Lowther Castle & Gardens set for major transformation

Lowther Castle & Gardens is set to be developed as a major tourism attraction for Cumbria, following a £7 million investment by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and a further £2 million from the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The investment will enable the Lowther Castle & Gardens Trust to open the site to the public for the first time in over 70 years, and transform the remains of the Gothic Castle, its Stables and over 20 hidden gardens into a new visitor destination. The project will include:

• Access to 121 acres of abandoned historic gardens, and the ground floor of the Castle.
• A new children’s adventure play area and learning project in the woods.
• Access to a 1km limestone ridge offering views of the northern mountains of the Lake District.
• Restoration of the East Sculpture Gallery of the Castle to provide a function and exhibition gallery.
• A Visitor Centre offering a range of facilities including orientation and ticketing.
• A dual purpose education and event room on the first floor of the Stables above the Coach House.

The project, which is expected to generate £10.4 million for the Cumbrian economy, will also create 28 new jobs and support up to 145 jobs outside the attraction. To assist with the project’s implementation, the Trust is also seeking Heritage Lottery funding of just under £6 million.

Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, said:

“What’s particularly good about this project is rather than being a restoration scheme, it will enable visitors to explore and understand everything that is historically unique about Lowther Castle & Gardens.

“Projections show that by 2012, Lowther could attract in excess of 160,000 visitors each year, placing it in the top tier of Cumbrian tourist attractions. As well as being vital in encouraging visitors to stay longer in the area and venture outside the traditional ‘honeypot’ areas, the scheme will also support jobs, provide a valuable educational resource and, importantly, generate a significant amount for the sub-regional economy.”

David Malpass, NWDA Director of European Programme, said:

“I’m very pleased to announce another ERDF investment for Cumbria. Lowther Castle is of national significance, and this investment will ensure we attract new visitors to the Eden Valley, extending the economic benefits of tourism across Cumbria.”

Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority, said:

“Lowther is a unique part of the Lake District and quite different to the mountainous landscape of the central fells. We look forward to working with Lowther Castle & Gardens Trust to produce a scheme to regenerate this important historic site.”