Wood Norton, Evesham

History

The exiled French Duc d’Aumale purchased the estate as a hunting lodge in 1872. On his death, the estate was passed to his great-nephew – Louise-Phillippe-Robert, Duc d’Orleans. In 1879 Duc d’Orleans converted the hunting lodge into the Hall that stands today to base the Bourbon-d’Orleans family.

In 1907 the royal wedding of Duc d’Orleans’ sister, Princess Louise, and Prince Charles of Bourbon took place, the main ceremony being held at Wood Norton Hall. The Orleans family lived at Wood Norton until they returned to France in 1912 and the Hall was sold to a series of private owners.

Wood Norton was bought by the BBC in 1939 so it could relocate its operations away from London in the event of hostilities. A dozen studios were quickly erected and by 1940 Wood Norton was one of the largest broadcasting centres in Europe with an average output of 1,300 programmes a week.

After the war, Wood Norton became the home of the BBC Engineering and Training Department, now branded the BBC Academy. It was used for a lot of location filming, including many Doctor Who series in the 1970s.

Wood Norton became a listed building in 1994 and the Hall itself was sold off by the BBC in 2000 and converted into a private hotel and conference centre. The hotel finally ceased trading in 2010 due to financial problems. It was bought by a private British investor and opened in October 2012.
The BBC retains its Technical and Operational Training centre in the extensive grounds.

Food & beverage

Dining is another great reason for visiting The Wood Norton!

The Bar at The Wood Norton is the hub of the hotel. Overlooking the formal garden, The Bar is an eclectic mix of colour and design, complete with a specially commissioned pewter bar. From the first coffee in the morning, perhaps a rustle through the papers or catching up with friends for a light lunch - treating the family to traditional afternoon tea, or enjoying an early evening cocktail before dinner.  

Why not try the Rosette Award Winning A La Carte Menu, made using the finest local ingredients and supporting local producers. Alternatively, the Brasserie Menu offers a range of contemporary and classic dishes.

Grounds & Gardens

English Heritage was commissioned to design and build a classic French garden for The Wood Norton to meet the needs as a luxury hotel and wedding venue. They have created a beautiful maturing garden which is sensitive to the existing French architecture and history.

Also, nearby there is a 13-acre activity field which is available for hire. Please enquire about arranging any activities such as Clay Pidgeon Shooting, Hot Air Ballooning, Archery or other activities. 

Other facilities

There is complimentary Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel, please enquire at reception for the password.

The Smiths’ Studio Gym is open from 07.00hrs to 22.00hrs daily and comes equipped with multiple cardio and weight machines as well as free weights.

A fantastic new addition, the Games room is complete with a Pool Table, Xbox, PS4, Nintendo Wii and BT Sport.