25 June 2019

Althorp House opens doors in support of Redwings!

Althorp House in Northamptonshire, the ancestral home of the Spencer family, will be holding an exciting new Animals of Althorp exhibition during their House Opening season this summer, and £1 from every ticket purchased online with the dedicated code REDWINGS will be donated to Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

Home to one of Europe’s finest private collections of furniture, art and ceramics, the new Animals of Althorp exhibition takes guests on an intriguing tour of the historic House’s lesser-known residents.

Visitors can explore an interesting collection of artefacts situated in the Stables Courtyard, fittingly once home to the Spencer Family horses and children can enjoy a trail through Althorp House, highlighting key exhibition pieces through the House’s State Rooms including a number of original portraits, artworks and antiques. Online tickets cost £18.50 per adult, £16 for seniors and students and £11 for children. £1 from every ticket purchased online (https://spencerofalthorp.com/visit/#tickets) using code REDWINGS will be donated to Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

The exhibition includes a pastel likeness of Diana, Princess of Wales’ beloved cat Marmalade, drawn by renowned Polish society artist Aniela Pawlikowska. Another highlight includes a portrait of Margaret Georgiana (Countess Spencer), and Georgiana Spencer, her daughter (later Duchess of Devonshire) painted by portrait artist and family friend, Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), which features their beloved pet dog. Some incredible equestrian paintings including a stallion called Romulus and Scapeflood, both by the inimitable George Stubbs are also featured. A must-see for jewellery enthusiasts, the exhibition also features an exquisite pearl, gold, diamond, enamel and amethyst spaniel design fob – this would have been a fashionable men’s accessory dating to the time of the 3rd Earl Spencer, circa 1840.

Earl Spencer has given his approval of this initiative, saying “Althorp has a strong equestrian tradition, dating from the first years my family settled here in the sixteenth century. Our magnificent Palladian Stables would once have held over a hundred horses and forty grooms, and now host an exhibition celebrating the relationship between the Spencer Family and the animals who have lived alongside us for hundreds of years – ‘Animals of Althorp’. I am delighted that Althorp will partner with Redwings this summer, a charity that holds animal welfare very much at its heart.”

Redwings Oxhill in Warwickshire is less than an hour's drive away and from Althorp so why not make a day of it with the family and pay a visit to both sites? Our visitor centre is open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am to 4pm, and entry is free.

Redwings Chief Executive Lynn Cutress said: “We are absolutely thrilled and so thankful for this amazingly kind support from Althorp, and we wish them every success with what promises to be a fascinating exhibition.”

The Animals of Althorp exhibition can be enjoyed during Althorp’s House Opening season, taking place between 1st July and 31st August*, with opening between 12 noon and 5 pm. There will be a special Children’s Week with additional activities between 24^th and 30^th August as well as a Craft Fair packed with crafting workshops, activities and shopping opportunities on 9^th August to 11^th August.

Althorp has a café and gift shop on-site and picnics are more than welcome in the dedicated woodland outdoor dining area. Tickets – including entry to the new Animals of Althorp exhibit, the grounds and state rooms – are available online now. Use code REDWINGS to ensure Redwings receives a donation from your visit: https://spencerofalthorp.com/visit/#tickets

*Althorp will be closed to the public on Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th and Sunday 21st July 2019