Easter weekend is normally one of the busiest for those country houses that open as attractions. Places that target family groups will often advertise special events, such as Easter egg hunts or cream teas. If the weather is kind – which cannot be guaranteed for an event that could in theory fall as early as late March – then large crowds can normally be expected. Mothers’ Day can also be another occasion that brings out lots of groups, to visit gardens or to enjoy a family meal. Mothers’ Day on Sunday 22 March 2020, however, was an unusually muted affair. A few days earlier, the British prime minister had announced that cafes, restaurants, and pubs must close their doors because of the growing numbers of cases of a new coronavirus, Covid-19. A day later, on Monday 23 March, large parts of the economy ground to a halt as the first government-mandated nationwide lockdown was announced.

At the time, most hoped that such measures might only be needed for a matter of weeks. Things did not quite turn out this way. Three national lockdowns followed, each lasting several months. The period from March 2020 to early 2023 saw an unprecedented level of state intrusion into private life and activity. All sectors of the economy suffered, but the hospitality and attractions sectors were hit harder than most. Every time new public health measures were introduced in response to sudden surges in case numbers, social events such as wedding celebrations were hit with especially tight controls. At one point, the only type of wedding that could take place involved no more than six people, with no celebratory event of any kind afterwards. Symbolising the effect such measures had, the British monarch was photographed attending the funeral service of her late husband in 2021, sitting alone and isolated in the pews of the chapel at Windsor Castle.

Those country houses that depended for their income on wedding events, or on income from tourist visits, faced horrendous business conditions. Although the government moved swiftly to provide emergency incomes for millions of workers now no longer able to work, the medium- to longer-term financial outlook was bleak.