A GRAND ball held more than 80 years ago is being brought back to life at Croft Castle near Leominster.

Staff at the National Trust property want to recreate part of the Ludlow Hunt Ball in the castle’s dining room and are asking members of the public for help.

The hunt ball took place at Croft manor house on January 14, 1930, by invitation of Lady Katharine Croft and her son Sir James, the 11th baronet.

Eighty-three-years on, the trust is hoping Hereford Times readers can help with photographs of the ball, information on the guests or the Ludlow Hunt in the early 1930s.

An article at the time from the Hereford Times’ sister paper, the Ludlow Advertiser, named some of the 250 guests at the ball.

“We really want to bring the dining room to life and we are so close with lots of snippets of information about what happened here on that evening,” said house steward Victor Chelliah.

“We are hoping that local people who have a connection with Croft may remember their family stories or indeed have a photograph from the time as this is really what we’re missing.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Ana Vaughan on 01568 780246.

The first Croft Castle was built by Bernard de Croft, a Norman knight, in around 1055. Today’s manor house dates back to the 14th century.