Conservation work gets underway at Sandal Castle
Work has started on
ambitious plans to protect one of the district’s most popular historic sites
for current and future generations.
Wakefield Council has allocated £734,000 for a project to conserve Sandal
Castle and to improve access for visitors to the site. It has appointed iBEX
Technical Access Ltd to carry out the first phase of the project, repair and
replace sections of the bridges, walkways, steps to the Keep and Keep platform.
The structures were closed following safety checks which has restricted access
to some parts of the castle.
Cllr Jacquie Speight,
Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, said: “Sandal Castle is a very
important part of our district’s heritage, and it is great news that the work
has started, ensuring the Castle continues to be enjoyed by residents and
visitors both now and in the future.
“We hope that this phase of the work will be completed before Christmas at the
much-loved and very popular historic site.”
Stewart Robert, Managing Director - of iBEX Technical Access Ltd, said: “We are
proud to have been selected by Wakefield Council to carry out the first phase
of works to refurbish the access structures at Sandal Castle.”
The Council has also been working with Historic England to identify sites for
new benches and information boards, once the bridge, Keep and masonry repair
works have taken place.
Restoration work to the historic monument will take place in spring 2019.
A new gate was installed this year, and repairs to gaps in the fences, to make
it more difficult for motorbikes to get on site and to deter vandalism.
The site is open to the public all year round and parking is free. Visitors can
walk around the site and enjoy superb views of the Calder Valley.