English Heritage (EH) has revealed a £2.5m development programme to transform Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire.
The proposals to develop the castle – which attracts around 95,000 visitors a year – have four main parts. These focus on the restoration of the castle’s original Elizabethan garden; construction of a new timber-framed visitor admissions building; completing the renovation of Leicester’s Gatehouse and the creation of a permanent exhibition within the Gatehouse exploring the history of the site.
English Heritage has discussed the plans with Kenilworth Town Council and a number of other interested parties over the past few months while a team of Polish garden archaeologists visited the site in late September to examine the garden area with 3D laser scanner technology.
Experts at English Heritage believe that, with further art historical and horticultural research, they will be able to successfully reconstruct the original Elizabethan garden.
Work will begin in the summer of 2006 with a target public opening date of Easter 2007. An extensive outreach programme is also being planned to engage both school children and interested members of the public throughout the restoration.
EH’s visitor operations director for the West, Loraine Knowles, said: “Kenilworth has substantial unrealised potential to contribute to the local community and to promote understanding and enjoyment of history.” Details: www.english-heritage.org.uk