Case studies
04 Oct 2024
by Elizabeth Flight
Long, two story white house set amid greenery on a hillside.
The stunning Portland House in Dorset. (Image: National Trust - Mike Henton)

Why we take part 

Portland House is a very special 1930s property which is not normally open to the public due to it being a popular National Trust holiday home which tends to be booked year-round. To have the opportunity to share the house and its history with visitors is both a privilege and very important to us – we believe in keeping the Portland House story alive and sharing its beauty with the wider public, which could not happen if it just operated as a holiday home all year round. Working in partnership with Heritage Open Days makes this possible. Their encouragement to plan early, excellent communication and recognisable branding makes them easy to work with, and we find the website is clear and user friendly which is great for visitors.

Portland House is a hidden gem, even people living for years just along the road had no idea what lay behind the fence.

Volunteer

2024

What we do for HODs

Following Covid restrictions we carefully managed the number of visitors to Portland House via a booking system but this year we decided to go free-flow, as a result of feedback that lots of people were left disappointed when they could not get hold of tickets. We felt that the size of the house, and the fact that it was designed to be a party house, meant it could tolerate the extra numbers.

On each day we have 1 or 2 members of staff and up to 6 volunteers who rotate through the day. We have a volunteer welcoming visitors, and who also has a counter so we can record the footfall. Other volunteers are located within the house to give information about its history, and then one volunteer will lead a talk on the hour every hour. We also aim to have a representative from our holidays team available at least once over the weekend.

Folded towels and a long fabric sheet with text on it laid atop a double bed in a sunlit room.
New interpretation was printed on fabric and draped over the furniture to engage visitors. (Image: National Trust)

This year for the first time we sold some collectable Portland House pin badges and had a catering concession. We also spent money on additional interpretation which was well received. It was printed onto a lovely fabric and draped over the beds and dining room table. We chose this method as the fabric is easy to store and displaying it does not cause damage to the building, crucially we don’t like printing and handing out leaflets due to our commitment to reducing waste and being conscious about the environment.

Next year we will build on our visitor welcome and add more to the visitor interpretation within the house, doing this in an environmentally conscious way.

I loved my whole visit. A really memorable day and I felt privileged to be able to see such a beautiful property.

Visitor

2024

Working in partnership 

Every year we gather feedback from our visitors and volunteers and look to build and improve on our offer. A request for refreshments was top of the wish list in 2023; to respond to this we ensured we had a catering vehicle on site which was run by a local family and very well received. It was wonderful, to work alongside this local, family team who not only provided our visitors with delicious coffee and cake but who were happy and cheerful all day. Working with an external business who is not National Trust but who share our values was a great experience.

Chairs and tables on a stone flagged terrace with a view out to sea.
The terrace is a perfect spot for enjoying a cuppa, so refreshments were top of the visitor wish list and led to a rewarding local business link. (Image: National Trust - Mike Henton)

The difference it makes

It’s a pleasure for us to be able to invite visitors to Portland House and to do this totally free of charge. Making this a free event means we get to meet so many people and we also get repeat visitors year after year.

I love doing Portland House for several reasons. It's a stunning house in a stunning location, but particularly because it feels like there is a party going on. It was a bit hectic on my day, putting 903 visitors through, but everyone seemed really happy to be there. Many were 'regulars' bagging their favourite chair on the terrace and those who just had to bring relatives to share what they'd seen when they came before. I think Geoffrey Bushby would've approved of the good memories being made in his Party Pad.

Volunteer

2024

We keep a memory book on site because we often meet people who have memories of the property prior to it being taken into the care of the National Trust. The mother and sister of Geoffrey Bushby (the gentleman who built Portland House) lived at property until their death, so we hear stories from people who worked at the property or who can personally remember being there as children and playing in the gardens. It is very special for us to meet these people and record their memories.

Key to our success

The one thing which makes the opening of Portland House so successful is the team of volunteers we have. Many have volunteered at the house for years and know it very well. We like to deliver hourly talks for visitors and these talks have grown longer and richer as the years have progressed due to ongoing research which people do in their own time.  It is entirely down to the dedication of the volunteers that we can provide such a deep and interesting experience to our visitors.

Elizabeth's top tip!

Enjoy the event!

Man stood outside a white building with arched, blue framed windows, on a stone flagged terrace.
One of the amazing team of volunteers who are key to Portland House's success. (Image: National Trust)

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