howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
just a reminder that after tomorrow the castle will be open only at weekends until next march.
hopefully staff affected will find alternative employment.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Howard.
I think English Heritage are totally wrong on this; they should have found ways to market the Castle (and that of Deal and Walmer) during the winter months.
A few seasons ago, they allowed the two accommodations groups to give out 2-4-1 vouchers and these proved very popular with the many guests staying in Dover. If they allowed them to start again, it would also help the businesses in Dover and keep the Castle open.
Roger
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Like DHB, another Quango able to plough its own furrow with no regard whatsoever for its surroundings.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
Peter, that sums up them up perfectly.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I hear rumblings of possibly wanting volunteers at the castle....
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
would they dare try it on with the prices they charge for admission?
they are already totally reliant on volunteers for their other dover property.
Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
The castle closes during the winter months to save money, or so they say, by taking on summer staff on zero hour contracts EH believes that it cuts costs, there are a few staff members enployed during the winter but not nearly as many as a couple of years ago. Last October saw some 25 members of staff being made redundant, many, like myself, with 20+ years in harness(I did 25 years)
All that site knowledge and experence lost at the stroke of a pen. As for volunteers, this has raised it's head so many times in the past that I have lost count, the castle is a great place to work on a hot sunny summers day but no one is going to take the job on a day like today I can asure you! The keepyard can be a very unpleasent place to be during the winter!
I agree that EH are wronge in what they are doing, after all the casle is ours, not thiers, but as Peter said, another quango......
Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
Another few thoughts on the Castle, this winter work is being done on the spur and east casemates, both of which are in a sad state of repair, this work being years overdue. The 'new' exhibition in the Great Tower (it used to be called the Keep) is also in need of repair as it is now a 'hands on' exhibit rather then a 'hands off' as it was when it went in. There is some talk of what will be the future of 2 Brigade at Shorncliffe, the effects will affect the castle, as the Brigadier of 2 Brigade lives in the Constables Tower. To cut the running costs of the tower most of the staff have been made redundant or have retired and not been replaced, should the Brigade, and with it the Brigadier, go, what then for the tower which is currently run by the MOD and not EH. Rumour says that EH will turn it into holiday lets or offices for local managment! That's something to think about.......
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
holiday lets would be favourite.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
And once again there are talks of parking at Broadlees, years after huge amounts of £££££ were spent on consultancy for the same thing then dropped (did the mess building there spontaneously combust about the same time?)
Meanwhile thousands are being spent on minibus hire to ship people from the field (which also costs ££££ each time). I can't see the problem with how it worked before with people walking up through Fitzwilliams entrance !!!!
Be interesting to see what ideas come (or more likely allowed!) from the new marketing manager.......
Been nice knowing you :)
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,560
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22616264
How the men from the ministry saved England's heritage
Nice picture at the start, although having watched it, there's no further mention of Dover.
It seems to be a plug of Simon Thurley's book.
Guest 743- Registered: 28 Feb 2012
- Posts: 260
How to kill of even more tourism to Dover, shut the castle during weekdays. Bloody ridicules Dovers got virtually S all to see as it is. Can't understand this I often see coach loads of foreign school children visiting the castle during to week, if they cut the mid week admission costs and marketed events at the castle during the week for these visitors then they may entice even more.
That would be my plan anyway ;)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
spot on there john but the problem is that english heritage earn more money from these school trips than from the general public or so i've been told.
maybe someone on here as fuller information?