THE full plans to repurpose heritage buildings and develop the park and gardens at Raby Castle have been revealed.
The scheme, which has been named The Rising, will take about two years to complete and aims to make the castle a major tourist attraction.
The first phase of The Rising scheme will see the design and build of a children’s adventure play area to the north of the castle, on the site of the present Christmas tree plantation.
The playground attraction, planned to be open for Easter 2022 will also include a refreshment kiosk with a stargazing deck on the roof, perched amongst the trees.
Lord Barnard said his aim, since his tenure began in 2016, was to make the historic landmark an enjoyable and accessible haven for local people, as well as those visiting the county.
He added: “The feeling was that Raby Castle and park has been a visitor attraction for a long time and visitors even since the 18th Century have come here, but somehow it seemed to me that Raby was still very much under the radar, and it has a huge amount to share.
“So, our motivation for this scheme is to really open up the castle and the estate to a great many more people to enjoy. Raby Castle is the flagship of the dale and we wanted to create something that would make people really proud, where they can bring their friends and family and enjoy everything we have to offer.”
A new car park will guide visitors towards a hub of activity.
Lord Barnard added: “If you’d arrived in the 1970s, you’d have thought it was a nice place for a cup of tea – that was fine for then, but now it’s time to move on. We felt, apart from opening up the castle’s potential, we also really needed to look after people in a better way as well. So, the new Vinery cafe and restaurant will provide what we hope will be an attractive place to enjoy good food before taking a stroll through the new Duchess Walk – and all without having to pay for castle entry.
“With a new generation it is time for a new beginning, and we want to make sure that Raby is preserved for future generations to enjoy as well as our own,” he said.
The renovation and development of The Rising aims at bringing together a programme of conservation, restoration, repair and upgrades to historic buildings such as Gainford Hall, Raby Castle park and gardens, Unthank, Spring Hill Cottage, The Scar Farm, Bowlees Farm, Beck Foot Farm and Hilton Hall.
Lord Barnard added: “It is a huge project because of the number of beautiful and significant buildings – we couldn’t just have picked off bits and left the rest because these historic buildings would just have decayed beyond repair.
“I have memories of these buildings from my childhood, such as heaving bales of hay into the Dutch barn when I was working on the farm during the summer but really these buildings haven’t had a lot of use for 50 years.
“It’s really time to bring them back to life for a wider audience to enjoy.”
He said that a fundamental part of the project was a commitment to greater engagement with local communities.
Training and community educational programmes, as well as social and charitable events, will continue to be supported.
Duncan Peake, Raby’s chief executive said, “We will continue the tradition of supporting the younger generation by providing apprenticeships, placements and training programmes.
“New volunteering and work experience opportunities within Raby Estate itself have already been created and external relationships with agencies such as Durham County Council, Visit County Durham, Historic England and the North Pennines AONB will be fostered to ensure Raby continues to support its local communities.
“This is a new era for Raby Castle, park and gardens allied not only to the opportunities presented by the introduction of high-quality new housing in Staindrop and Gainford, but also to a stated ambition by Raby Estates to greatly increase visitor engagement with the castle and gardens, heightening awareness and understanding of the heritage building and appreciating its value as a vital cultural landmark.
“While this development plan includes the creation of new revenue streams and the expansion of existing ones, helping to support the up-keep of the listed buildings and the Registered Park, it is also driven by the celebration of the intrinsic character and uniqueness that is Raby and we hope the community will be proud of the castle and everything it has to offer.”
Phase one of The Rising development programme will begin later this year, led by a senior development team and the appointment of a project manager to strategically deliver the build, which is due to be completed in 2023 and open to the public.
