Incredible footage shows spectacular ornate gardens at 13th century West Midlands country house

Incredible aerial footage shows the spectacular ornate gardens fully in bloom at one of England’s grandest Victorian country houses.

Witley Court in the West Midlands is a beautiful mansion that dates back to the 13th century and has been owned by some of the UK’s wealthiest families, where they hosted royalty and threw lavish parties.

The historic grand home in the Worcestershire countryside was once a playground for the Earl and Countess of Dudley and their rich friends - but it fell into ruin after a huge fire in the 1930s. Now in the care of English Heritage, the site - previously dubbed 'the UK’s largest and most spectacular ruin' - can still be visited by the public today offering a striking glimpse into its opulent past.

Birds-eye footage show the scale of the dramatic roofless ruins and their expansive colourful grounds - including its stunning Persian carpet-like shaped gardens. It also boasts the Perseus and Andromeda fountain - regarded as one of Europe’s finest historic water features.

English Heritage workers say the East Parterre is currently enjoying its final flourish of spring bedding before being lifted and replanted for summer in June. Elsewhere, the Rhododendron collection is coming into bloom while vivid pink, purple and red flowering shrubs make up the rest of the impressive display alongside soft pastel tones.

Witley Court was first closely associated with the Foley family for nearly two centuries. The Foleys made their wealth in the iron industry, manufacturing nails. They later abandoned their business and - with their new power - lived as landed aristocrats and politicians.

The house later came into the ownership of William Ward. In the 1850s, as 1st Earl of Dudley, Ward commissioned the architect Samuel Daukes to remodel Witley Court. He then transformed it into what was known as one of the great palaces of Victorian and Edwardian England.

Following the fire, the house and grounds decayed for 40 years before being taken into the care of the Department of the Environment in 1972. Since that point, significant restoration and stabilisation have secured the house as a spectacular ruin still popular with visitors today.