Welcome to the June Castle Transformation Newsletter
This month, we feature:
- Project update - Fit out, playground and sign ups
- Nottingham Castle Trust news - On Notts TV and get your updates
- Digital update - Sideburn Panda
- Top Trumps - No.14 - King Richard III
- Contractor update?- Look back from G F Tomlinson
- Walks with Robin - castle edition
Image:?World Cup 2018 live screenings - A look back to one of the last events at the Castle before transformation. There are more images and latest news at?our Facebook page
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June Project Update
Hello, and welcome to our June newsletter...
Fit out is progressing - The fabrication of set works for our brand new exhibition spaces has been continuing apace this month. Our exhibition designers Casson Mann have been to visit the workshops where our bespoke tables, plinths, and wall panels etc., are being constructed under the instruction of our exhibition fit out contractors Beck Interiors.
The quality of the materials and build is apparent, and we can?t wait for the next stage of the project when these items will start filling our newly refurbished galleries!
[The images above show detail of the carved legs of an interactive table for the Rebellion Gallery, and then in-situ as part of the table.]
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 Playground work underway - The project passes another milestone this month with the granting of planning permission and Historic England approval relating to the designs for our new Adventure Play Area. The design process was always going to be challenging due to the topography of the Castle ditch where it will be situated and the conditions associated with working on the site of a Grade I listed building, and scheduled monument.
Considerable thought has gone in to preserving the sight lines to the Ducal Palace, and the design of footings which will have minimal impact to a site rich in archaeology. We can?t release any images just yet, but the finished product will be worth the wait!?
The images above show the work currently underway to check the areas for the foundations ? which has to be done now to make sure that there is no sensitive archaeology in the proposed locations before doing technical design. Two of the operatives are from Playscheme with the third, an archaeologist from Trent and Peak.
Trust newsletter ? Have you signed up for the Castle Trust newsletter yet? While project updates will continue to come through this newsletter, the Trust (new site operators), will be sharing information about the Castle site, events and activities and news around reopening. Be the first in the know by subscribing at: The Trust's MailChimp page
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Digital update
An update from our digital experts - Sideburn Panda...
"We have been fortunate that lockdown has not had a major impact on our work developing the digital exhibits that visitors will experience. One of the most interesting challenges however has been sharing and testing things remotely ? without the ability to physically come together and review.
User testing is a vital part of our process ? making time to find people with no pre-conceptions or vested interest to give honest and sincere feedback on what does and doesn?t work in our prototypes.
We had originally planned to do this in public spaces in Nottingham but instead have had to reach out to closed groups online and have them run through things remotely. It has been a really interesting challenge though; as always, the feedback has been immensely useful to our work. We can?t wait to incorporate the results as we continue to develop the exhibits towards their final versions to be installed and enjoyed on-site."
(The image above is a screen from an interactive rebellion game)
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Nottingham Castle Trust News
Sign up to Nottingham Castle Trust?s mailing list
As things ramp up for the Trust and it gets closer to the re-opening of the Castle, the team is bursting with exciting news to share; from volunteer gardening projects to exploring infamous Nottingham Rebels, puppet building to the ever-growing team, there?s so much news!? ?
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So, sign up to the mailing list to find out what weird and wonderful things they?ll be getting up to and to hear exclusive titbits of information before the official reopening.
Sign up to the Trust mailing list
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Trust team on Notts TV
Pippa and Josh were on Ey Up Notts on Notts TV on Friday to discuss the Nottingham Catchfly project. It's been two months since the project launched and the demand for seedlings was incredibly high. Pippa has some tips on how to pot the seedlings on if you check out the Castle Facebook page
To watch the Notts TV piece?Click on the image beside this piece?(At 20 seconds there is a headline of the segment to come and the full piece airs at 13.10).
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Top Trumps #14
Welcome to the fourteenth character in the series of Castle stories, turned into a game of Top Trumps.
Top Trumps #14 is King Richard III
Find out more at:
History Extra - 7 places that shaped the life of Richard III
University of Leicester - Who was Richard?
Please?email us?to let us know whether you agree or disagree with our scores.
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Contractor Update from G F Tomlinson
A look back as the site looks forward...
As we head closer to the completion of the main contractor works, G F Tomlinson has taken a look back at the last 20 months of the redevelopment.
During the works, we have carried out extensive masonry repairs and encountered a number of unknown factors including the discovery of unexpected archaeology. Our team has worked extremely hard to ensure the restoration of the Ducal Palace and construction of the extension and new visitor centre has been delivered to a high quality, providing a world-class visitor destination for years to come.
During our works, we have provided over 25,000 hours of employment/training opportunities and social value initiatives (See image below). These include apprenticeships and employment opportunities, graduate and work experience placements, local college and school site tours, along with supporting local charity, Framework.
The works have given us the opportunity to investigate and record the history of the site and we are proud to have been a part of this important transformation.
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Walks with Robin
Have you seen the #WalkswithRobin films created by our colleagues at Visit Notts?
Join Robin Hood (AKA tour guide extraordinaire?Ezekial Bone) on a visit to?Nottingham Castle?to hear about its fascinating history and exciting transformation.
Click the image below to watch the film
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