Sizergh Castle, Sizergh, Kendal, Cumbria: Heritage Impact Assessment

Greenlane Archaeology was commissioned by The National Trust to carry out a heritage impact assessment for the proposed to change from energy supplied by fossil fuels to partial renewable energy at Sizergh Castle, which would involve the installation of a biomass boiler in the current plant room and solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the shop/café, and the excavation of trenching to reach the buildings to be heated with renewable energy.

Sizergh Castle is a Grade I Listed Building with the earliest elements dating to the medieval period. The Great Barn in the adjacent courtyard is a Grade II* Listed Building, thought to date to the late 16th century, and there are three further Listed Buildings within the Sizergh Castle buildings and grounds – the gate piers and garden walls to the west of the castle, the house and outbuildings forming the north side of the courtyard opposite the Great Barn, and the garden walls and summerhouse to the south of the castle; all of these are Grade II Listed Buildings. In addition, the area of proposed trenching falls almost entirely within the Sizergh Castle Registered Park and Garden, which is designated Grade II. Mitigation works were recommended in order to minimise any adverse effects.

The full report will be made available on the Archaeology Data Service website.