Editing Sudbury Hall (section)

===National Trust===
Death duties continued to burden the Vernon family, and in 1967, Sudbury Hall and its principal contents along with part of the gardens and parkland, was transferred by John Venables-Vernon, 10th Baron Vernon via the [[National Land Fund]] to the [[National Trust]], in part payment of death duties. The remainder of the Sudbury Estate is still held by Vernon descendants.<ref name="nt-history">{{cite web |title=History of Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/the-childrens-country-house-at-sudbury/history-of-sudbury-hall |website=National Trust |access-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826203503/https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/the-childrens-country-house-at-sudbury/history-of-sudbury-hall|archive-date=26 August 2023 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sudburyestate" />

In 2020 Sudbury Hall closed to the public for renovations, during which the National Trust consulted 100 child "ambassadors" to redesign the visitor experience for children. It reopened in October 2022, rebranded as ''The Children’s Country House at Sudbury'', equipped with a dressing up and dancing area, a mirror ball, a neon sign with the words "Party like it’s 1699", an [[escape room]] experience and humorous [[speech bubbles]] hung next to portraits.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Jessica |title=Ropes come down as National Trust lets children roam free at Sudbury Hall |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/21/national-trust-children-roam-free-sudbury-hall-country-house |website=The Guardian |access-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203093620/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/21/national-trust-children-roam-free-sudbury-hall-country-house |archive-date=3 February 2023 |date=21 October 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The revised visitor experience has been criticised by the Vernon Family; Joanna FitzAlan Howard, daughter of the 10th Baron Vernon accused the National Trust of "[[dumbing down]]" by turning her ancestral home into "a child-centred theme park".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beal |first1=James |title=Sudbury Hall turned into 'theme park' for children |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/c3c0c298-56e9-11ed-a03e-f7ac672386f7 |work=The Times |access-date=27 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827185348/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c3c0c298-56e9-11ed-a03e-f7ac672386f7 |archive-date=27 August 2023 |language=en |date=27 August 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> The National Trust have stated that the new experience offers "new ways for children to learn about the history of Sudbury Hall" and that the speech bubbles inform children about "hidden symbolism in historic portraits".<ref>{{cite news |title=Family's fury as Sudbury Hall turned into children's 'theme park' |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/national-trust-criticised-turning-sudbury-7762426 |access-date=26 August 2023 |work=DerbyshireLive |date=30 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031192130/https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/national-trust-criticised-turning-sudbury-7762426 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Beale |first1=James |last2=Toms |first2=Adam |last3=Hodgkiss |first3=Samuel |title=Ancestors [sic] accuse National Trust of turning hall into children's 'theme park' |url=https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/ancestors-accuse-national-trust-turning-7775780 |website=StaffordshireLive |access-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103080046/https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/ancestors-accuse-national-trust-turning-7775780 |archive-date=3 November 2022 |language=en |date=2 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The changes have also been criticised by the pressure group [[Restore Trust]] for discouraging adult visitors unaccompanied by children, and for removing the house contents to make way for "fun active games and activities".<ref>{{cite web |title=The new 'mansion experience' is coming to Sudbury Hall |url=https://www.restoretrust.org.uk/restore-trust-issues/the-new-mansion-experience-is-coming-to-sudbury-hall |website=Restore Trust |access-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125232750/https://www.restoretrust.org.uk/restore-trust-issues/the-new-mansion-experience-is-coming-to-sudbury-hall |archive-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> In May 2023 the Children’s Country House at Sudbury was awarded Permanent Exhibition of the Year at the Museum and Heritage Awards 2023. Judges expressed the view that the redesign of Sudbury Hall offered a "participatory and imaginative new bold approach to interpreting historic houses and heritage".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Castle |first1=Richard |last2=Butterfield |first2=Gareth |title=Revamped National Trust museum that came under fire wins major award |url=https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/revamped-national-trust-museum-came-8448010 |access-date=27 August 2023 |work=burtonmail |date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521050602/https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/revamped-national-trust-museum-came-8448010 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Permanent Exhibition of the Year – Museums + Heritage Awards |url=https://awards.museumsandheritage.com/awards/2023-winners/permanent-exhibition-23/ |access-date=27 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603115312/https://awards.museumsandheritage.com/awards/2023-winners/permanent-exhibition-23/ |archive-date=3 June 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>