Buttress Architects | Clitheroe Castle Museum

Clitheroe Castle Museum is housed in the listed steward’s house on the picturesque site of the Grade I listed Castle Keep and Scheduled Monument; a raised defensive mound in the centre of the small market town in the Ribble Valley. The history of the castle and site dates to the 10th century.
We redeveloped the existing museum, designing a new lightweight entry building that links across to the adjacent stables, and extends its footprint into them. It also solves a change in level across the site and integrates it to the museum with shop and entry on the ground floor and café with outdoor terrace above. A green roof and lightweight construction keep the visual impact of the new building to a minimum, maintaining views out to the surrounding countryside.

The museum was also restored and reconfigured so that the new galleries flow one to the other to take visitors on a journey through 350 million years of local history, heritage and geology. Historic detail within the buildings was restored and new lighting and heating systems, and a lift, were introduced with minimal disruption to the buildings.

Conservation repair to the Grade I listed castle keep was also undertaken, repointing it in lime mortar.

A delicate balance between the new and old elements has been reached, creating a single extended attraction as well as improving an important heritage asset for the town.
RICS North West 2011: High commended in the conservation category
Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board: Small Attraction of the Year 2010/11