English Heritage is proposing to cut opening hours at a number of its properties between 1 November 2011 and 31 March 2012.
The organisation, which has more than 400 sites, is facing a 32% cut to its government grant over the next four years. It plans to introduce weekend-only opening hours at 62 properties that previously opened all week.
The move would affect only properties that charge admission, although Stonehenge and Kenwood House would be exempt from the reduction. Most of the properties in question would still open on weekdays during school holidays.
In addition, English Heritage plans to introduce weekend opening at 14 properties that normally close fully in winter, including Boscobel House in Shropshire and Yarmouth Castle on the Isle of Wight.
A spokesman said: “In light of the reduction in our grant and the savings that we have to make, we believe that this option is the best one.
“It would see more properties open in winter than ever and no sites that are currently open would close.”
According to English Heritage, the proposal to reduce opening hours was in response to statistics showing that only 4% of visitors came in the winter months. A final decision will be taken within three months.
The organisation has already announced that its entire outreach programme will be axed in response to budget cuts.
Meanwhile, English Heritage-run Kenwood House in London is to close for a £3.4m facelift. Work is to start this winter, but the house itself will shut to visitors for more than a year from next summer.
A spokesman said the decision to shut the house fully was taken because the work would have taken up to six years if it had remained partially open. "Inevitably, there will be an impact on retail and hospitality, but compressing the works minimises these losses,” he added.
The organisation, which has more than 400 sites, is facing a 32% cut to its government grant over the next four years. It plans to introduce weekend-only opening hours at 62 properties that previously opened all week.
The move would affect only properties that charge admission, although Stonehenge and Kenwood House would be exempt from the reduction. Most of the properties in question would still open on weekdays during school holidays.
In addition, English Heritage plans to introduce weekend opening at 14 properties that normally close fully in winter, including Boscobel House in Shropshire and Yarmouth Castle on the Isle of Wight.
A spokesman said: “In light of the reduction in our grant and the savings that we have to make, we believe that this option is the best one.
“It would see more properties open in winter than ever and no sites that are currently open would close.”
According to English Heritage, the proposal to reduce opening hours was in response to statistics showing that only 4% of visitors came in the winter months. A final decision will be taken within three months.
The organisation has already announced that its entire outreach programme will be axed in response to budget cuts.
Meanwhile, English Heritage-run Kenwood House in London is to close for a £3.4m facelift. Work is to start this winter, but the house itself will shut to visitors for more than a year from next summer.
A spokesman said the decision to shut the house fully was taken because the work would have taken up to six years if it had remained partially open. "Inevitably, there will be an impact on retail and hospitality, but compressing the works minimises these losses,” he added.
