CASTLE GATEWAY

The project is part of the Tamworth Future High Street improvements which included large scale public realm works and renovation of significant public buildings through the historic town centre.

Tamworth Castle is arguably the most significant historic building in Tamworth. Now protected as an Ancient Monument, it was built over 1,000 years ago, when the town was the capital of the Kingdom of Mercia. Sitting above its motte and bailey, it should be a celebrated structure, however, during the 1970s redevelopment the town turned its back on the Castle. The Nationwide building was constructed in a position which obscured views of it from the high street. The historic keep was demolished and access to the castle grounds were created via a narrow, unwelcoming  bridge.

The Castle Gateway project has reconnected the historic town centre and the castle, both physically and visually. The demolition of an incongruous 1970’s building adjacent to the footbridge has allowed the creation of a widened and improved pedestrian footbridge scheme connecting the Castle Grounds and the town centre and has reconnected  view from the historic Market Street up to the Castle.

The scheme introduces a new widened paved area along with carefully designed and situated seating and lighting as well as the widened bridge constructed with powder coated ‘fin’ balusters that sit comfortably over the top of the historic stone walls of the castle keep. Views into the gardens of the historic burgage plots along Market Street are revealed, along with the outer side of the historic Castle curtain wall.