Conservation Management Plan - Tamworth Borough Council

This document takes account of the archaeological, historical and architectural significance of the castle and its
setting, but also the biodiversity, collections, educational, amenity, social, cultural and economic significance. By
integrating all this information in a single management document potential conflicts are discussed, anticipated and
hopefully resolved.
It is essential to recognise that Tamworth Castle is important to different groups of people for different reasons.
In order to care for the various elements of the castle, its setting and its collections we must understand and
document the different values, as they can be damaged by inappropriate interventions and use. The process of
preparing the plan has hopefully enabled stakeholders to recognise and take account of the values, needs and
requirements of others. The results of the consultation process are summarised in section 2.3.29.
The plan will help to ensure that capital and revenue investment is spent wisely and does not damage the heritage
values of the castle and it setting, and that there is a long term commitment to managing and caring for all aspects
of the significance of the castle.
Information contained within this document will help the HLF project architect design new work to improve
access in the short term and the interpretive planners to plan the most appropriate location, media, activities
and storylines. The plan includes a Heritage Impact Assessment which identifies the likely impacts of the works
proposed under the current HLF project.
However the document has a longer term and wider role and should also be used to inform any future long term
plans for the development and presentation of the castle and its setting within the castle pleasure grounds and the
associated townscape.
To inform this plan, consultation was carried out between July and November 2009 (plates 51 - 53), and has
identified what local people and visitors value about the castle and castle grounds and what are the challenges in
terms of access. This information is also valuable to inform the interpretive themes and activities that family groups,
special interest groups and schools would like to participate in.
The Conservation Management Plan also identifies opportunities to refresh the storylines for the presentation and
interpretation of the castle based on an informed understanding of the significance and role of different parts of the
building and its wider landscape setting. It also identifies opportunities to improve the day to day care of the castle
and its collections and provides recommendations on how both of these might be enhanced by training of staff and
volunteers.
The plan identifies a range of options for generating environmental benefits. It highlights opportunities for
enhancing the biodiversity of the motte and parkland setting of the castle bailey and for ensuring the protection of
designated species within the castle.
This plan collates, and has been informed by, a series of specialist reports and surveys which, along with the
additional community consultation during 2009, have helped to identify the conservation issues and policies, these
studies are referenced in full in the appendices. This document is a synthesis and intended to be a user friendly
management tool to aid general managers. Accordingly the detailed architectural descriptions produced by Bob
Meeson in the draft Conservation Management Plan (2006-8) have not been replicated but are summarised in the
site gazetteer and the annotated photographs within that gazetteer.
Tamworth Castle Conservation Management Plan www.marionblockley.co.uk 15