Treasure Days
14 & 15 May - 11 & 12 June
10 & 11 September -  1 & 2 October

Come and enjoy all that glitters at Shugborough on the estate’s specially selected treasure weekends.

Over the course of the themed weekends we’ll be bringing treasures out of store in the mansion house and revealing the riches behind the doors of some of our glass cases.

The servants’ quarters, farm, gardens and walled garden will each focus on something special from spices worth more than gold in Victorian times, tea that was kept under lock and key or specimen plants and plant hunters. For youngsters there’ll be treasure hunts and quizzes.

Best of all, the activities scheduled as part of our 'Treasure Days' are inluded FREE along with your standard day admission.

Activities run throughout the day - 11am until 5pm
Buy your day entry tickets for our 'Treasure Days' in advance and save money.  Call our Box Office on 0845 459 8900.

In the House – Open Sesame theme

• For the first time ever glimpse into the Earl’s private bathroom. The bathroom –part of the master bedroom suite - is officially closed until next year, but is being especially opened this weekend as one of Shugborough’s hidden treasures. The room boasts distinctly seventies wallpaper and the unique tiles bear the famous LL (Lord Lichfield) logo.
• We will also be opening up the cases and doors of some of most prized artefacts. Usually visitors to stately homes see beautiful pieces of furniture with the doors, drawers and table leaves closed up and yet sometimes the insides of these pieces are just as fascinating as the outsides.  Look inside the Oriental travelling cases – where tea was locked away from the servants’ hands. See the stunning woodwork inside our beautiful Louis XV bureau  – the rich pattern and colour of the wood inside this piece is breath-taking. Take a closer look at our mahogany wine coolers and peer inside the hot cupboard – an early 20th century addition which meant that food for the family could be warmed up after its 200ft trip from the kitchen
• See our Regency card tables folded out for the first time in the Garden Room and peer into the window cabinet in the Anson Room which Patrick Lichfield adapted to house his cassette collection
• Children - follow our treasure trail through the mansion house and find out more about our stunning artefacts

In the Servants’ Quarters – the Treasure of Tea theme

• Find out about how tea was more highly prized than gold and how the housekeeper would keep it locked away. Learn how every ounce of tea was carefully measured out and recorded in a ledger.
• Learn about the do’s and don’ts of proper tea etiquette – from making sure the spout of a teapot faces the hostess to never sticking your pinkie finger out from the handle.
• In the Victorian kitchen, the Victorian cook will be cooking afternoon tea delights across the weekend including Bleeding Hearts, Ladies Fingers and Victoria Sponge.
• We will also be demonstrating how to make tea in a teapot as well as displaying tea related artefacts from the Staffordshire Heritage and Arts collection.
• Find out more about the history of some great British institutions in the Victorian laundry – the history of the tea towel and the tea cosy. 

At the Farm – Sunday Best theme

• Sunday best theme with mannequin in historic costume in the parlour
• Craft activity for children – printing activity
• Children’s quiz – spot the mistake
• Table laid for Sunday tea
• Find out more about Sunday best traditions