Conisbrough Castle Heritage Lottery Fund Bid
Doncaster
Council and English Heritage are currently
working in partnership to ensure that residents and visitors can benefit
fully from the castle’s rich heritage. The
aspiration is to gain money from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for
improvements
which could
include, encouraging greater community use of the castle, enhancing the
experience for visitors, and improving access.
Plans being developed through the scheme are currently on display at
the castle and residents are
encouraged to play their part in shaping the future of the castle by
expressing their views on the proposals.
The project was given initial
support by HLF last year and over the last few months the partnership have
been working towards a bid for up to £1 million worth of investment for the
site.
De Warenne Academy
As part of the project,
Students from De Warenne Academy in Conisbrough have been learning more
about the people who owned
Conisbrough
Castle
in the past through investigating historical documents and exploring
archaeological discoveries relating to the site.
The students have also had the opportunity to experience curatorial work
in action, pulling together what they have learned about the castle to
produce their own exhibition about the castle’s history some examples of
which are below.
Students have been concentrating on interpreting the castle’s history in
ways which they feel will be appealing to young people, and in so doing have
been contributing their ideas regarding how they would like to see the
castle interpreted in the future to proposals currently being prepared for
the site.
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Junior Wardens
Conisbrough
and Denaby Main Junior Wardens, groups of local youngsters who take part in
weekly after-school activities run by Doncaster Council Area Officers at
Morley Place Junior School and Denaby Main Primary School, aiming to
encourage local children to have pride in, and to strive to make a positive
contribution to, their local community, have been making a film exploring
Conisbrough Castle’s past, present and future. After discovering
more about the castle’s history, Junior Wardens have been interviewing
family members, local residents, teachers and local politicians to explore
how the local community feel about the castle today, and how they would like
to see the castle develop in the future, thereby aiming to actively shape
the future of this significant local landmark.
The film will also have its first public showing in
Conisbrough Castle’s Visitor Centre on Saturday 10th December 2011 at
1pm.
Visitors coming along to see the film on 10th December will also have
the opportunity to take part in free family craft activities between
1pm
and 3.30pm, and to find out more about the proposals for the castle, with
Christmas fayre on offer on the day.
Further opportunities for
involvement with the Castle and its rich heritage are being developed as
part of the Heritage Lottery Fund bid proposals.
Residents wishing to find out more about the proposals, or to tell us
what they would like to see on offer at the castle, can contact Community
Project Officer Sarah Hughes on 07788 918294 or via
castleproject@english-heritage.org.uk.
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Conisbrough Castle Community Open
Days
On 30th October 2010 and 7th May 2011 English Heritage hosted 2 Community
Open Days at Conisbrough Castle. The main purpose of these was to solicit
views and opinion from the local community about how they would like to see
the presentation and facilities at the castle improved. In all it was
estimated that over 1000 people visited the site and participated in the
surveys, competitions and questionnaires, all of which has contributed to a
clearer picture of what the community wants from its unique historical
landmark in the future. In addition Peterkin the Jester was on hand to
entertain the crowds.
Peter Davies, Mayor
of Doncaster, said: “Conisbrough
Castle
is a unique ancient monument and one of the borough’s greatest tourism
assets. It is certainly the most impressive castle to be seen anywhere in
the region.I would welcome any developments which would help draw
more visitors into
Doncaster
and boost our local economy.”
Jeremy Reed,
English Heritage’s Director of Visitor Operations for the North of England
said: “English Heritage is delighted to be working with Doncaster Council to
increase appreciation of and access to
Conisbrough
Castle, for the local
community and the many visitors who come here each year. We hope that the
people of Conisbrough will come along to the open day on the 30th
and share their thoughts on its future with us.”
EH Press Release 30/10/10
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Conisbrough Castle Ceramics Project
English
Heritage, Doncaster Council and local experts and volunteers have been
sifting and cataloguing the ceramic that have been recovered during the
various archaeological projects from the last few decades at the Castle.
Pleas click on the below link to download the ceramics presentation poster.
Conisbrough Ceramics - Poster
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Pleas click on the below links to view other projects and
presentations relating to the HLF bid......
Presenting Conisbrough Castle - Poster PDF Adobe Reader
required
Conisbrough Castle and Town - Poster PDF Adobe Reader required
Conisbrough Excavation - Poster PDF Adobe Reader required
Conisbrough
Education - Poster PDF Adobe Reader required