English Heritage confirm Totnes Castle will no longer open over the winter

Concerns are being raised by locals in Totnes over the plans to close the site during the winter.

It's one of 21 locations managed by English Heritage as part of a wider review, which they say is part of a wider plan for the charity to 'meet the opportunities and challenges of the next few years from a position of strength.'

It comes as yesterday (24 March) the South Hams authority voted to ask the charity to re-think its plans.

In a statement sent to Greatest Hits Radio, English Heritage said: "Totnes Castle will be open daily from the end of this month (March) and remain open until approximately the beginning of November; the castle will then no longer be open at weekends over the Winter season.

"The reality is that we welcome a very small number of visitors to Totnes Castle at weekends during the winter months. Sadly, we have to be realistic that the money we spend on opening and staffing sites when visitors choose not to come could be better spent on caring for those sites, as well as the many places in our care which are free-to-visit but not free-to-maintain (most of our 400 sites across the country - fall into that category).

"The pandemic and its aftermath led to lasting changes in visitor expectations and behaviour, both domestically and internationally, while many of our visitors and members are facing challenges with the cost of living. High inflation has increased the cost of conservation work at our sites but significant and ongoing expenditure is still required if the condition of the sites in our care is not to deteriorate.

"English Heritage no longer receives or relies on regular funding from DCMS to care for the National Heritage Collection."

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