Thirlwall Castle, Northumberland, Wins National Recognition: 9th April 2003

Conservation and access work by Northumberland National Park Authority at Thirlwall Castle near Greenhead, Northumberland, won a 2003 Civic Trust Commendation.

Northumberland National Park staff travelled to the Civic Trust's annual Awards Night, at the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester on Thursday 3rd April 2003 and were thrilled to hear the announcement.

Albert Weir who co-ordinated the work for the National Park Authority said, "The three years of hard work involving many different staff, specialists and the local community, has resulted in Thirlwall Castle being officially open to the public for the first time in 600 years!   We were delighted that the Civic Trust recognised that the extensive work to make the castle ruins safe was carried out so unobtrusively that it is difficult to tell that there has been any intervention.  The castle is a scheduled ancient monument so re-pointing was carried out using appropriate mortar, and cracks and crevasses replanted with indigenous lichens and grasses."

The Civic Trust judges commented: "The scheme is successful because, while making the ruin accessible to the public, the design detracts in no way from the character of the castle". The designer was Robin Kent.

The Civic Trust Awards scheme is one of the largest and most respected environmental design award schemes in Europe.  It gives out four categories of awards: Awards, Commendations and Mentions, along with Special Awards, which are sponsored for specific aspects such as rural design, access, urban design and sustainability.

Unlike other award schemes, the Civic Trust Awards celebrate not only design excellence, but also focus on the relationship between projects and the environment and the community in which they are set.