[AJR]

From the Norwich Evening News, 26th January 2007

Castle mound is crumbling

The crumbling castle mound is still without a date for repair to start, despite being one of Norwich's central historical attractions.

Norwich City Council carried out a full structural survey and confirmed work on the area is a priority, but has yet to find funding or decide on a time scale for the work.

Green Spaces, the department of the council who were dealing with the project, has been disbanded, and the mound is now the responsibility of the council's community services. Castle mound, the area beneath and surrounding the castle is one of Norwich's key landmarks, and heritage organisations are worried about the state it is getting into.

Vicky Manthorpe from The Norwich Society, who highlighted the issue back in 2005 during an environmental audit, is furious answers still haven't been given concerning such a major issue. She said: “Nothing has happened at all. I've just written another letter asking when we will see progress. The whole thing is getting worse and we're very stressed for the future of the castle grounds.”

Problems began during the Castle Mall development when the gradient was changed to make a wider path between the castle and the shopping complex. As time continues to pass by without any set dates for work to the mound, the situation is getting far worse and the problems are multiplying.

“There are several problems with the site,” said Mrs Manthorpe. “There is slippage in a variety of areas on the mound and soil is eroding from the sides. The surface is collapsing and it did look beautiful when it was a Victorian garden, but it doesn't now - it's a shambles.”

The audit back in 2005 raised awareness of the issues concerning the mound, as well as those of pollution and neglect to the areas around Castle Meadow, yet two years on civic watchdogs are concerned about the lack of answers and action.

Nobody from Norwich City Council was available to comment. Castle Museum were also at a loss to provide any further information on the mound and the developments despite the council's claim the mound was a priority.

Rachel Kirk, Norwich Museums manager said “Whilst we sit on top of the mound, we don't carry any responsibility for the grounds - they are the responsibility of the council and I have not heard anything for a while. I am unaware of the survey results at present, but we're keen to have the mound managed effectively as there are issues that have been raised.”

[AJR]

From the Norwich Evening News, 24th August 2009

Bequest helps Norwich castle mound

Long-awaited work to restore one of Norwich's most prominent landmarks is set to start this autumn - thanks to money left to the city decades ago. Norwich Castle is one of the city's most important buildings and the state of the mound on which it stands has been the cause of concern for some time due to a lack of maintenance and the degeneration of its appearance. But now structural work on the mound, which is a national monument and more than 900 years old, is set to get under way in October using money which was bequeathed to Norwich City Council.

The work will cost about £65,000 - £63,000 which will come from money left in the will of Honor Camilla Doyle, dated 1944, who bequeathed a half share of her estate to be used for maintenance of Norwich Castle Museum. The rest of the money will come from another bequest - Elizabeth Russell Hillen, who died 1915 and left money towards the castle in memory of her late husband Henry James Hillen who had an interest in historic buildings and monuments “very much at heart”.

A City Hall spokeswoman said: “It's great that we've got the funding secured for this project. The castle mound is such an iconic historical feature of the city and this important work will make sure that it is safe and secured for future generations to appreciate.”

The mound is recognised by the department for culture, media and sport as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and at the end of last year, together with its surrounding gardens, was also added to the English Heritage Buildings at Risk List because of its state of disrepair.

Council officials have been monitoring the mound and have carried out extensive surveys to identify what work needs to be carried out to secure and stabilise it. The structural work will involve propping it with boards and pegs and then replacing lost earth. It is expected to be complete before Christmas.

Alec Hartley, chairman of the Norwich Society, the heritage watchdog which has been campaigning for the mound's restoration since 2005, said: “We very much welcome the news that the city council is doing the work but there's still a major job that needs doing to return the mound to the condition it used to be. The bulbs need to be replanted and there needs to be much more regular maintenance on the mound. The Victorian Garden is in a parlous state and needs replanting and the worst of the slippage is around near the Shirehall which is the responsibility of Norfolk County Council so they need to step up to the plate as well now.”

Vanessa Trevelyan, head of Norfolk museums and archaeology service, said: “Norfolk County Council is currently working on plans for repairs to the retaining wall which adjoins the Shire Hall Study Centre. Once we have tendered for this work, we anticipate that it will be completed by the latter part of next financial year. In the short term, this area is perfectly safe and there is no cause for concern.”