Nottingham Castle will get almost £14m to turn it into a modern tourist attraction of international interest and ‘make it more than a day trip’.
The grant decision was announced this morning at an event led by Robin Hood actor Tim Pollard on the 1000 year-old site.
The £13.9m from the Heritage Lottery Fund will go towards the Nottingham Castle Transformation Project, which will fund improvements designed to attract 400,000 visitors each year.
It’s hoped that this will help make Nottingham a tourist destination for longer trips of up to a few days, rather than an afternoon or day visit, according to City Councillor Dave Trimble.
“We want to be bringing hundreds of thousands of people through these gates a year- we want lots of kids, we want schools coming in, we want parents to bring their kids and we want the kids to drag their parents back time and time again,” he said.
“We have day visitors, we have overnight visitors, what we really want in Nottingham is to have weekend visitors, long weekend visitors.
“That brings jobs, it brings prosperity and it brings spending money into the city.”
The changes will include a new visitor centre, galleries dedicated to Robin Hood and an adventure play area for children.
There will also be a ‘road train’ that transports visitors from Brewhouse Yard to the castle.
The entire project should cost around £29.4m, with the rest of the money being raised by the city council, taxpayers and the Nottingham Castle Trust.
But Wednesday’s announcement is seen as key to unlocking cash for the rest of the project, which is now all but certain to go ahead.
Ted Cantle, chairman of the trust said: “We have successfully raised almost 50 per cent of our £3m target and we will now approach a mixture of trusts and foundations, individuals and national and local companies to complete our task, with the confidence that the HLF approval gives us.”
Work is expected to be complete by 2020.
The Council has also promised better access to the castle’s caves system, with an improved experience of both them and the Brewhouse Yard Cottages, which currently house the Museum of Nottingham Life.
The ducal palace galleries are also being remodelled, with the inclusion of a Rebellion Gallery and Lace Gallery.
The scheme should provide 395 jobs, 500 volunteer placements and 20,000 school visits supported by workshops and activities.
It’s also anticipated it will bring £90m into the local economy over 10 years.
The project will focus on three core themes.
These are; 1,000 years of history which includes the castle and the caves, Robin Hood and Rebellion which will focus on revolt and our iconic local outlaw, and The Power of Art and Making which will showcase the city’s creativity.
Nottingham Castle was originally built by the Normans in 1067 after the Battle of Hastings.
It was later home to King Richard I, Prince John and King Edward III.
It’s also famously known for being the site where Robin Hood battled the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The present castle, called the ‘ducal mansion’ or ‘ducal palace’, was built between 1674 and 1679.
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, added: “Nottingham Castle will forever be linked in our imaginations to the outlaw Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
“There are, however, many other wonderful stories that are part of its history, including political rebellion, riots and intrigue.
“With the help of National Lottery players, this extraordinary historic building will once more become a focal point for Nottingham.”
