Specialist conservation firm Messenger appointed to carry out urgent structural repairs at the 1,000-year-old Staffordshire fortress

Tamworth Borough Council has appointed specialist conservation contractor Messenger to deliver a £1.9 million restoration programme that will help secure the future of Tamworth Castle.

The project is supported by £1,716,238 from Arts Council England’s Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), with a further £190,695 contributed by the council itself.

Urgent repairs needed

The restoration will focus on repairing historic drainage systems, stabilising areas of structural movement, fixing unsafe masonry and carrying out significant roof repairs on the south wing. Environmental conditions for the castle’s museum collections will also be improved, including items from the precious Staffordshire Hoard.

Tamworth Castle was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register in December 2023, a move that helped unlock the MEND funding bid. The castle has stood at the heart of the town for almost 1,000 years, evolving from a Norman motte-and-bailey fortress into a public museum.

Work to begin soon

Councillor Lewis Smith, the council’s portfolio holder for leisure and engagement, said: “Their specialist conservation expertise gives us real confidence as we move into the next phase. This is not a straightforward construction project and will require a collaborative approach from a wide team of specialists.”

He added that the aim was to keep the castle open to visitors throughout the works wherever possible.

Ian Bird, regional director of Messenger, said: “It is a real privilege to work on a local building of this stature. Repairing and conserving these buildings is vitally important.”

Work is expected to begin on site within the coming weeks.