York Castle Museum
York Castle Museum
We were asked to prepare an overarching Strategic Conservation Plan that would synthesise understanding about the complex York Castle site, in order to help the York Museums Trust converge, prioritise and phase the development of an ambitious masterplan to rejuvenate and uplift the site. The Museum occupies Grade I buildings within the medieval castle bailey that form part of the most ambitious Georgian civic complex outside London. Facing Clifford’s Tower – the medieval keep – and the still operation C18 Crown Court around a space known as the Eye of York – the site is exceptionally complex and exceptionally significant.
A large number of studies had previously been commissioned – some of them very detailed – but none considered the whole site, and there were gaps and inconsistencies in both method and judgement. We were asked to rapidly synthesise this knowledge in order to create a common understanding of heritage significance, and to present the analysis in a highly graphic way that could be easily understood by multiple audiences. The report concludes with a heritage strategy framework and phased action plan to inform decision-making about the development of the masterplan, and help the Trust to seize the opportunities the site offers and act to meet present and future challenges.
Client: York Castle Museums Trust