Hylton Castle wins Regional and National Award

The development of Hylton Castle has won the 2020 Construction Excellence Conservation and Regeneration Regional and National award.

The project won against 6 other entries, all put forward after successfully winning their regional categories, in 2020. The ceremony, held in January, saw Hylton Castle crowned as the Construction Excellence Conservation and Regeneration National Award Winner. The award acknowledges the years of hard work from the dedicated team of talented and enthusiastic contractors, consultants and volunteers.

Multiple organisations worked on the renovations with the aim of breathing new life into the historic, ancient building, which serves as a focal point to many. A multi discipline team was appointed, with BDN Ltd providing structural engineering services, alongside Sunderland City Council, Beaumont Brown Architects, Hylton Castle Trust, William Birch and Sons Ltd, Buro Four, Northern Archaeological Associates, JHPartners, Thornton Firkin and Classic Masonry.

The development saw the historic castle renovated into a 14th Century Gatehouse into a heritage led multi-functional space with a learning centre, café, exhibition, and flexible events space for community and educational use. As well as saving a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument from ruin, the restoration will create a new, vibrant future for the landmark and its local communities.

‘The Awards showcase and celebrate achievements by projects, organisations and individuals from the built environment as they continue to set the benchmark for excellence. The quality of the submissions has once again been exceptional’.

Catriona Lingwood

Chief Executive of Constructing Excellence in the North East

*(Images by Beaumont Brown Architects via Hylton Castle, A Heritage Led Visitor Centre located in the heart of the local community. « Beaumont Brown Architects )*

The redevelopment commenced in September 2017, with the aim of completing in 2020. £2.9m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund was matched by over £1.5m from Sunderland City Council to help fund the restoration.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted significantly on activity and delivery of plans, however the castle is set to open to the public soon.

Hylton Castle’s restoration symbolises that it is very much a Castle in the Community and we are so proud to have contributed to the development of this nationally important heritage asset.