GLENDALE'S KING-SIZED TASK

26 Feb 2015

Lincoln Castle Revealed was an ambitious project to bring William the Conqueror’s fortress back to life. It was delivered by Lincolnshire County Council, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and its completion coincided with the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta this year. The wider project involved opening the castle’s prison, building visitor facilities, and the creation of an underground vault which will house Lincoln’s Magna Carta, one of only four surviving original copies of the document which launched parliamentary democracy. The castle itself dates back to 1068 and was one of several castles built by William the Conqueror following his victory at The Battle of Hastings.

Glendale, the UK’s leading provider of specialist green services, including arboriculture, grounds and estate management and landscaping, delivered the final stage of the three-year project.
In medieval times, the role of the castle groundsman was crucial. As well as needing a vast knowledge of trees, herbs and plants and being responsible for the upkeep and cosmetic appearance of the grounds, the groundsman's work was vital to the safety and protection of the castle. Groundsmen were responsible for digging defensive ditches and building barriers during times of war. They would also cut, trim and destroy ivy and other dangerous plants which would grow upwards along stone walls and could be climbed by enemies trying to gain access to the castle.

Nowadays, it’s unlikely that the person responsible for maintaining a castle’s grounds will have to deal with an impending enemy attack, but that doesn’t make their role any less critical. National green services provider, Glendale, was responsible for the restoration of grounds at Lincoln Castle as part of a £22million renovation programme, ‘Lincoln Castle Revealed.’
Glendale was selected to deliver a 


The team also returned the excavated shrub areas to turf, imported fresh topsoil, and removed old benches, footpaths and stone walls from the site.

Due to the nature of the location, Glendale’s teams were accompanied by an archaeologist while the work was carried out, in case any team members discover any historic artefacts. Archaeologists made several exciting finds on the site including possible leftovers from a feast for King Henry II found in a medieval rubbish pit. Bones discovered from animals and fish included conger eels, turbot, crab, lark, marsh harrier, venison and swan.


The scope of Glendale’s work covers a range of sectors – from public and private, to commercial, housing and utilities – but this was the first time it had restored the grounds of an 11th century fortress. The project came at a significant time for the green services provider, its 25th anniversary year.

Andy Ansell, regional director at Glendale, said: “Glendale delivers green services in all kinds of locations, from cemeteries to golf courses, but Lincoln Castle is certainly the oldest and most high profile site ever we’ve worked on. It’s a varied job which will require an intricate attention to detail but our extensive experience means we’re more than up to the task. It’s a busy site with a tight timescale, so it will be a challenging but rewarding project.”

Amanda Bond, senior development officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "The Glendale team is doing a fantastic job on site. We are now mid-way through the programme of works and the transformation is already clear. The grounds are an extremely important part of the Castle attraction and we are on course to ensure they add to the overall experience and enjoyment for visitors.”

The Coach House
Duxbury Hall Road
PR7 4AT
Chorley, Lancashire
United Kingdom

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