£12m work agreed for Lincoln Castle as leaders say it’s been ‘neglected’
Lincoln Castle will receive a £12million facelift over the next four years to keep it safe for the future.
Emergency structural repairs will be carried out on the Observatory Tower, Lucy Tower and East Wall to keep them safe and open to the public, before moving onto external walls and other structures.
Lincolnshire County Council’s Reform leaders said the castle has “suffered a lack of care and maintenance” under the previous Conservative administration.
The work will take place around the summer concerts and other events held at the castle to ensure they can go ahead as normal.
The council’s Executive signed off on the extensive programme of works at a meeting on Wednesday (April 8), promising to look after the monument for future generations.
Councillor Natalie Oliver, the Executive for Culture, said: “For too long, the castle has suffered a huge lack of care and maintenance.
“Neglect led Historic England to put it on the ‘at risk’ register in 2020, but that will not happen any longer.
“It is our honour to be the castle’s custodians, which is something we will never squander.
“We are committed to a major programme. It’s not a cost – it’s an investment in our shared heritage.”
Councillor Danny Brooks said the level of maintenance carried out under the previous administration was a ‘disgrace’.
The Conservatives have previously hit back at claims the castle was under-funded, saying Reform were being ‘alarmist’ about the castle’s condition.
Tory leader Councillor Richard Davies said earlier this year: “Claims that no money was spent on the castle walls or that they are ‘at risk of falling down’ are simply wrong.”
Maintenance work is currently taking place on the east face of the castle, which was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror.
It welcomed 1.5million visitors last year, and is worth £11million to the local economy, plus extra revenue brought in by its popular programme of summer concerts.