Welcome to the July Castle Transformation Newsletter
This month, we feature:
- Project update - Gatehouse, fit out, caves, changing places
- Adventure play - Project update
- Nottingham Castle Trust news - #Grads4Nottingham
- Top Trumps - No.15 - John Pottes
- Contractor update?- Being involved in this project
- Visitor Summit - Castle opening presentation
Image:?Flashback from 2018 when we closed the Castle gates to begin transformation. There are more images and latest news at?our Facebook page
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Project update
Welcome to our project update for July
Gatehouse bridge works completed - Recent visitors to Castle Road will have noticed a distinct improvement to the appearance of the Gatehouse Bridge ? the scaffolding has now been removed! We think it looks stunning after restoration works, and more importantly it is now structurally secure for generations to come.
Fit out contractor on site - We were incredibly excited to welcome exhibition fit out contractors Beck Interiors to site this month. This marks a new stage of the project, as the multitude of designs and drawings start to become a reality. Beck will be working hard over the next few months to install our bespoke cases and set works into the newly refurbished gallery spaces. We will be sharing their progress with you regularly, including time lapse footage from some of the gallery installs.
Caves improvements - Members of the Project Team took a trip down Mortimer?s Hole this month to experience the newly installed cave lighting system. A bespoke solution has been created, incorporating the lighting into new handrails, thus eliminating the need for wall mounted wires or lamps etc. The effect is brilliant, creating a safe environment without detracting from the atmosphere of such a unique space.
Changing Places - We are delighted to announce that the new Changing Places facility is nearing completion. It is located next to the gatehouse, where the ladies toilets were prior to closure. This has always been integral to our scheme, and we are so pleased that the Castle will be able to provide this vital facility going forwards. It?s looking great!
Images:
Top: Gatehouse bridge
Pic 2 - Beck exhibition fit out
Pic 3 - Mortimer's Hole handrail -? wrappings are still to be removed
Bottom - Changing Places space at the gatehouse
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Adventure play update
We are pleased to report that Adventure Play contractor S.J. Danby Ltd ? Playscheme, has moved into the manufacturing stage for our bespoke adventure play structures.
The element they are currently working on is the ?Sheriff?s Stronghold? ? an impressive, multi feature play structure, modelled on our very own Gatehouse!
It is looking amazing, and this is just one element of the adventure play area, which will span the entire length of the Castle ditch. We promise to keep you updated through the manufacturing stage, and on into install which is scheduled to commence in September.
Pic 1: Frame for Sheriff?s Stronghold
Pic 2: Visualisation of Sheriff?s Stronghold
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Nottingham Castle Trust News
#Grads4Nottingham
Nottingham Castle (virtually) welcomed graduates from Nottingham Trent University to help work out solutions to some existing challenges. This was set up as part of the #Grads4Nottm initiative, which was arranged remotely this year.
It was great to have them on board, helping out on social media, creating volunteering opportunities, developing event ideas, and designing learning programmes.
They produced testimonials reflecting on their time at the Castle:
Anna Page, a Decorative Arts graduate said: "It was great working with Nottingham Castle Trust, getting to know the staff and having an insight into their jobs - I really enjoyed it!".
Louise Meiklejohn, a Museum and Heritage Development student explained: "I am grateful to have had such a wonderful experience within such a supportive work environment, with the last two weeks spurring on my passion and desire to work within the museum and heritage sector".
Read the blog on the project at the Trust website
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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!? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
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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Top Trumps #15
Welcome to the fifteenth character in the series of Castle stories, turned into a game of Top Trumps.
Top Trumps #15 is John Pottes: a Porter at the Castle in the Tudor period
Find out more at:
Internet Archive - History of the Parish and Priory of Lenton
Nottinghamshire History - The Dissolution of Lenton Priory
Sizes.com - definition of Fother
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
As we approach the end of?the construction phase for the Nottingham Castle redevelopment, G F Tomlinson?s Project Manager, Richard Oldfield (pictured left) explains what it has meant to be involved in such an important project for the City of Nottingham?
?I have studied and lived in Nottingham for most of my life so it has been a privilege to be a part of this remarkable transformation. It has been an interesting mix of archaeology, heritage restoration and complete modernisation on a site which is both a National Monument and Grade I listed.
Everyone working on the project feels we have been a little part of the 1000 year history of the site. The majority of those working on the project are local and recall visiting the site as children or during the beer festival, now, with the start of the fit out stage we are all looking forward to the opening so we can return to view the complete project with friends and families.
However, as excited as we are to see the completion of the Castle Transformation it is also sad to say good bye to the team who made it possible; the client and stakeholders, the ?project management and design team, Historic England and the city?s Heritage and Archaeological officers have all worked so well together. Without this team effort we would not have been able to overcome a number of challenges we have encountered ranging from the technical, to the financial to the latest issues relating to COVID 19.
We all look forward to the official ?re-opening in 2021?
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Ground breaking press call with the team at the Castle in 2018
Visitor Summit
Sara Blair-Manning - Chief Executive Officer for?Nottingham Castle Trust recently gave a presentation on project developments and things to look forward to on site at the Visit Nottinghamshire annual Visitor Summit.
You can watch Sara's presentation by clicking on the image below or by using this link.
Read the article in the Nottingham Post about the Summit
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