Memorial to Former Chairman Unveiled at Dover Castle
A plaque was unveiled today (8 July 2009) at the new visitor admissions building at Dover Castle in Kent in memory of former English Heritage Chairman Lord Bruce-Lockhart, who died last summer. It was unveiled by Lady Bruce-Lockhart in the presence of their son Mark, English Heritage's Chief Executive, Simon Thurley, and English Heritage Commissioners.
In his brief time as Chairman, Lord Bruce-Lockhart made a great contribution to English Heritage, battling hard in last year's Government spending review and securing a reversal of our real-term cash decline for the first time in 10 years. He was also instrumental in helping Kent County Council and Dover District Council to secure the £3.8 million announced for Dover under the Government's Sea Change Programme. The fund will be used on a major investment programme for Dover Castle which includes the new visitor admissions building, as well as kick starting a number of regeneration projects in the town which will benefit all those living, working and visiting there.
Simon Thurley, English Heritage Chief Executive said: "Lord Bruce-Lockhart was an inspirational and respected leader. He also loved Kent, particularly its rich heritage. A memorial plaque at Dover's great castle, with its strategic and commanding location on the White Cliffs, will serve as a lasting tribute to a great man."
Carefully sited in an elevated position opposite the Officers New Barracks with views overlooking the English Channel, the new visitor admissions building is easily accessible to visitors from the main car parks but does not detract from the historic setting of Dover Castle itself.
The new glass and oak timber clad building, designed by award-winning architects Wilkinson King, is almost twice the size of the previous temporary one and has been designed with an innovative flat 'green roof' to help the building blend into the historic Dover landscape. Dover Castle currently attracts more than 300,000 visitors per year and that figure is expected to grow by 60,000 over the next two to three years, with all the planned improvements.
Tracey Wahdan, English Heritage Visitor Operations Director for the South East said: "Dover Castle is one of our flagship sites, second only to Stonehenge in popularity. Visitors to the site are expected to soar by 20% over the next few years as we continue to enhance what's on offer at the castle. With all the exciting new improvements, we needed a larger, more welcoming admissions building. This new building provides visitors with the warm welcome they expect, will help speed up the ticketing process and provide space where visitors can orient themselves before exploring the castle and our new experience, King Henry II's medieval court in the Great Tower opening in August."
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