Key stakeholders and specialists are coming together tomorrow, Wednesday 7 September, to discuss future options for Sandsfoot Castle.
Officers from Dorset Council, which owns the castle, will meet with representatives from Historic England, Weymouth Town Council, Natural England the Jurassic Coast Trust to discuss the options available to help preserve the Castle.
In November 2021, Sandsfoot Castle which is a Scheduled Monument, was added to Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ Register, as it continued to deteriorate. In January 2021, the council fenced the Castle off to the public after cracks appeared on its walls, and health and safety concerns were raised.
A structural survey of the Castle has been undertaken by Historic England and a feasibility study is being carried out by consultants Aecom, who have produced a list of options to discuss with stakeholders.
The list of options to manage coastal erosion that threatens the castle, range from doing nothing to implementing high-cost cliff stabilisation work including drainage to help stop the cliff from further erosion.
Cllr Tony Ferrari, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Assets and Property, said:
“It’s important that we are discussing the options for the Castle this week with our stakeholders. Their views and direction will help inform the next steps. We must be mindful that while the castle is a scheduled monument and much-loved local landmark, it does sit at the top of a very unstable cliff, which is rapidly eroding.
“Significant defence works would have the most impact on the Jurassic Coast, have the highest carbon footprint and be the most expensive option but would deliver the best long-term stability to the Castle. At the other end of the scale, we could make no intervention. This would have lowest environmental impact and cost but would eventually result in the loss of this Scheduled Monument.
“I would like to ask the people of Dorset what would they like to see happen with the Castle? Do we let it succumb to the elements, do we spend lots of money stabilising the cliffs to stop it falling into the sea, or should we try and find a middle ground which will do both?”
If you have a view on what you think the council should do to protect the castle, or not, please email property.helpdesk@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 30 September.
I have mixed feelings. The fact that we are aware of the fossil content of the Jurassic Coast is mainly due to erosion. Also we have to accept that this will lead to the loss of ground and the things that stand there. However, in the view of Historic England is the Castle “worth” the expense of protecting it? Or if has been properly recorded should nature takes its course.. The “Carbon footprint “ comment is a “red herring” , it is all down to have we the money and on balance is this the best thing to spend it on!
I feel it would be a very sad loss of such important heritage to let nature take its course and so I think spending to save it is justified . A “middle ground” option could be the best solution if such a thing is possible?
Our History and historical sites should be protected without question.
regarding sandsfoot castle i would certainly like to see at least a middleground option for the castle, if it were possible i would like to see an attempt to save the castle without spending huge amounts of taxpayers money, if this proves to be unachievable then i think at the very least a survey should be done and a realistic costing should be made available for further discussion, it would be a huge shame to let it simply fall into the sea, perhaps funds could be made available from various sources ie all agencys working together
Find a good middle way this is an historic building within a setting which is significant. It would be an act of corporate vandalism to just let it rot and decay.
Let it go. Much more wants doing in Weymouth.
Have you explored getting a grant from English Heritage or other Government agencies or the National Lottery ? I would suggest that that would be the first thing to do. This is a country problem not just a town or county one.
Yes, we are working with Historic England on this.
I would like the castle to be saved. By doing defence work it would also secure the future of the housing around there as well as the castle its self.
I would like the future of the castle preserved even if people cannot go inside it any more. The whole of that side of Portland Harbour is suffering from erosion including the Rodwell trail. This will in the long term put housing at risk as well as the castle.
Surely this should be saved in some manner? Seems a very black and white comment on its possible future and how is it safe just to let the structure “fall into the sea”
I would love for Dorset Council to try and save Sandsfoot Castle for the future of everyone.
This historic landmark should be saved for future generations.
The most economical middle option obviously seems the one to choose.
Many people enjoy the Sandsfoot Castle area. To allow the Castle to collapse would be yet another degradation of our history.
Much money is wasted by this council on unfortunate decisions; for instance the unsightly, dangerous and unnecessary poles along the cycle lanes at Redlands. Trying to avoid these posts when turning onto the road from a side road for the first time is a potential accident many locals agree.
Yes I would love for the castle to be preserved, if at all possible.
M.Bye
I was a child we love going there it’s history it’s my child hood it my daughter’s and my son’s and now my grandkids I want it there for the history of us all and for future klds to take as well as the pond and rest of it.its not just a castle it’s a memory for years and generation past and future
Your being too sentimental it’s time to let it fall into the sea…
I believe we should wait until it falls into the sea and then repair the cliffs before rebuilding it…