Press Releases
Keelys Acts for Tutbury Castle
Lesley Smith, curator and director of Tutbury Castle Ltd appears as its famous prisoner, Mary Queen of Scots with Marc Harvey of Keelys LLP who negotiated a new lease with its landlord, the Duchy of Lancaster.
The Lichfield office of law firm Keelys LLP has acted for Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire in negotiating a new lease with its landlord, the Duchy of Lancaster.
Marc Harvey of Keelys’ Commercial Property department advised the current tenants, curator and TV personality Lesley Smith and Wendy Brown, on terms for the lease on the 11th century Castle which forms part of the Needwood Estate.
The terms were successfully negotiated with the Duchy of Lancaster and the lease was completed within a four week period.
Commenting on the transaction, Marc Harvey says:
"We were delighted to work with the tenants in agreeing the lease terms of this beautiful and historic building. Since becoming curator at Tutbury Castle in 2000 Lesley Smith has has presided over a very large increase in visitor numbers. We wish her and Wendy Brown every success in making Tutbury Castle an even bigger visitor attraction over the coming years."
Tutbury Castle, renowned for being the place where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned is the popular venue for events such as ghost hunts, historical speakers, fairs, lunches, school visits and weddings.
In addition to being the curator at Tutbury Lesley Smith is a TV personality whose appearances include being the resident historian on Most Haunted Live and presenter of Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders. She is also a medical historian and has a particular interest in the lives of women in the late 16th century.