The Friends of Guy’s Cliffe are a voluntary group, responsible for aiding the preservation of Guys Cliffe House and it’s surrounding property. This essential work helps to ensure the building remains serviceable for it’s purpose and accessible during the rare occasions that the property is opened up to public visitors during the Annual Garden Parties and Heritage Open Days.

Friends of Guy’s Cliffe has within it’s structure representatives from the property owners and like minded eager hard working volunteers, all of whom share a driving passion for the buildings and surrounding property. A main priority and consideration are the matters relating to the preservation of the heritage, working to ensure the property remains for the generations to come. Research into aspects of the heritage and history are continually performed, gaining a greater picture of this unique properties past.

Monetary funding:

The funding required in order to maintain the property comes in part from events such as the aforementioned open days where donations are gratefully received and its own Lottery scheme. Funding internally by the property owners via private events and donations also further enables the preservation work.

For sale by the Friends of Guy’s Cliffe are a range of publications relating to the history of the property together with associated souvenirs which are purchasable at the garden party and heritage open days, these again assist with funding essential to the preservation efforts.

Recently to be made available for purchase online will be the 2010 Guys Cliffe House Calendars, details of which are in the Calendars section

The property within Guys Cliffe House are split into two main sections, the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade 2 Listed Building and the ruins of the main Guys Cliffe House, also a Grade 2 Listed Building, along with the perimeter structures such as the Coach House, Guy’s Cave (also a Scheduled Ancient Monument), Cloisters Cave, Courtyard Caves, Cellars and the Offices.

The Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene now serves as a Masonic Lodge meeting place and is kept in pristine condition befitting of its valuable and cherished heritage. This building as it currently exists was built by Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick around 1423 by wish and grant of his father Thomas de Beauchamp, on the site of a much earlier structure, possibly of wood and stone construction. The chapel had by the 1970’s become dilapidated and thus major restoration work took place to save the structure, it’s features and many of it’s artefacts.

In recent years extensive efforts have been made to remove rubble from parts of the building, in particular from within the ruins of the house. This rubble is mainly the result of the partial collapse of sections many decades ago when the building first became dilapidated. Very little of the internal features within the ruin still exist, having mostly been sold in the 1952 Auction, however occasional glimpses into the old fixtures and fittings are sometimes discovered and preserved.

How you can help:

If you wish to donate directly to ‘Friends of Guys Cliffe’ you may send either a cheque or postal order made out to F.O.G.C. to: Brian Spicer, 13 Red Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 1MZ

* This address should only be used for ‘Friends of Guys Cliffe’ donations, please use our contact form for all enquiries.