Lottery agrees to help fund study of Iron Age fort site

Kirklees Council wants Castle Hill to be known as a landmark for wildlife and recreation.

It is hoped the bid, if successful, will promote the use of Castle Hill, regarded as one of Yorkshire’s most important early Iron Age hill forts, as an important heritage asset and visitor destination, while taking steps to protect its heritage and landscape.

A council spokeswoman said: “Development funding of £14,300 has been awarded to help the council progress their plans to apply for a full grant of £851,700 at a later date.

“This means that the first challenge on the road to a full heritage grant has been met and the council can enter the development phase which involves detailed consultation with the local community over its proposals.”

The development grant will allow the authority to much together a more detailed bid for backing.

It will allow a non-invasive geophysical archaeological survey of the entire Castle Hill site, plus a detailed consultation for a proposed education resource guide and information for schools in the Victoria Jubilee Tower. It will also help the council draw up a second funding bid.

The spokeswoman added: “However, competition for funding is fierce and success isn’t guaranteed.”

Castle Hill, above Almondbury, can be seen for miles around and is a scheduled ancient monument that has been settled for at least 4,000 years.

A fort was built on the site in about 600BC.