Bamburgh Castle receives six-figure grant from Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

The spectacular fortress requires ongoing specialist maintenance to safeguard the fabric of the castle and its contents against the elements

Usually open all year round, the pandemic led to Bamburgh Castle having to lock its doors for 70% of its usual trading year, resulting in a loss of around 125,000 visitors.

While the castle grounds reopened to visitors on March 29, its 14 staterooms and Armstrong & Aviation museum remain closed due to national lockdown restrictions.

As well as contributing to ongoing vital structural maintenance to the castle, the grant will help Bamburgh Castle transition from over 40-weeks of closure to reopening fully, safeguarding jobs, providing staff training and development and supporting a series of family friendly, outdoor events throughout the year.

Francis Watson Armstrong, owner of Bamburgh Castle, said: “It is absolutely fantastic to have been awarded this very significant grant which will help buffer us, as we move towards reopening England’s finest coastal castle and seeing it return to life with visitors once more.

“Like so many of our fellow heritage and culture organisations, the pandemic has had a devastating impact, cauterising vital income from visitor admissions and events that is the castle’s lifeblood for over 70% of the year.”

“This funding is helping us give Bamburgh Castle a future as a living, breathing attraction to be enjoyed by future generations for centuries to come. This funding will help fortify not just the castle but our community as we move towards reopening out of lockdown.

"The castle plays a huge role in the community working with the inns, the shops, the attractions and other tourism businesses and together we make Bamburgh a brilliant cultural and heritage destination to visit all year round.”

The funding is from a £400m pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England as well as the British Film Institute and Arts Council England.

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