Manor has real mass appeal as hundreds flock to celebrate Stevenage landmark’s past and present

The open day also marked the 150th anniversary of the Shephalbury Manor building (Image: Archant)

Hundreds of people made the most of the chance to tour the Shephalbury Manor site on Sunday in an event which marked the historic building’s 150th anniversary

VIP guests were among those who attended a special service at the Cathedral of St George to mark St George’s Day on Thursday, and returned for Sunday to tour the site.

Also there were people who have a connection with the site, including members of the Heathcote family which once lived at the manor and former pupils who were schooled there as Polish refugee children in the immediate postwar years.

So many people were keen to learn more about the building, with displays organised by the team at Stevenage Musuem, and the cathedral that planned hourly tours had to be increased to cope with demand.

Talks about the background of the Coptic Church at the open day (Image: Archant)

The Coptic community has developed the manor over the past 25 years, and in his welcome address church leader Bishop Angaelos said that they considered themselves to be very much a part of Stevenage, of Hertfordshire and of the wider British community.

Former pupils who were at Shephalbury Manor in the 1950s when it was a school for Polish refugee children. Hania Nowak (in red coat) and Marysia Kasyan, who was a member of school support staff. Jan Barczyk, Kris Kasyan (far left, Marysia's son, who was born in Belsen), Kris Piwek, Richard Pruszynski, Michal Konieczko. (Image: Archant)

Bishop Angaelos and the Rev Steven Cooper of St Paul's Methodist Church, Stevenage (Image: Archant)

Mayor of Stevenage Sherma Batson and county lord lieutenant the Countess of Verulam at St George's Coptic Cathedral, Stevenage (Image: Archant)