THE once magnificent grounds and gardens surrounding the country seat of one of the richest families in Britain could be restored to their former splendour, if a bid for Lottery cash is successful.

The ambitious project seeks to turn the clock back on the extensive grounds and gardens at Hewell Grange, Tardebigge, which for four centuries, until just after World War II when the estate was broken up and sold, was the home of the Earls of Plymouth.

Successive earls have left their mark on the landscape which surrounds the two mansions, the earliest of which dates from the 16th century.

Today, the elegant Victorian Grange is an open prison.

The Plymouths were leading members of the aristocracy and at one time owned 37,000 acres of land across five counties of England.

They employed the foremost designers and landscapers of the day to create a 13-acre lake and a series of "national" gardens, as well as a walled garden some way from the grange.

The garden can be seen alongside the main Bromsgrove to Redditch road, which kept the grange supplied with produce and flowers.

Details of the project and the family's history was the subject of this year's Bromsgrove lecture, which was held at Routh Hall, Bromsgrove School last Thursday.

The speaker was Hazel Fryer, a garden historian and landscape architect and also the director of Parklands Consortium Ltd of Warwickshire.

She was welcomed by Graham Reddie MBE, president of the Bromsgrove Society which organises the annual event.

Her practice is carrying out a survey of Hewell Grange for English Heritage prior to making the Lottery bid later this month.

She said the first task will be to restore the great lake designed by "Capability" Brown, its inlet and outlet bridges and the dam.

This will be followed by the restoration of the ruin of the original mansion and the walled garden with its watercress bed and facilities for growing exotic fruits.