Putting on a show at ShugboroughThe Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire has created a lively line-up of exhibitions and events for the new season, which officially got under way on Friday, March 21st.

Much more than a stately home, the Staffordshire County Council-run Shugborough is the nation’s most complete working historic estate and offers a fun-packed family day out and a chance to travel back to a bygone age.

Set in 900 acres of stunning parkland and riverside gardens the elegant mansion house, working Victorian servants’ quarters and Georgian farm, dairy & mill are brought to life by costumed characters who share their stories from the past.

But one of the major advantages of visiting somewhere like Shugborough is the opportunity to time that visit with an exhibition, or a special event. And for 2014, highlights include the following four exhibitions: ‘Life on the Eve of War’, which is set to run from March 21st to October 24th; ‘Enjoy Art’ from April 12th to May 5th; ‘Lichfield’s Iconic Women’ from July 19th to August 31st; and ‘Shugborough: The Broken Bits’ from September 6st-30th.

Joining the commemoration of the start of World War I, ‘Life on the Eve of War’ focuses on the golden age of the stately home - immediately before the outbreak of war, and just before estates across the land lost their Downton-style grandeur. Visitors to the exhibition can relive the lives of those involved through photographs, letters, and other objects, each with their own story to tell. The exhibition focuses on the Anson family, who lived at Shugborough, and their servants in the period leading up to the outbreak of war, and during the first months of the conflict. The exhibition also helps to explain how things changed from August 11th, 1914, when the call went out for volunteers to join one of the most devastating conflicts in history.

‘Enjoy Art’, meanwhile, is a selling exhibition, featuring Staffordshire’s finest artists who have brought their work together for an Easter-time show, from April 12th to May 5th. The display of works is based within Lord Lichfield’s private cinema room, which he created within his apartments in Shugborough’s magnificent Mansion House. Entry to the exhibition is included with the price of admission.

Another highlight of the year is a summer-time exhibition of work by the world renowned photographer Patrick Lichfield. ‘Lichfield’s Iconic Women’ will be staged in the private cinema room from July 19th to August 31st, and will feature images of some of the world’s most famous, inspirational and iconic women.

One of the most unusual, and much anticipated exhibitions at Shugborough this year, however, will be ‘Shugborough: The Broken Bits’, set to be held in the cinema room from September 6th to 30th.

The Shugborough stores hold a wealth of items which never see the light of day - simply because they're broken. For the first time ever, this exhibition displays a wealth of beautiful but damaged artefacts from the stores - many never seen before and many have been broken for decades or even centuries. The Broken Bits exhibition highlights the work of Staffordshire County Council to preserve the collections at Shugborough and to undergo an ongoing conservation repair programme of their most important items.

Visit http://www.shugborough.org.uk/Events/Events.aspx for a complete listing of all of the events and exhibitions planned for The Shugborough Estate during 2014.

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For further information, and photo-opportunities, please contact:Corinne CaddyTel: 01889 881388E-mail: corinne.caddy@staffordshire.gov.uk