Clitheroe Castle Keep Repairs on Course for Autumn Completion

Phase One of the scheme has focused on the castle’s 800-year-old stone keep, which dominates Clitheroe and can be seen for miles around.

Scaffolding and a distinctive white cover were erected around the keep in December, since which contractors have been fixing crumbling stonework, fitting new flashing to prevent water damage and thinning surrounding overgrown foliage to reveal more of the eye-catching structure.

External repointing work starts over the coming weeks and is expected to be completed in September, after which the cover will be removed and the scaffolding dismantled.

The keep refurbishment is part of an extensive programme of improvements to Clitheroe Castle and its grounds taking place throughout 2026 featuring new benches, bins and signposts, resurfaced paths and steps, improved lighting, a £600,000 revamp of the iconic bandstand and a new roof at the museum.

There will also be improvements to the park’s multi-use games area (MUGA) and skatepark, while an outdoor gym area on the former tennis courts is now up and running.

Clitheroe Castle’s Grade I-listed keep is the second smallest stone-built keep in England and a scheduled monument, which means it is a nationally-recognised archaeological site.

It dates back to the 12th Century and was originally the centre of a vast estate owned by the de Lacy family.

Clitheroe Castle remained in private ownership until 1920, when it was bought with money raised by public subscription to create a memorial to 260 soldiers from the town who died in the First World War.