Conisbrough’s local MP, Caroline Flint, has welcomed a decision by the Heritage Lottery Fund to grant a £900,000 bid for a new visitor centre at Conisbrough Castle.

Said Caroline “This is great news for Conisbrough - and for tourism, in Doncaster.

"I have lobbied the Heritage Lottery Fund because the £900,000 funding has the potential to transform the tourism at the Castle and play a role in the regeneration of Conisbrough town, which has not benefitted greatly from this brilliant asset being on its doorstep.  The plans foresee a growth in visitors and that can only be good for the town.”

The bid for the new visitor centre also includes a programme of education and outreach to promote community involvement.  The bid may also help Doncaster to create a heritage tourism trail to attract day visitors to the area.  The 800 year old castle, made famous by featuring in Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe, sits just a few hundred metres from a 300AD meeting cross, which is part of the Christian heritage dating back to the era of Roman occupation.

The bid to Heritage Lottery Fund received the green light on 22 June.