Celebration day for castle restoration
WORK SET TO BEGIN ON TRANSFORMING CITY LANDMARK
Talented youngsters helped to pull up the drawbridge at a Sunderland castle.
Children took to the stage at Hylton Castle to entertain audiences at a day of celebration before restoration work beings.
Singers and dancers from Inspire Stage School, based at Castle View Academy, performed along with children from Castletown Primary School choir. The event was the beginning of an open day, which was part of Sunderland’s Local History Month, a programme of events and activities celebrating the rich heritage of the city.
Hylton Castle, which is 600 years old, is to close in preparation for a £4.5million restoration, which is due to get under way in June, turning the castle into a community venue, which is due to open in summer 2018.
Learning Manager for the Hylton Castle Project, Elanor Johnson said: “The castle has a wealth of stories to tell about the local history of the area.
“From the Barons of the Hylton family who built this magnificent structure and called it home for hundreds of years, to the school children and soldiers who lived at the castle in the 19th and 20th centuries.
“The building is going to be transformed for community use, there will cafe facilities and people will be able to use it for weddings.
“The outside of the castle will look the same, but a new structurewillbebuiltinside.
“You will be able to stand on a new floor, but touch a 600-year-old wall.”