On Saturday 19th December, Dover Castle will feature in a special edition of Channel 4’s Time Team. The programme, which will air at 8pm, will chart an ambitious £2.5m project at the Castle led and managed by Purcell Miller Tritton.
The aim of the scheme was to recreate the flamboyant interiors of the Great Tower and evoke the atmosphere of the Royal Palace during the reign of Henry II. It involved the re-presentation of the interiors, repairs to the historic fabric and the creation of an introductory exhibition.
The project brought together 150 artists and craftspeople to design and make almost 1000 artefacts, including 80 pieces of furniture, 21 oak doors and 100s of metres of embroidered textiles. The focus was on authenticity, requiring thorough research and painstaking attention to detail.
The project is part of an on-going investment by English Heritage to enhance the visitor experience at the Castle, attract more visitors and increase revenues for investment. The scheme has been widely acclaimed as one of the most innovative tourism developments in the UK. It has transformed the previously dated exhibits and brought the building to life as it would have been in the 12th century.