6 January 2022

A new icon for Alcester

For many years Oversley Castle has been unloved and untouched while a number of developers have tried and failed for find a use for it. Financially it is a black hole so there is no profit to be had in redeveloping either the existing building or reimagining it as we are now trying to do. Unfortunately due to work that was completed on the building back in the 1930’s we have a situation where Heritage England saw no value in listing the building and the existing fabric was of such a poor condition the cost and ability to redevelop it was unfeasible. Many parts of the building, including the tower were condemned so even if you had wanted to save it, it would need to be rebuilt again from the ground up.

Therefore earlier in 2021 we received news that our ability to demolish the existing building and recycle the materials into a new, ground up ‘castle’ got the green light. The first new castle to be built in the UK for a 100 years and one that as the new owner I will live in with my family for hopefully many happy years. Already our investment into the hill has been substantial seeing the investment into thousands of new trees, finishing off the work the previous developer didn’t manage to complete and finally finding a solution to the original building.

Work has begun and hopefully later this year you will start to see the new building rise from the ashes, so to speak, which will be much more in keeping in the local area being built from stone and oak with the highest levels of environmental standards possible. It will provide an updated and more in keeping position on the hill across the valley from Ragley Hall.

It is being covered by a well-known national television program so for those interested in the project keep an eye out later in 2023.