his day.'

There is no additional charge for the weekend event, which takes place between 11am and 4pm on 7 and 8 May 2022, however booking for the manor is recommended. Normal admission prices apply.

Please check the National Trust website for details: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/snowshill-manor-and-garden