Welcome to the February
Castle Transformation Newsletter

This month, we feature:
- Project update - Gallery focus group, adventure play, another find
- Nottingham Castle Trust News - Ted Cantle, and volunteer news
- Nottingham Castle - A Year to Celebrate - Artistic directors appointed
- Object of the Month - Khanda sword
- Top Trumps - No. 10 - Queen Isabella
- G F Tomlinson - Contractor update - Scaffolding
- Tree planting - People's Forest- Robin Hood Live - Grab your tickets

Image from Light Night 2020 - Installation around Robin Hood Statue

Watch the latest time lapse images for January and February on our website

February project update

Gallery titles - Firstly, we would like to say a massive thank you to those who responded regarding our upcoming Focus Group on gallery titles. We had a lot of interest and are now fully booked for our session which will take place in the next couple of weeks. We'll keep you posted on the outcome!

Adventure play update - We are pleased to announce that we have appointed S J Danby t/as Playscheme for the Design and Build of our new Adventure Play area. We are so excited about this part of the scheme as it will completely transform an under used area of the site, and provide a new and exciting offer for families. We look forward to working with S J Danby over the next few months!

Another interesting find on site - Our archaeologists uncovered another exciting find on site this month (Pictured) ? this time in the shape of sections of medieval Castle wall. They were discovered to the side of the service road which goes around the Castle green. This location could imply that these walls were part of the Royal Apartments, which were located in this area in medieval times. All exposed masonry will be investigated and recorded ? we'll let you know the results as we get them.

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Nottingham Castle Trust

A Conversation with Ted Cantle

The chair of Nottingham Castle?s Trustees Board, Ted Cantle, has devoted a 30-year career to promoting community integration and regeneration. His passion for these issues has helped bring the Castle project to life over the past decade. Below, he discusses his thoughts on the project?s progress.

When Ted was appointed chairman of the Castle Working Party, ideas were initially rather far off the mark. ?I remember?, Ted laughs, ?that one idea was to remove the Castle and build a theme park!?.

When those suggestions came up against the Castle?s status as a Grade I listed Heritage Site, however, the CWP sought other ideas. Ted proposed to link the stories and values of the legendary myth Robin Hood with the later historical journey of Nottingham, such as the Luddites and Civil War. This would lay the foundations for the project as we know it today.

When asked how his feelings about the project have evolved over the years, Ted replied, ?Excitement still wins through. I?m still motivated by the simple question: will people say ?this is great? when they walk through the gates? I?m determined for that to happen.?

Ted would like to thank all those have helped the Castle Project at all stages, including our funders and partners, members of the CWP and those now working at Trust.

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Nottingham Castle Trust - Volunteer call out from Volunteer Manager Pippa

?What a wonderful first month this has been - warm welcomes, dressing up, playing with the snow, training with gallery interactives, trialling the British Civil War board game for schools (Left), showcasing the Castle to corporate partners?I can?t wait to have you join the fun, so here are some ways to get involved:?

If you are a student, come along to the?Leap: Creative Industries Expo?at NTU Newton Building, on 31 March to share your thoughts and ideas on creating our welcoming, fun and exciting volunteer programme!?

In the lead up to Microvolunteering Day on the 15 April, why not spare a few minutes rummaging through old photos, reminiscing and sharing your photographs of Nottingham Castle? Help us showcase over 200 photos reflecting your memories of the Castle! Look for the Viewfinder Project at the bottom of the page to submit the form"

Up for a bit of detective work? Help us find an image of Alfred Goddard Elliott ? private of 2/7^th Bn Sherwood Foresters. Visit the Nottinghamshire County Council website?for more information about Alfred, and do get in touch if you have a lead.

Do you have an interest in the Robin Hoods 2/7^th Battalion Sherwood Foresters during the First World War? Share your knowledge by emailing:?[email protected]

Spoiler alert - we are starting to explore reintroducing the Nottingham Catchfly within Castle grounds. More news will follow, but if just the mention of the flower excites you, get in touch!

So much to look forward to in 2020!?
Best wishes, Pippa - Volunteer Manager at Nottingham Castle Trust

Image Credit - Ludorati Games Cafe (l-r) Nick Higgins, PVD, Damon Mitchell, JOP, GM

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Nottingham Castle - A Year to Celebrate

After applications and interviews, Periplum has now been appointed as Artistic Directors of an event that will celebrate the opening of the Castle in 2021.

Periplum was formed in 1999, creating extraordinary audience experiences through ground-breaking site-responsive and outdoor theatre performance. The company delivers highly visual, socially significant and emotionally explosive work for all the senses, creating large scale location-specific events.

The company is currently meeting with local partners and communities to develop a feasibility and full project proposal. The Opening Celebrations Steering Group is excited to be working with Periplum, and will continue to meet, focusing on fundraising for the project and other wrap around activities including projects with schools, a community fund to deliver localised projects and working with partners across the city. Watch this space for opportunities to get involved!

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Object of the month

This month's object is an intriguing Indian sword from the collection...

What is it? -?This month we are featuring a double-edged traditional Indian sword known as a khanda. This important weapon still forms the centrepiece of the most internationally recognised symbol of the Sikh religion which is called the Khanda.

Why is it significant? -?Our khanda incorporates a percussion pistol as a secondary weapon & the handle is decorated with images of an elephant and a bird. It is one of 112 items purchased for Nottingham Castle Museum from a variety of international sources at the Paris Universal Exposition in 1878. This khanda came from the collection of the Maharaja of Patiala in North Western India.

Tell me more -?As a newly opened museum displaying many loan items, there was a drive to expand and diversify the permanent collections at the Castle. The Paris Exhibition showcased desirable items from all over the world and was an ideal opportunity to purchase a diverse range of new objects. Advice was sought from experts from the South Kensington Museum (now The V&A). Rudyard Kipling?s father John Lockwood Kipling, the Principal of the School of Art and Curator of the Lahore Museum in India may have been one of the advisors.

Further information
sikhs.org - Religious emblems
V&A research project on Kipling

The Khanda Pistol of Patiala will feature in the new Art Museum Gallery currently being designed by exhibition designers Casson Mann.

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Contractor News - G F Tomlinson

As you may have noticed, 15km of scaffold tubing has now been removed from the Ducal Palace, marking a significant step in the restoration process.

To protect the iconic Ducal Palace, the building was covered in a temporary roof and surrounded by innovative freestanding scaffolding around its structure, balanced by water butts, with only limited parts of scaffolding allowed to touch the building, in order to prevent any damage to the masonry.

Once the temporary structure was is place, works began on stripping back and returning the site to its original 1870s state, including the removal of the roof following a number of modifications since the 19^th century.

Richard Oldfield, project manager at G F Tomlinson said: ?The temporary structure has been key for overall development ? if it was not for the scaffolding and temporary roof, the building would have been at great risk of damage from the weather, so the extensive works have been worthwhile.?

The Ducal Palace forms a large part of the redevelopment works and G F Tomlinson is proud to be a part of its restoration, taking the historic building back to its original fabric to present it how it was 140 years ago, which is essential to bring the Castle back to its former glory and transform it into a world class visitor centre.?

Watch the time-lapse film of the scaffolding coming down

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