Donald Insall Associates appointed to repair and transform the Lord Leycester Hospital
Lord Leycester Hospital has appointed Donald Insall Associates as lead consultant for a £3.5m project for the repair and reordering of the Grade I listed Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick, one of the finest examples of medieval courtyard architecture in Britain.
Established by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester during the reign of Elizabeth I, the hospital has been a place of refuge for soldiers since 1571. To this day, it provides a home to eight service members who contribute to the charitable institution by welcoming the public to the site and providing anecdotes and tours of the Hospital.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and others, the project will restore and transform the hospital into an exciting visitor attraction, whilst still being true to its core mission of proving a home for veterans.
Insall is responsible for improving the visitor experience, repairing the medieval fabric, and delivering a conservation management plan, which will inform the design. Working with The Creative Core to interpret the site, areas such as the Master’s house, once visited by luminaries such as Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde, will be opened up to the public for the first time. The Brethren’s kitchen, which has been used as a refectory for over 500 years, will also be expanded, and access for all will be improved including the provision of a new lift to the upper levels.
Insall is also responsible for carrying out condition surveys and leading a multi-disciplinary team including Mann Williams, BCA Consultants, PMP Consultants and Fire Engineers OFR, to ensure appropriate repair of the historic fabric, structure and services.
Documenting and conserving the Hospital’s substantial archives is also part of the project, together with seeking gifts and pledges by May 2021 to help secure a successful NLHF Round 2 Submission.
“The Grade I listed Lord Leycester Hospital is a building of incredible importance, not only regionally, but nationally, with connection to compelling historical figures from Elizabeth I to Oscar Wilde. Donald Insall Associates is delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Hospital and the design team they have assembled, to help secure its future and bring its many treasures and fascinating stories fully to light.” Matthew Vaughan, Associate Director, Donald Insall Associates
