News - Castle scoops lottery cash (Conisbrough)

Conisbrough Castle has scooped a £900,000 lottery windfall to put it in the premier league of Yorkshire tourist attractions.


The Heritage Lottery Fund award will become a key part of a £1.1million project, to be run by Doncaster Council in partnership with English Heritage.

A new visitor centre housing educational and exhibition spaces will be created at the site’s historic Custodian Lodge, offering exciting interactive interpretation for visitors, new educational materials such as ‘Discovery Visit’ workshops for local schools, and training on historical investigation techniques for volunteers to get involved.

A programme of outreach work, learning and events will also be created and the site will benefit from improved access, signage and parking.

The 12th century Grade I listed castle – dating back 1,000 years and made famous by featuring in Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe - is one of South Yorkshire’s best surviving examples of medieval military architecture and one of the only surviving examples of its kind in Europe.

Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies said: “I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has supported this exciting project. Doncaster is the only place in Britain that is home to this type of unusually designed castle Keep, with the only similar kind existing in northern France. In its time, the castle was an advanced piece of design and even hosted royal visits, so I’m pleased the new visitor centre will celebrate its history. This investment will help transform the facilities and ensure visitors and our residents gain maximum enjoyment from its rich heritage.”

Caroline Flint, MP for Don Valley also showed her support for the project: “This is great news for Conisbrough and for heritage tourism in Doncaster. The £900,000 funding has the potential to transform tourism at the Castle and play a role in the regeneration of Conisbrough town, which has not benefitted as much as it should have from this brilliant asset being on its doorstep”.

From: http://www.epworthbells.co.uk/community/castle-scoops-lottery-cash-1-4707507

Save Doncaster Libraries - Moves to cut library funding criticised

CONTROVERSIAL plans which will see a council cut its funding for more than half of the libraries in a Yorkshire town have been unveiled and met with a barrage of criticism from campaigners.

Earlier this year Doncaster Council launched a consultation on the future of 14 of its 26 libraries after elected Mayor Peter Davies said the authority could no longer afford to run them.

The other 12 libraries in the borough will continue to be funded, but Mr Davies said he wanted to see community groups and volunteers come forward to secure the future of those under threat.

Yesterday the council said it had sent out 65,000 questionnaires to people living near to the 14 libraries under review.

According to the authority, 7,000 people responded and “following discussions with volunteers, community groups, and library action groups, a series of recommendations have been drawn up”.

The proposals are community run libraries in existing buildings at Bawtry, Intake and Warmsworth and community-run libraries in a different venue at Balby, Bessacarr, Edenthorpe, Wheatley and Sprotbrough.

Self-service libraries are expected to be run by volunteers inside exiting council buildings at Moorends, Rossington, Stainforth and Scawthorpe, with mobile libraries at Carcroft and Denaby.

Mr Davies said: “We need to concentrate the council’s limited resources on raising the standard of the 12 funded libraries so they attract a higher amount of use.”

He added that currently, the 26 libraries cost £5.26million to run each year and this does not include the money needed to maintain and invest in the buildings.

Yesterday, the pressure group Save Doncaster’s Libraries dismissed the plans unveiled and said the mayor had not carried out the proper assessments needed to allow the council to end its association with the 14 libraries.

The council’s ruling cabinet will meet to discuss the proposals next Wednesday

From: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/moves_to_cut_library_funding_criticised_1_3841274

News- Doncaster Council facing court action (Thorne Conservation Area)

DONCASTER Council could face legal action over allegations it has failed to preserve one of the borough’s conservation areas.

Coun Martin Williams has started the ball rolling in an effort to take the council to the High Court because of the state of disrepair of some of the oldest buildings in the Thorne market area conservation zone.

He says the former market chip shop, and the former Hursts ironmongers, have both been allowed to fall into disrepair.

And a former police station there has now got no roof, he says.

Coun Williams says he has been calling for action to sort out the state of the conservation area in his ward for nearly 10 years.

He said: “I have briefed my lawyers to send what is called a pre-action protocol letter, to apply for judicial review in the High Court.

“The basis is what I see as a neglect of duty in preserving the buildings in the conservation area in the centre of Thorne. It has a duty to conserve those buildings.

“I think it is time the courts decided if the council has done its duty regarding the centre of Thorne.

“I don’t know of any other market town that has suffered the way Thorne has.

“How can we regenerate a market town if the council has no will to get anything done?

“The old chippie and ironmongers have 17th century fireplaces and staircases - at least they did have. I fear there is not going to be much left now.”

Peter Dale, director of regeneration and environment at Doncaster Council, defended its record over the Thorne conservation area.

He said many of the properties in Thorne had been granted planning permissions for alternative uses, but poor economic conditions had meant developers were holding back.

He said: “We are actively seeking funding for the conservation area and are working with property owners to find alternative uses for vacant buildings.

“Our enforcement team have also recently identified seven properties which have fallen into a bad state of disrepair.

“We will be writing to the owners asking them to make repairs, and should they fail to we will use section 215 notices compelling them to do so.

“Thorne Hall remains available for sale and will be up for auction again in the near future.

“Any developer will need to be sympathetic to its Grade II listing.”

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/barnsley/doncaster_council_facing_court_action_1_3763761

Event - Doncaster’s St Leger week in tune with town’s past

FRIENDS, Romans and countrymen - lend me your ears for loud music for St Leger week!

Roman soldiers mixed with the cream of musical talent from Doncaster and beyond for a programme of events marking the St Leger Festival.

Two legions of military enactors started the festival on Saturday morning, with the day ending with 1990s rap stars Stereo MCs headlining the first day of the Doncaster Live music event.

And the next day, historical re-enactors The Romans arrived to declare the event officially open, before Doncaster-based acoustic performer Natalie Burdis started the afternoon’s programme of music, the first of 15 acts on the Sunday.

The Romans re-enactors had marched in to set up camp on the site of the original fort of Danum – now the grounds of Doncaster Minster - to show off old fashioned battle skills and let children dress up.

Both events were backed by Doncaster Council.

One of the Doncaster Live organisers music promoter Heather Brown was delighted with the two days of music.

She said: “It was brilliant. There were huge crowds and the atmosphere on Saturday was electric. There was a real buzz.

“There were lots of families and it was a great turnout - a really great start to the St Leger festival in the town.

“On the Sunday we had a Roman emperor declaring the event open with a speech - that was great.”

There are over 150 events taking place during the festival this year, including heritage walks, art exhibitions, a Medieval Autumn Fayre, champagne brunches, Proms in the Park, wine tasting at the minster and a beer festival.

This year’s festival is sponsored by Travel South Yorkshire.

The full event listing can be found online at www.visitdoncaster.com/stleger or from Doncaster Tourist Information Centre on 01302 734 309.

From: http://www.thornegazette.co.uk/news/doncaster_s_st_leger_week_in_tune_with_town_s_past_1_3746292

Event - Castle open day lets public have their say (Conisbrough Castle)

BOSSES at Conisbrough Castle are turning to the public for advice after receiving lottery backing for plans to develop the site for visitors.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has given a ‘first round pass’ to proposals to improve the site - meaning the ideas meet criteria for funding and are thought to provide potential benefits and value.

Proposals for the development of the site include encouraging greater use of the castle , enhancing the experience for visitors, and improving access.

Plans could include a state-of-the-art visitor centre.

The castle will be opened up to the public free of charge on Saturday from 11am until 3pm to allow residents to look at the proposals and tell them what they think of them.

The findings will then be included in the next stage of the application process towards getting the money to plough into the site.

As part of the preparation work for the project, volunteers have been working alongside archaeologists, curators, and museum staff to sort and study medieval pottery which has been dug up at the site.

Some of the volunteers will be at the event on Saturday to allow visitors to see and handle some of the pieces that have been found.

Also on display will be project work done by families through partnerships with Denaby Main Primary School and Morley Place Primary School’s junior wards, and by youngsters at the De Warenne Academy in Conisbrough. Peterkin the Jester will perform.

Assistant director of development at Doncaster Council Scott Cardwell said: “Conisbrough Castle is one of our most important visitor attractions and a key part of Doncaster’s tourism offer.

“I would encourage local people to come along and have their way on these exciting plans.”

Michael Constantine, English Heritage assistant director of visitor operations for the North of England, said: “Conisbrough Castle is a much loved landmark and we want to make sure local people get a say in its future. We’re already working with local volunteers to explore the history of the castle through its archaeology, and the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will help us improve the site even further and encourage communities to get involved in their local heritage.”

English Heritage describes the site as a significant example of a 12th century castle, built around 1180. King John stayed there in 1201 and King Edward II stayed there in 1322.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/castle_open_day_lets_public_have_their_say_1_3340767

News - Preservation group concerned for former council site (Conisbrough)

A VICTORIAN landmark building near Doncaster is among properties a pressure group fears could be at risk.

Bosses at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings are concerned over the future of Conisbrough Priory, which is one of a number of former council buildings being sold off by local authorities to cope with budget cuts.

The society says that, while the Government is keen for local groups to take on heritage assets when they come on the market - which could be an improvement in areas where local bodies are not looking after properties well - in many places community groups which could take on large or awkward buildings do not exist.

The priory is one of a number of buildings nationally which have been raised as concerns by the group.

Secretary of the society Philip Venning said: “The situation could well become something of a gamble for hundreds of historic buildings.

“While there may be some positive outcomes, SPAB is deeply concerned that great swathes of the nation’s built heritage will face an uncertain future under new ownership - or will simply be mothballed.”

He warned that while councils have always sold off surplus historic properties, a steadily increasing number of such buildings is likely to hit the market as savage spending cuts mean their disposal becomes unavoidable.

Doncaster Council director of regeneration and environment, Peter Dale, said: “The Priory was sold at auction on February 15, 2011 as it was surplus to the council’s requirements and represented a cost liability to the council.”

The guide price for Conisbrough Priory was £275,000

The council says the purchaser will have to comply with the requirements of the listing. The priory was built in the mid-19th century.

Concerns have also been raised for the future of another of the council’s surplus buildings, Thorne Hall in Doncaster. Thorne ward Coun Martin Williams has been campaigning for the building to be sold because he is concerned it could fall into ruin if a use is not found for it. It is due to be auctioned.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/preservation_group_concerned_for_former_council_site_1_3261849