A Staffordshire-based specialist conservation contractor has been appointed to lead a £1.9 million restoration programme at Tamworth Castle aimed at securing the future of the landmark building and its nationally significant collections.
Messenger, which has an office in Burntwood, will carry out the extensive heritage works on behalf of Tamworth Borough Council.
The project is being funded through £1,716,238 from Arts Council England’s Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), alongside £190,695 from the council.
The restoration programme will tackle urgent structural repairs, including historic drainage systems, areas of structural movement, unsafe masonry and major roof repairs on the castle’s south wing. Environmental conditions for museum collections, including items from the Staffordshire Hoard, will also be improved.
Messenger has previously delivered conservation work at sites including Leicester Cathedral, Weeting Castle and Earlham Hall, and is currently completing restoration works at Newark Castle Gatehouse.
Councillor Lewis Smith, Tamworth Borough Council’s portfolio holder for people services, engagement and leisure, said: “Appointing Messenger is a significant step for the project. Their specialist conservation expertise, combined with an understanding of how to work with historic buildings of this complexity, gives us real confidence as we move into the next phase.
“This is not a straightforward construction project. It will require a collaborative approach from a wide team of specialists, working together to give our castle the love and care it needs, while keeping as much of it open to visitors as possible.
“Messenger demonstrated a strong appreciation of those challenges and how to manage them. We’re looking forward to welcoming the team on site in the coming weeks to begin this vital programme of work, which will help protect both the building and the important collections it houses for generations to come.”
As principal contractor, Messenger will work as part of a wider project team of industry professionals, including Donald Insall Architects and Pulse Consult quantity surveyors.
Ian Bird, regional director of Messenger, said: “It’s a real privilege to work on a local building of this stature both for our management team and local workforce.
“Repairing and conserving these buildings is vitally important and will give us an opportunity to engage with local people and the construction college to help train and expose students to this little-known construction sector.
“We look forward to working with the castle staff and project team in delivering long lasting solutions to some of the current problems faced with the castle.”
The castle, which has stood at the centre of Tamworth for almost 1,000 years, was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register in December 2023 following concerns over its condition.
The council said work will be carried out in carefully planned phases to allow the castle to remain open as much as possible during the restoration, with visitors given opportunities to see conservation work taking place.
Contractors are expected to begin work on site in the coming weeks.
