Sarah celebrates £1.7 million in new funding for Tamworth Castle

Sarah admiring a piece of the Staffordshire hoard.

Today, we are celebrating Tamworth Castle getting £1,716,238 following Sarah's campaign to protect it. This huge investment from the Arts Council MEND Fund is a key step in preserving the castle for future generations.

Sarah said:

“This is a huge win for our town, preserving our history for the next generation.

“Preserving heritage sites is not just about protecting historic buildings but about bringing communities together and working in partnership to understand how sites can benefit the local economy, wellbeing, and community cohesion.

The money from the Arts Council is essential in completing key repairs.

“I will continue to work with other partners including Tamworth Council, Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to protect our Castle, develop it as a key focus of the town and maximise the benefit of the wider heritage assets across Tamworth and the villages.”

Since her election as MP, Sarah has been campaigning hard to protect Tamworth Castle including recently receiving the Prime Minster's backing in Parliament on 22nd January during PMQs, and having the Castle put on Historic England's At Risk Register - a key component to open the door to more funding.

Tamworth Castle a unique piece of our heritage. Tamworth Castle has a fantastic story dating back thousands of years, once used as a residence of the Kings of Mercia during the Anglo-Saxon Period. It was then vacated during the time of the Vikings and rebuilt during the Norman conquest after 1066. During the British Civil Wars, it was captured by the Parliamentarian forces after a two-day siege. The site has a story to tell but is facing structural challenges. Being on the At Risk Register means that the Castle is in a much better position to obtain funding for restoration, refurbishment and activity programs.

The Castle is a registered museum and hosts a selection of the Staffordshire Hoard that visitors can see, whilst it is on loan. Its year-round events take place in both the Castle and its grounds with many being free to access.