Sizergh Castle stands at the gateway to the Lake District near Kendal in Cumbria. It will open its doors to the public this weekend following extensive repairs and renovation works works over £1m which have been carried out by leading architects and historic building consultants Purcell Miller Tritton.
Sizergh Castle dates back to the Middle Ages and is a beautiful medieval house which was extended in Elizabethan times. The property, which is surrounded by extensive gardens in Cumbria’s special limestone country, is owned by the National Trust but has been home to the Strickland family since the 13th century. The renovation work undertaken to prepare Sizergh for its reopening in mid-March was part-funded by an English Heritage repair grant and consisted of the entire re-roofing of the Westmorland slated roofs to the north and south wings as well as the re-leading of the roof of the central tower and associated gutters.
In addition to this, tower parapets had to be rebuilt and the prominent chimney stacks, which are a key visual feature of Sizergh Castle, have been rendered. Extensive re-pointing works to the core of the Caste, the 14th-century Pele Tower have also been carried out in lime mortar. This represents a significant achievement with the walls of the tower being over 10ft (3m) thick in places. There were also repair works to the garden walls and steps and the re-lathing and plastering of the chapel ceiling. All works were carried out in a sensitive manner using local materials and traditional techniques, such as Westmorland slate and sheep’s wool insulation in roof spaces.
The Castle will open at noon on 15th March. There will be guided introductory tours until 1pm and from then on visitors will be free to explore the grounds and take part in the ‘Treasure Forever’ event in which guests are invited to vote for their favourite item of Sizergh’s many treasures. The result of the vote will be announced in September (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-sizerghcastlegarden).
Commenting on the project, CEO of Purcell Miller Tritton Mark Goldspink said, “I am delighted that we could be involved in such a significant project for the National Trust. This was a difficult scheme as we had to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the protected bat species which reside in the roof space by adhering to strict procedures but the finished result was well worth the effort. Previously hidden architectural detail have now been restored to their former glory and can be enjoyed for years to come by everyone who visits the castle.”