York conservation firm begins restoration of Lancaster ‘witch trial’ Castle

A historic castle, which has held world famous witch trials, executions, political events and has origins in Roman Britain, is undergoing a revamp by York-based conservation specialists William Anelay Limited.

A 12-strong team from the construction firm has begun major restoration works at Lancaster Castle, which is the site of a former prison, and is owned by Her Majesty the Queen, as part of the Duchy of Lancaster estate.

The building with its John O’ Gaunt Gate enjoys is located on the hill overlooking the town of Lancaster and the River Lune. During the project, the William Anelay team will use a range of heritage construction skills including repointing, stone masonry, roofing and leadwork. The company is also working with anl archaeologist and the city council’s Conservation Officer.

Gary Shea, William Anelay’s site manager, said: “Lancaster Castle is an amazing place to work. Myself and the team are enjoying learning about its fascinating history as our project progresses.

“The Castle remains open to visitors and we’re ensuring our restoration works are carried out in phases, in order to allow these visits to continue so that people can experience the heritage tours and special events that this building offers.

“By working closely with the client’s conservation architects, BDP and Lancaster City Council’s Conservation Officer, we also hope to be able to play a part in educating more people about the castle’s rich history. Our close liaison with a local archaeologist will ensure that any notable finds during the project will be properly recognised and recorded.”

Until 2011, Lancaster Castle was a fully functioning HM Prison and a key part of the William Anelay team’s work is an enveloping scheme. This involves the installation of external rainwater pipes, which were previously absent on the outside of the building, in order to prevent inmates using them to climb down to freedom. The entire project is expected to last around 12 months.

The Castle’s history includes incidents of religious persecution and the infamous trials of the ‘Lancashire Witches’. This took place over 400 years ago and resulted in the execution of 10 women, who became widely known as the Pendle Witches. Around 200 executions for crimes ranging from murder to cattle theft have also taken place within the Castle’s walls, throughout history.

Founded in 1747, William Anelay Ltd is one of the oldest construction companies in the world. Based in York and Manchester, the company employs over 150 staff and has a turnover of £35m.