Lottery Bid
In 2003, Canterbury City Council decided to begin the long and complicated process of applying for lottery funding to restore and adapt the main building, toilet block and surrounding park for use by a wider range of local people and visitors.
Whitstable Castle and the surrounding public park received a Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund grant award of £2,063,000 in June 2008. This money, together with a contribution of £494,218 plus staff time and expertise from Canterbury City Council enabled the Castle building and park to be made accessible and welcoming to visitors.
Heritage Key improvements forming part of the successful lottery bid:
Main castle building
- New entrance ramp and steps
- New reception space
- New lift providing access to most levels
- Existing toilets to be rationalised
- New Adams room extension to replace the existing
- Roof and structural repairs
- Kitchen improvements
Toilet block
- Existing building structure to be repaired
- New layout with disabled WC and baby-changing facility
Gardens
- Creation of larger rose garden with restored fountain
- New toddlers play space
- Improved parking environment with increased capacity
- Enlarged grass terrace and new paved sun terrace to Castle building overlooking bowling green
- Creation of Regency style garden layout with appropriate paths, planting and furniture
- Addition of lighting to main routes and signage throughout gardens
- New boundary railings and gates able to be locked at night
- New gardeners compound space for storage and plant propagation
Tea garden
- Repairs to flights of steps in terraced garden
- New fixed timber bench seats
- Earth modelling and planting to define outdoor performance area