- Tamworth Castle to submit funding bid for conservation repairs and maintenance
- Working to preserve Tamworth’s heritage
- Fully open for visitors with exciting events, encampments, re-enactments and more planned
Investigative work continues at Tamworth castle to inform future conservation and repairs programme.
Tamworth Borough Council to submit substantial funding bid to help preserve Tamworth’s iconic heritage building.
Last year, Tamworth Borough Council successfully completed a conservation repairs project, costing just under half a million pounds, to part of Tamworth Castle’s external curtain wall, west rampart, plus reroofing of a passageway.
Following this work, which saw a time capsule of local treasures built into the wall for future generations, further proactive conservation management activity commenced to inform the future castle conservation and repairs programme.
Since early December 2023, Historic England have funded a key project for drainage CCTV surveys and investigations by specialist conservation structural engineers to inform a future programme of repairs to preserve the 900-year-old scheduled monument. This has involved work around the entrance to the building, throughout the interior and the motte.
Tamworth Borough Council is working closely with Historic England to develop the conservation programme as work continues to preserve this local treasure and it’s enjoyment for future generations.
In developing a phased programme of repairs, full consideration will be taken to carry out works in a planned and considered way, where possible taking the stance of minimal intervention to protect the historic fabric of the castle. Any work will obviously be visible and at times there may reduced access to parts of the building; every effort will be made to reduce and minimise disruption.
A full assessment of work is being used to inform a funding bid to; if the bid is successful, the next stage of planned conservation and repairs could start from April 2025 or sooner. Bid is expected to be submitted summer 2024.
Andrew Barratt, Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council said:
“Our castle is around 900 years old, and conservation repairs and maintenance are always necessary on a building such as Tamworth Castle.
“As Tamworth Borough Council we take our role as the current custodians of this historic building seriously. After successfully completing a significant piece of work last year to the curtain wall, we’ve continued to act to plan the next phase of preservation work.
“We’re working closely with Historic England and are hopeful that our funding bid will be a success.”
The full programme of works and timetable will be developed in due course in partnership with Historic England, and when appropriate we will seek scheduled monument consent with Historic England.
Tamworth Castle remains fully open for visitors, and there is a jam-packed programme of activities, events and new exhibitions to unveil planned for the rest of the year, including a summer long dragon festival inside the castle. See the castle website at www.tamworthcastle.co.uk and Tamworth Castle social media pages to keep up to date with activities and events.