Visitors to Hever Castle in Kent have helped raise more than £13,000 for the British Red Cross, the Castle’s Charity of the Year for 2022.

The historic attraction fundraised for the charity from March until November – visitors were able to add a donation when they booked a ticket online and make donations throughout the year via collection pots on site, with £13,714.05 raised in total.

The partnership with the charity is part of a long-running association. Former owners of the Castle, the Astors, had a strong affiliation – Lady Irene Astor was a president of the British Red Cross, and on display in the Astor Suite of the Castle is a photograph of her and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. William Waldorf Astor is also said to have donated $100,000 to the charity during WWI.

Claire Battersby, Senior Regional Fundraiser at the British Red Cross says: ‘‘We are incredibly grateful to Hever Castle for their wonderful support. At a significant time for British Red Cross, Hever have been there to support us to enable us to continue our work, whether it is here in Kent, elsewhere in the UK, or in countries like Ukraine and Pakistan who have so desperately needed our support this year. Thanks to Hever, we can be there when a crisis happens, whether it is a house fire, floods or supporting refugees as they arrive in the country. Hever Castle and the British Red Cross have strong historical links and it has been a pleasure to work together. A huge thank you to all of the staff and visitors for helping to raise this phenomenal amount.”