Chester House Estate celebrates after awards success

20 October 2022

The team at the Chester House Estate are celebrating after picking up three awards in the past month.

The Estate is a nationally significant heritage site being one of the few places in the country which can demonstrate over 10,000 years of human activity and the recent award success is the latest chapter in the site’s history.

Plus, the success is made even more special as the Estate is approaching its first birthday, since the site underwent an extensive restoration and re-opened to the public at the end of October 2021.

The site secured two awards at the Heritage Forum Annual Awards:

• Best Special Project (completed over five years) for ‘Restoring the Chester House Estate’ 
• The People’s Choice Award - this award was voted for by the public and the Chester House Estate received over 20% of the final vote 

Meanwhile, there was success at the recent Northants Life awards with another award:

• ‘Best day out in Northamptonshire’

The Estate is also a finalist at the Northamptonshire Excellence Awards as ‘Best New Business’, recently won an award for ‘Best Conservation Project’ presented by the Wellingborough Civic Society and next week will receive an award from the CPRE Northamptonshire Town and Country in recognition of the heritage restoration project. 

Cllr Helen Howell, Deputy Leader of Northamptonshire Council and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism (who oversees the site), said: “I am so proud of the team and everything that has been achieved at the Chester House Estate and these three awards really are the icing on the cake, we were up against some tough competition but it is great to get the recognition the Estate and team deserve.  
 
“We know how hard the team have worked, and for us to receive this public recognition is a testament to the Estate. The awards are all down to the leadership, vision, energy and passion of everyone involved and I would like to personally thank our amazing staff and volunteers.  
 
“If you haven’t visited the Chester House Estate yet, I really would encourage you to do and see this award-winning tourist attraction.” 

Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, added: “Since the site opened to the public last October, it has gone from strength to strength, including this recent award success. We are extremely proud of everything that it represents - it is such an important asset, not just for the people of North Northants but also for visitors to the area.”

For more information about the Chester House Estate, including upcoming events and visitor information, visit the Estate’s website or check out the site’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.