Powderham gets grant to fix towers

Castellation repairs at the castle

Powderham Castle is set to receive a lifeline grant towards essential restoration of its iconic castellated towers from the Historic Houses Foundation.
 
The Historic Houses Foundation is a major beneficiary of the Heritage Stimulus Fund, recently announced by the government and Historic England. The Foundation funds architectural conservation and one of the only bodies able to support buildings that are privately owned, such as Powderham, which has been in the Courtenay family, home of the Earls of Devon since medieval times and one of England’s first neo-gothic buildings.  

Constructed at the end of the 14th century in homage to the French castles besieged by its builder Sir Philip Courtenay during the 100 Years’ War, it consisted of a medieval great hall flanked by six towers.  The castle was modernised and expanded during the 18th century into a grand gothic mansion with rococo interiors, but its castellated roofline and towers continue to define its baronial aesthetic.  The tops of these towers and their crenulations are in urgent need of attention and can now be restored.
 
Work will begin immediately and continue over the winter months before the start of the new tourist season next spring and is expected to provide employment to traditional craftsmen and building professionals in addition to other local employment opportunities.

 
Charlie Courtenay, Earl of Devon, says: “We are thrilled to be able to complete these much-needed repairs to Powderham’s four surviving towers and we are very grateful to the Historic Houses Foundation for its support.  This complex and essential program of works will ensure the castle is weatherproof, safe and secure for our visitors.  We are excited to work with such skilled professionals and craftsmen to deliver this high quality restoration project.”
 
Norman Hudson OBE, chairman of the Historic Houses Foundation says “Our grants go to historic buildings in all categories of ownership, so range far wider than the National Trust. That we have been selected as a Delivery Partner for this money indicates that the Government likes what we do and recognises the exceptionally cost-efficient way in which we achieve it. It is good news for historic buildings and good news for jobs and the local community”

The Earl of Devon, Charlie Courtenay, has excellent taste