Bedroom at historic Bridgnorth home renamed in honour of Margaret Thatcher stay
A bedroom renamed in honour of Baroness Thatcher will be unveiled at one of Bridgnorth's most historic homes next week – where the lady herself once spent the night.
The Thatcher Bedroom, in the Gatehouse, at Upton Cressett Hall, will be opened to the public for the first time on May 6.
William Cash, owner of Upton Cressett Hall, said the renaming honoured the two-day visit the former Prime Minister made to the gatehouse with her husband Sir Denis in 1995.
He said: "I wasn't actually around at Upton Cresset when Lady Thatcher came to stay as I was living in Los Angeles at the time.
"But I did have tea with her in her private office after my father, Bill Cash, was elected to the House of Commons at a by-election in 1984.
"The family had gone to see my father on his first day as an MP in Parliament and we were suddenly ushered into a room, where Mrs Thatcher started pouring our cups of tea for us all.
"She and my father went on to become very close over the years, especially in the years after she was Prime Minister.
"They often held private meetings together to discuss the future of Europe and there was always a Christmas card," he said.
Mr Cash said Lady Thatcher's visit followed others by such distinguished guests including King Edward V – one of the Princes in the Tower – and King Charles I.
He said: "Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Commander of the Royalist troops in the Civil War, hid in the Gatehouse, as did King Charles I .
"More recently, the likes of Boris Johnson, Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne have all stayed. But of all 20th century visits, the visit of former Prime Minister Lady Thatcher stands out as a truly historic moment for Upton Cressett."
Upton Cressett Hall and Gatehouse will be opening on Bank Holiday Monday from 2-5pm.
Mr Cash will be giving tours of the Grade I Listed Elizabethan manor and the new Thatcher Bedroom in the Gatehouse, from 2.30-3.30pm. Admission to the grounds and a guided tour costs £7.50 or £7 for senior citizens and tea and cake will be served in the Great Hall Dining Room.
The nearby Grade I listed Norman church will also be open to visitors.
The hall is open every Wednesday and Sunday, from 2-5pm, and on bank holidays, until September 1. Mr Cash said: "We are looking for a small number of dedicated, paid tour guides to work on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons for the 2013 season.
"Anyone interested must enjoy public speaking and have an interest in Shropshire history."
