THE Mail reported in January 1996 that English Heritage was giving Muncaster Castle £450,000 towards the first stage of fixing its leaking roof.

The family had been told extensive repairs and renovations were desperately needed at the 13th century castle, which is classed as an ancient monument.

Some of the family’s silver had been sold at Sotheby’s in London to raise cash for the work.

One of the family members, Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington, said the grant would pay for the first stage of repairs and the family could then apply for more funds.

English Heritage was putting another £87,740 towards fixing historic gardens at the castle.

The grant would help refurbish the parkland and gardens where original layouts parts of which date back to the mid 18th century were deteriorating.

Muncaster Estate was matching the grant and work had already begun on reinstating the structure of the gardens.

A renowned botanical collection was established at Muncaster in the 1860s and strengthened after Sir John Ramsden inherited the property at the beginning of the twentieth century.

He introduced even more exotic plants from expeditions he sponsored to the Far East.

Features to be restored included the Ghyll a colourful ornamental Victorian woodland walk laid out along one of the approaches to the castle.

Another priority was restoring the 18th century terrace, one of the earliest of the designed landscape features at Muncaster.

In November 1996 The Mail was at Muncaster Castle to talk to Peter Frost-Pennington about the repair and restoration work.

Since the summer contractors had been hard at work to replace and repair the roof.

Peter, the general manager at Muncaster, lived there with Iona, their three children and in-laws Patrick and Phyllida Duff-Pennington.

"I'm feeling very positive about the future since the new roof began to go on," said Peter.

"There is still a very long way to go though and the whole refurbishment programme will cost £2.4 million."