Astley Castle
Description
Astley Castle in Nuneaton stands as a benchmark for contemporary restoration, earning the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2013 for its visionary approach. Once a roofless ruin with centuries of decay, the medieval structure – formerly owned by the three queens of England – was transformed into a remarkable holiday residence by Witherford Watson Mann Architects for the Landmark Trust.
Rather than replicating the past, the architects Witherford Watson Mann preserved the castle’s raw, fragmented presence and inserted a modern home within its ancient walls. New Petersen brickwork carefully binds the medieval remnants, stabilising the structure while leaving elements of ruin exposed to maintain a sense of historical continuity. The result is a sensitive, layered composition of past and present – functional, architectural, and symbolic.
Requirements
EBM worked closely with the design team to source and specify a brick that would complement the surviving fabric while clearly expressing the contemporary intervention. We proposed the Petersen D36 Flensborg format – a refined, elongated yellow brick – chosen for its ability to visually and materially bridge the old and new. Our technical input extended to special shape design and detailing, ensuring that the new brickwork supported the structure while enhancing the architectural dialogue between eras.
Location
Key challenges
1/ Selecting a brick format that respected the castle’s historic fabric while clearly marking new work
2/ Designing brickwork to stabilise deteriorated masonry in a structurally meaningful way
3/ Balancing contemporary craftsmanship with conservation sensitivity
Highlights & Achievements
- — RIBA Stirling Prize 2013: Winner
- — One of the Landmark Trust’s most iconic properties
- — A pioneering example of modern architecture embedded in historic preservation
