£1.7 million to be spent on "vital" repairs to 900 year old Essex castle
Repairs will be carried out to Colchester Castle's roof
“Vital” roof repairs will be carried out to an Essex castle dating back more than 900 years, costing almost £1.7million. Colchester Castle will see the investment after the Colchester City Council agreed to spend £400,000 on the project.
The Government will contribute a £1,293,625 grant for the works, which are expected to be completed later this year. The council says the project will “tackle long-standing” damp issues, repair stonework on the north-west tower, and carefully repair restore areas of the Castle “to help protect” the landmark for future generations.
Construction of the castle began in 1076 and the Normans built the castle over the ruined Roman Temple of Claudius, built when Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain. The works are being carried out with expert guidance from Historic England to make sure ‘everything is done sensitively and in keeping with the Castle’s historic fabric’, according to the council.
A spokesperson for Colchester City Council said: “We are delighted to be moving ahead with vital roof works at Colchester Castle, totalling £1.693 million. This project is supported by a £1,293,625 MEND grant, alongside a £400,000 contribution from the council’s capital works programme.
“The works are scheduled for completion later this year and will protect the Castle for decades to come. Completion will also allow for the removal of the Heras fencing along the north wall, improving the experience for visitors and residents alike. MEND is a Department for Culture, Media and Sport fund administered by Arts Council England.”
By the 13th century Colchester Castle was in use as a prison and at times many hundreds of prisoners of war were confined here in appalling conditions. Subsequently, the castle took on its current role as a museum for archaeological treasures, beginning life as a museum over 150 years ago in 1860.