A major restoration of a Lake District castle has begun to secure its future as a visitor attraction.
Wray Castle, near Ambleside, is run by the National Trust.
The work is expected to take around three years.
Not a real castle, it was built as a private house built in in the Gothic Revival style in 1840. Beatrix Potter and her family stayed there on holiday in 1882.
In its time has also been a youth hostel, a base for the Freshwater Biological Association and a training college for Merchant Navy radio officers.
It was donated to the National Trust in 1929 and opened as an attraction in 2011.
The National Trust said the aim was to safeguard the building and its surroundings for future generations and create new opportunities for how the site can be used and experienced by visitors.
Improvements include:
- A new sewage treatment plant
- Essential maintenance repairs to the electrics
- An upgraded adventure playground
- Ongoing restoration of estate buildings
- Urgent and essential work to the roof
- Essential work to the fire protection systems
- Wider structural and environmental improvements
The first building to be refurbished was the Glass House, which is where visitors can find out about the project.
Next on the list for refurbishment is the Porter’s Lodge.
The cost of the refurbishment has yet to be disclosed as initial investigations into the full scope of the work are currently being carried out.
Conservation surveys are ongoing, with attention focused on structural integrity, electrical systems, and historical features, the National Trust said.
While the castle building itself is closed, the wider Wray estate remains open.
Laura Lee, general manager, said: “This project is a big step forward in protecting the building and helping us think creatively about what Wray can be in future.
!In the meantime, we’re keeping the estate open and welcoming, Wray is one of the few places that the public can visit on the west side of the Lake. There will plenty happening outdoors throughout the year.”
