Croft Castle, connected to the Croft family since the time of the Domesday Book (1085) was saved from demolition in 1956 and handed over to the National Trust in 1957 by Michael 2nd Lord Croft (1916–1997) with help from his sister Diana (1912–1999), wife of the artist and writer Fred Uhlman and Owen Croft's widow. Michael Croft's father had unexpectedly inherited Croft from a cousin Sir James Croft (1907–1941), 11th Bt. Many of Michael Croft's collection of modern paintings were sold in 2002 but the painting by the artist he patronised on his arrival in Britain in 1938, Oskar Kokoschka's 'Prague, Nostalgia', was left to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art as well as others given to The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. More pictures were accepted in lieu of tax on his estate in 1997 and transferred to the National Trust. The Gainsborough portrait of Elizabeth Cowper, Lady Croft, was bought by Edward Croft-Murray, Diana Uhlman and Lord Craigmyle and belongs to the Croft Trust. Other paintings continue to be lent by Lord Croft's son and daughter-in-law. The portrait of Michael Croft painted by Oskar Kokoschka in 1939 is on view at Croft, as are the complete set of aquatints of Thomas Johnes's Hafod estate in Wales by J. C. Stadler from the watercolours by John 'Warwick' Smith of 1809.

Photo credit: National Trust Images/Robert Morris

National Trust, Croft Castle is managed by National Trust
National Trust is an Art UK Founder Partner
National Trust, Croft Castle
Yarpole, near Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 9PW England
croftcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk
01568 780246
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croftcastlePlease remember to double-check the opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit
-
24 May 2022
RT @NTmidlands: We've got a mild dose of wisteria hysteria - surrounded as we are by beautiful purple flowers. Have you got wisteria near y...
National Trust
National Trust artworks can also be found at these venues
More information-
National Trust Collections
London
-
National Trust Collections at Harvington Hall
Kidderminster
-
-
National Trust, A la Ronde
Exmouth
-
-
National Trust, Aberdeunant
Llandeilo
-
National Trust, Acorn Bank
near Penrith
-
National Trust, Anglesey Abbey
Cambridge
-
National Trust, Antony
Torpoint
-
National Trust, Ardress House
Portadown
-
-
National Trust, Ascott
near Leighton Buzzard
-
National Trust, Ashdown House
Newbury
-
National Trust, Attingham Park
near Shrewsbury
-
National Trust, Avebury Manor
near Marlborough
-
National Trust, Baddesley Clinton
Baddesley Clinton
-
National Trust, Barrington Court
near Ilminster
-
National Trust, Basildon Park
Reading
-
-
- View all 213