Clitheroe Castle Museum
Creating a delicate balance between new and old at Clitheroe Castle Museum.
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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.
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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.
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RICS North West 2011: High commended in the conservation category
Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board: Small Attraction of the Year 2010/11