06/09/2018

Repairs And Restoration Works For L'Derry Historic City Walls

Repairs and restoration works are to be undertaken at the Royal Bastion and Plinth on the historic City Walls in L'Derry thanks to funding from the Department for Communities.

Derry City and Strabane District Council will be undertaking the work after planning permission was granted by the Council's Planning Committee on 05 September 2018. The works, which are supported by the Friends of the Derry Walls and the Siege Heroes Museum, are due to get underway in Spring 2019.

The Plinth is the former base of the Walker's Pillar which sits along Grand Parade and has restricted access due to its current poor physical condition.

The proposed work will focus primarily on the Plinth itself, and will include repairs to stonework and railings, the removal of graffiti and replacement of the unsightly door and stairs. Repairs will also be carried out to the Royal Bastion including stonework cleaning while new interpretative panels will relate the present-day cityscape to the story of the Siege of Derry.

Damian Mulholland, Director of the North West Development Office at the Department for Communities said: "The funding from the Department will enable much needed restoration works to be completed to the Plinth and Royal Bastion. These works will facilitate improved access to the monument, which provides unique views over the City, and will make an important contribution to the physical regeneration of the City Walls. The interpretative panels to be installed will further enhance the visitor experience and will help develop an understanding of the history of the City."

Welcoming the restoration works the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr John Boyle said work to improve and enhance the historic Walls was very welcome news for the City and District and the wider region.

He said: "I am delighted that Council has been working in partnership with interested groups to carry out this much needed and important restoration work that when completed will make the historic Plinth more accessible to the public and enhance the ongoing work we are doing to enhance our physical regeneration and tourism offering. This work would not be possible without the funding that has been provided by the Department for Communities. A key element of the work will also be the positive impact it will have on social cohesion between different factions of the local community through the use of interpretation and animation."

(MH/CM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

17 January 2013
Belfast City Centre Works Announced
Motorists who use Belfast city centre could be in line for delays at the end of January, following the approval of the next phase of roadworks. Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced that the next phase of the Belfast on the Move works will begin on 28 January.
13 April 2007
Getting east Belfast back to work
A unique East Belfast based initiative is aiming to get the jobless back into the workplace. Funded by Belfast City Council, the Health Learning Works programme targets those who are socially excluded, such as the long-term unemployed, and those with long-term illnesses, as well as mothers wanting to return to work.
15 December 2005
Water Service unveils £28.7m Derry project
The Water Service has announced plans to start projects worth £28.7 million in the Derry City Council area over the next two years. In addition to the £25.
17 October 2014
£10m Invested In NI Schools
Over £10m has been invested in Northern Ireland schools under the Department of Education's minor works scheme between July and September this year. A total of 131 minor works projects were agreed across all board areas.
22 January 2014
£48m Invested In NI Schools
Over £48m was invested in the schools estate under the minor works scheme in 2013. Throughout the year, the funding was allocated to minor works contracts across Northern Ireland, with £6m being invested in 62 contracts in December alone.