- Castle receives MEND award through Arts Council England for essential structural repairs
- Project ‘from the motte to the keep’ prioritise work in five key areas
- Funding is for accredited local museums and will help secure castle’s future
Tamworth Borough Council are delighted to announce they have been awarded £1,716,238 from the Arts Council England Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), to allow urgent repairs throughout Tamworth Castle.
In December 2023, Tamworth Castle was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register, following structural investigations carried out in 2023 - 24. Tamworth Borough Council have worked with a CARE; registered structural engineer to develop detailed understanding of the complex and varied structural challenges across the site from the motte to the keep.
The Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), administered by Arts Council England, announced successful funding to 29 accredited museums up and down the country, who will receive a share of almost £25 million to repair and conserve the nation’s historic buildings.
The fund is part of the government’s long-term plan to support local economies, allowing them to grow. It will support capital projects at museums, fund important repairs, and improve the visitor experience with funding awarded from £50,000 to £5 million, to ensure local history has a home for years to come.
The essential castle repairs project ‘from the motte to the keep’, will prioritise five key areas including the dining room and stair tower; the servants chamber bay window, walkway retaining walls and below ground drainage. These areas are in the south and north wing of the castle, the motte and castle perimeter. They currently have severe structural issues that are putting both the castle building and the collections displayed, at risk.
The works consist of repairs to the internal and external masonry, timber structure, plaster work, leaded light windows, cast iron rainwater goods, lead gutters and roofs. There are also below ground drainage works proposed and some minor accessibility improvements.
The total project value is £1,906,933. Arts Council England funding confirmed at £1,716,23 and the remaining match funding £190,695 from Tamworth Borough Council.
The works required for the scheduled monument and Grade 1 listed site, will help towards securing the castle’s future and continue to house the accredited local museum collections.
Councillor Lewis Smith, portfolio holder for people services, engagement and leisure for Tamworth Borough Council, said: “Tamworth Castle is a significant cultural asset. It’s an important resource for our local community and attracts visitors nationally and even worldwide.
“The museum collections range from the Staffordshire Hoard and Anglo-Saxon heritage to social history collections revealing development of the town and its role in UK history.
“We’re delighted to be awarded £1,716,238 from the Museum Estate and Development Fund through the Arts Council and add additional council funds to make urgent repairs throughout our historic building.
“This essential work will make sure our heritage attraction remains safe to the public, allowing our great monument to continue standing proud as a huge part of Tamworth’s rich history.”
Notes:
More details about MEND grants can be found here: Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) Round 4 | Arts Council England.