Oakham Castle in Rutland reopens after £2m restoration
- Published

Oakham Castle opened again at the weekend after being closed since September while restoration work took place
A 12th Century castle has reopened after a £2.1m restoration project.
Oakham Castle, in Rutland, has been closed since September to allow for the restoration of the Great Hall and cleaning of the 230 commemorative horseshoes inside.
The ancient defensive walls have also been revealed for the first time in 150 years.
It is one of the oldest surviving secular buildings in the country.
Oakham Castle, which dates back to 1180, was built as a manor house and was later heavily fortified with walls, a moat and a drawbridge but by the 16th Century most of the castle was a ruin.
Other works that have taken place include improvements to the castle's heating and electrical system, new footpaths and a new toilet block.

When a member of the Royal family or a noble visits Rutland for the first time, they traditionally give a commemorative horseshoe to Oakham Castle
For the past 550 years, monarchs and peers have traditionally given a decorative horseshoe to the town on their first visit to Rutland.
The Earl of Gainsborough, who lives in the county, will be first person to undertake the honour later since the Duchess of Cornwall in 2014.

The defensive walls of Oakham Castle were hidden underneath ivy and trees for more than a century
Officials are hoping that castle, which sees 30,000 visitors every 12 months, can attract 15,000 more per year.
Robert Clayton, head of culture and registration at Rutland County Council, said the castle had been in a "state of decay" for a number of years.

A number of traditional Norman activities were put on for visitors to mark the castle's reopening
"It's the oldest aisled hall in the country and the oldest continually operated court in the country," he said.
"The walls have been covered up with ivy and had trees growing out of them for hundreds of years and we are still in the process of removing that. That's going to take a bit longer."

The work included the cleaning of the castle's 230 commemorative horseshoes
Court hearings are still held at the castle every two years - with several people sentenced there last year. It is also used for weddings.
The castle reopening is being marked with a series of activities, including Norman coin striking, falconry, archery and weaving.

The castle, which dates back to 1180, is one of the oldest surviving secular buildings in the country
- Published27 December 2015
- Published28 July 2014