Clerks summary of Okehampton Castle public meeting on 11/07/2025

Ed McGregor – Volunteer and Engagement Manager, West - English Heritage
Cllr Maria Cooper – OHPC Chair
Cllr Richard Colman – OTC Mayor
Cllr Jan Goffey – OHPC

Approx 40 members of the public plus Clerk and other Cllrs from OHPC and OTC

History - Sydney Simmons, a local businessman, bought the castle site in 1911 and paid for ivy to be cleared and the ruined walls stabilised. In 1917 he gave the restored castle to the newly formed Okehampton Castle Trust, who employed a custodian and produced the first guide and map.

By the 1960s the trust was struggling to meet the costs of maintaining a ruined castle, and in 1967 it donated the castle to the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works. In 1972 Robert Higham of the University of Exeter began a programme of archaeological excavation and research. Since 1984 the castle ruins have been in the care of English Heritage.

In 2016 English Heritage became an independent charity with no government funding.
Any work that needs to take place has to be approved by Historic England.

English Heritage - Ed McGregor only been involved since March/April 2025 as the castle was making a loss. He was told (by EH) that the castle has had between 3-4,000 visitors for the last number of years. The public and long serving site manager disagreed and said the footfall was much higher. *Ed to check.
The castle is currently only open every 3^rd weekend each month for tour guides up until October 2025. Ed is keen to see the castle open to the public free of charge.
There are 3 tour guides (voluntary), 2 monitor volunteers (who check the building), 1 visitor volunteer and now they are looking for a social media volunteer.
Ed said EH are unable to pay for a custodian.

Chris Hatton spoke about the Heritage crime scheme. It’s a community led approach. He is looking for a local team. To be contacted directly.

Stone clearance activity planned for 12 August 2025. This is an annual activity to measure, weigh and label stones.

Comments\questions noted from the public\Cllrs:

·         It is not understood how the decision was reached to close the castle?

·         What about putting in an electronic door system now?

·         Need to look at better promotional deals, work with other organisations

·         Give the custodian more hours

·         Promote guided tours more

·         Work with the local schools to raise the profile of the castle, so the local youth can feel ‘proud’ of the castle

·         How much does it cost to run the castle each year?

 

·         There has been lots of stone removal since Covid-19

·         To perhaps address current vandalism concerns, look at putting in wildlife\CCTV cameras

·         EH said about the existing ticket office perhaps being offered out to tender to be on site and open as part of making the castle more accessible and free (plus local eyes checking for concerns)

·         How is EH marketing the castle?

·         Look at using the BID for marketing

·         The bottom meadow should be used for events

·         What about the car park. Could this be charged for?

·         Many people commented that people (tourists) have been in Okehampton specifically to visit the castle only to find it is closed this year.

·         Someone asked about the stone removal and said why aren’t the stones being put back? Concerned that EH can actually look after the castle?!

·         Some of the OTC councillors asked if the castle can be given back?

·         Any money made at the castle, does it stay in Okehampton castle?
(Answer: guided tours=general pot, TEXT to donate can be restricted to the site, but has to be spent in the same financial year. Any appeals set up can be kept for this site and carried over each year)

·         How many donation boxes are there?

·         It was questioned about the trust itself and whether that still carries any legal position. (Answer: EH believes the trust was dissolved). They have kept bluebell Sunday.

·         Someone said a sign is needed before the bridge on Castle Lane. (Clerk has checked and there is a sign. Photo sent to EH).

·         There needs to be a robust marketing policy

·         The custodian needs to be put back in place. Annual amount to be confirmed by EH. OTC and OHPC may consider.

·         The money generated at the castle should be used\kept for the castle

EH points (Ed McGregor)
* Ed to respond back to senior management at EH on the existing business model
* Now able to directly use Facebook (Ed’s team)
* Would like to make the castle open and free, to explain to visitors how much it costs and ask for a suggested donation. This will be voluntary and probably contactless. (Some people keen to have ‘boxes’ for cash, but EH concerned about theft/safety and believes contactless is best).
* Would hope we can work together to make this viable.

Ed McGregor to keep in touch with OHPC Clerk.

13th July 2025