Castle owner's battle plan to pay off debts

Whittington Castle's chair of trustees has come up with a three-point plan to clear its debts.

The Preservation Trust, which runs the 900-year-old Norman Castle in Oswestry, Shropshire, on behalf of the community, owes more than £60,000.

Its chairman Ed Hamilton-Hill said part of the plan was to reopen an on-site cafe which closed in December because it was losing money.

Other fundraising plans include adding a farm shop, delicatessen, artisan crafts and a marquee.

The castle has been in Mr Hamilton-Hill's family for hundreds of years.

Thought to have been built in the 1100s, it is one of the few castles in England which is run by the community since the village of Whittington was given a 99-year lease in 2002.

Mr Hamilton-Hill said the arrangement had been a success until the coronavirus pandemic and rising costs, when the trust struggled to manage the finances.

This led to the tearoom closing in December, with the loss of 11 jobs.

He said £20,000 owed to former staff had not been paid nor £46,000 in VAT, but added that the trust was in the process of raising money which was "going really well".

Mr Hamilton-Hill said he wanted to turn the tearoom, which has a new operator, into a restaurant and deli with a takeaway service and farm shop.

He also plans to introduce an event space in a temporary marquee as well as artisan crafters, such as blacksmiths and candlemakers, working under the Whittington Castle brand.

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