HANBURY Hall near Droitwich is already succumbing to election fever, but not over this year’s general election. Instead staff at the National Trust property are getting excited about the 1715 election, which created one of the first modern parliaments, and saw Thomas Vernon, the builder of Hanbury Hall elected as the MP for Worcestershire.

Visitors to the hall will be able to get an idea for the key topics being discussed in the election 300 years ago, and maybe be a little surprised by some of the similarities between those of today, since they included a debate over Scotland, the national debt and war.

The hall will also have one of the two remaining campaign posters from the election, and male visitors will be given the chance to cast their votes for the Whigs or the Tories, or even indulge in a little bribery from the room guides, while female visitors, who wouldn’t have had the vote will be able to use their persuasive powers on their gentlemen friends.

Curator Sarah Kay said: “The 1715 election was one of the first modern parliaments so come along to Hanbury Hall and try out electioneering over three hundred years old.”

As the ‘campaign’ goes on, visitors to the hall will also be able to study the map of Europe in the dining room and re-enact the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 or see a hustings in action as the electioneering move on toward May.

For more information on any of the events, call 01527 821214 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/hanburyhall.