Welcome to the October
Castle Transformation Newsletter
This month, we feature:
- Project update - Play area, displays, Notts TV
- Nottingham Castle Trust News - Meet Gareth and ITV on site
- Nottingham Castle - A Year to Celebrate
-?Object of the Month - Wallis photo
- Top Trumps - No. 6: King John
- G F Tomlinson - Framework links
- Robin Hood Pageant - Postponement news
Watch the latest time lapse images for October on our website
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October 2019 ? Project Update
Welcome to our project news for October 2019?
Adventure play area - The procurement of the Adventure Play contractors moved a step closer this month as shortlisted bidders were invited for a site visit (pictured left) to familiarise themselves with the location (the Castle moat) and soak up the atmosphere. It was great to see so many people in attendance and the enthusiasm for the scheme was infectious. We can't wait to see the draft design concepts when they come in next month!
Display work - Significant work has been going on behind the scenes to specify the exact details for object display. Objects have been selected and cases have been designed but work doesn't stop there. Careful manufacture of set works and object mounts must now take place, ensuring that the materials used are safe and comply with Oddy Testing (a procedure created at the British Museum in order to test materials for safety in and around art objects). It's safe to say that our wonderful objects are being well looked after!
The image on the right is NCM 1949-179 - it is an example of one of the textile pieces in our collection requiring a stable case environment.
More filming on site - It was great to meet up with the team at Notts TV and their colleagues from Confetti earlier this month. They were keen to discuss a proposal to create a documentary on the Castle, featuring the history of the site and also the process of its transformation. We are very excited about this new project and look forward to working with them over the coming months. We'll keep you posted as work progresses.
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Nottingham Castle - A Year to celebrate
2021
Plans are underway to create an ambitious programme of activity to celebrate the reopening of the Castle in 2021. Partners from across Nottingham met in September to discuss a variety of exciting ideas for marking this momentous occasion including large-scale events and city-wide projects.
A Steering Group has been formed and is meeting this week, to drive the development of a major community and participatory spectacular.
Further details are coming soon about how community groups and organisations can get involved.
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Nottingham Castle Trust News
Gareth Morgan Joins the Castle team as Learning Development Officer
The team at Nottingham Castle Trust continues to grow this month with the newly appointed Gareth Morgan joining the ranks.
Gareth?s position as Learning Development Officer will see him steer the creation of an exciting learning offer for schools, colleges, community groups and other visitors. The learning programme will be extensive and innovative, including cave tours, creative trails of the ground and building, storytelling, workshops, sleepovers and engagement projects.
Previously Gareth ran the education programme for Hoodwinked 2018, which saw 56 BookBenches decorated by Nottingham city primary schools, pop up in libraries and other spaces across the city. He has also worked for Nottingham Playhouse and Nottingham City Council?s College Street Centre. As a Nottingham resident himself, Gareth is excited for the role the Castle will play in the regeneration of city.
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Castle Project is on ITV News
The Castle Trust was delighted to appear on ITV News this month in a dedicated feature about the progress of the Castle Transformation Project. Chief Executive Sara Blair-Manning spoke to ITV?s Peter Beane about her excitement for the project and what it means for the people of Nottingham.
The news piece gave a behind-the-scenes look at the progress, including showing the brand-new Visitor Centre, Robin Hood interactive gallery and the plans for updating the Long Gallery. It also detailed the impressive work of G F Tomlinson in restoring the roof of the Castle through an interview with their Project Manager Richard Oldfield.
As well as looking at the building itself, ITV News discussed the focus of the Castle Project on bringing back Robin Hood to the iconic location of his battles with the Sheriff of Nottingham. Nottingham Castle is excited to put Robin Hood back on the map and to celebrate and continue to share the legends of this colourful figure and his followers.
Watch the ITV piece on You Tube at:?https://youtu.be/LErmpAeC6pE
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Object of the month
This month we feature an interesting photo of a local family from the history of the Castle, taken by a local photographer.
What is it??Our Object of the Month is a monochrome cabinet print photograph of George Harry Wallis and his family taken in December 1889 by Nottingham photographer and artist Alfred Wilson Cox.
Why is it significant??George Harry Wallis? father, George Wallis FSA, was the first Keeper of the Fine Art Collection at the South Kensington Museum in London, which later became the V&A.
George Harry successfully supervised a temporary art and design exhibition in Nottingham in 1872, which contained many items from the South Kensington Museum collection. He was subsequently appointed as the first Art Director and Curator of the museum at Nottingham Castle. The first museum catalogue refers to his ?great experience and known professional ability?.
Tell me more?George Harry Wallis married Kate Watson Carey and they lived in the Museum Residence at Nottingham Castle with their three children. Muriel Carey Wallis was arrested for ?wilfully obstructing the police? at a Suffragette procession in London on ?Black Friday? in 1910 and ?vanished for the vote? in 1911. George Dudley Wallis followed the family career path and became a museum curator. There is a monument in St Peter?s Church, Nottingham to Catherine Carey Wallis.
The Wallis Family Photograph will feature in the new Creative City ? Creative Castle Gallery currently being designed by exhibition designers Casson Mann.
George Wallis on History Website.co.uk
Wikipedia - cabinet card
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Top Trumps #6
Welcome to the sixth character in the series of Castle stories, turned into a game of Top Trumps.
Top Trumps #6 is King John of England
Read more about King John
Please email us?to let us know whether you agree or disagree with our scores.
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Contractor update - The latest from G F Tomlinson
G F Tomlinson invited Framework onto site where the charity?s employment and skills team interviewed G F Tomlinson employees, subcontractors and specialist trades about their role in the Castle project and how they got into the world of construction.
The interviews were filmed and will be shown to their centre users to inspire those who are looking to re-train or enter back into work. They will get to see the variety of roles within the industry and the range of different routes you can take to get into the construction industry.?
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Robin Hood Pageant
Unfortunately, the bad weather meant the Robin Hood Pageant was postponed.
If you had tickets, then you will be contacted offering the opportunity for a refund or to carry the tickets over to a new date which is hoped will be in early April.
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