A revamped visitor experience
The Lord Leycester
One of the UK's most significant medieval sites
One of the country’s most significant medieval sites reopened to the public in 2023 following a £4.5m, 18-month conservation project. The Lord Leycester has since welcomed bumper numbers of visitors who have enjoyed previously inaccessible parts of the 700-year-old buildings with an enhanced visitor experience.
The Grade I-listed, medieval timber-framed buildings are located within the Warwick Conservation Area. They represent some of the most significant European timber structures of their time, comprising three halls, a chapel dating originally from 1126 – rebuilt in the late 1380s and restored in 1860 by George Gilbert Scot – an inn with high-status early 17th-century accommodation, together with a Guild Hall (1450) and a cross-wing house.
A pragmatic conservation approach
The conservation approach has been pragmatic with each repair undertaken appropriately according to its context, rather than dogmatically. Key areas of work on the NLHF-funded project include the restoration of the fabric of the mediaeval architecture and the renewal of the almshouse comprising the veterans’ homes. The project has seen The Master’s House and the Medieval wall at the Lord Leycester opened to visitors for the first time in its history, with an overall 23% increase in how much of the historic site’s areas are accessible to the public.
Creating an architectural project that embraces the need to be commercially viable, accessible, and compliant but is also sensitive to the age and architectural integrity of our site is a very difficult balancing act. The DIA team did their very best to try to balance these requirements and although compromises have had to be made, the end result is that we are more accessible, safer, compliant, repaired and with the potential to attract many revenue-bearing visitors to our Heritage site – one of the best and most important medieval sites in Britain – perhaps Europe. It is not an easy undertaking in such a complex and demanding architectural site for an architectural team and the DIA team performed this task with grace, compassion and integrity.
Keeping traditions alive
The improvements also saw the creation of new exhibition areas and an enlarged visitor attraction area including a new reception, gift shop and a café located in the Great Hall, as well as external repairs of the almshouse that form the homes of the Brethren who currently live at the Lord Leycester.
The intricate and sensitive upgrade works and subsequent increased footfall means enables a sustainable future for The Lord Leycester, as it maintains a centuries-old tradition of hospitality, service and support for its Brethren.
Project team
- Client: The Lord Leycester
- Architect: Donald Insall Associates
- Structural Engineer: Mann Williams
- M&E Engineer: Bob Costello Associates
- Quantity Surveyor: PMP Consultants
- Interpretation Design: The Creative Core
- Contractor: Messenger BCR Group
With funding from
- NLHF
- Public donations
Awards
- Civic Trust AABC Conservation Award – Regional Finalist – West Midlands (2025)
- RICS Regional Award – West Midlands – Heritage Project (2024)
Project specs
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