Heritage News 19 - South Derbyshire District Council

NEW GLOR
ORY IN PROSPECT FOR
ELVAST
ASTON CASTLE
A Derbyshire-based team led by
Highgate Sanctuary Ltd. has been
appointed as Derbyshire County
Council’s preferred partner to restore
the Elvaston Castle Estate, four miles
to the south-east of Derby and in the
north-eastern corner of the South
Derbyshire district. Highgate Sanctuary
hopes to create a luxury hotel and
College of Estate Management, she
gained her PhD from Nottingham
University on “The Sustainable Re-Use
of Listed Buildings in the Context of
Urban Regeneration.” As a result of the
experience gained through her studies,
Tanya founded Highgate Sanctuary,
which develops new uses for derelict
listed buildings. Tanya says:
Under Highgate Sanctuary’s proposals,
the formidable Castle’s grounds will
continue to be open for public
enjoyment. They will be restored to
their former grandeur under a £10
million bid by the County Council,
supported by Highgate Sanctuary, for
Heritage Lottery Funding. Plans also
include a new visitor centre for the
•A wintry view of Elvaston Castle
championship golf course that will
provide local jobs and boost tourism in
the area.
Bob Janes, cabinet member for
community services at Derbyshire
Country Council says “We want to see
the Castle and Estate returned to its
former glory so that local people and
visitors can enjoy it for many years to
come. We are working with Highgate
Sanctuary because we feel they share
our objectives and will respond to the
sensitive conservation needs of the
Estate, whilst finding a sustainable
solution for its re-use.”
Tanya Spilsbury, managing director of
Highgate Sanctuary, was born and
brought up in Derby. Dr. Spilsbury is
also a board member of “Maintain our
Heritage” - a not-for-profit company that
campaigns for the better maintenance
of historic buildings. A chartered
surveyor, Tanya specialises both in the
conservation and sustainable re-use of
historic buildings. Having studied for a
Diploma in Building Conservation at the
“To survive in the long term, an historic
building must have a sustainable use
to generate sufficient income to cover
its maintenance costs. The opportunity
to be involved with the conservation of
Elvaston Castle and its estate brings
together my enthusiasm and
experience in the fields of development,
conservation and Derbyshire’s heritage.
If all goes well, the £18 million
restoration and extension project for the
Grade II* listed building could be
completed as early as summer 2007.
“We are well aware of the local
attachment to Elvaston and the strength
of feeling about it, and the next stage
of the proposals will include a public
consultation. The results will be
included in the proposals submitted with
the Lottery grant application. We, in
partnership with the County Council,
shall continue to work closely with the
planning authority and English Heritage
to prepare sensitive planning
applications for the restoration of the
Castle and Estate.”
Heritage News - 10
•The gardens at Elvaston, as seen from the house
enjoyment of visitors, and especially
educational groups. They will also be
able to visit a proposed craft centre,
cafeteria and shop with products linked
to the plants and topiary of the gardens.
Elvaston Cricket Club will continue to
play on the cricket ground and the
showground will still be used for public
events and shows.
The existing castle was substantially
re-built in the early 19 th century during
the Gothic Revival era by Charles,
Third Earl of Harrington. He
commissioned James Wyatt, a leading
architect of the day, and later Robert
Walker, to create a castle with
battlements and turrets, linked to a
large courtyard and two gatehouses
either side of a Gothic archway.
Landscaping of the surrounding
parkland and gardens took place from
1830 under the direction of William
Barron, who had trained at the
Edinburgh Botanic Gardens. Barron,
with his particular enthusiasm for
conifers and topiary, gradually
transformed the dull, flat landscape of
Elvaston into a garden paradise