by Graham Tutthill

Visitor numbers at Dover Castle have risen by more than 40 per cent, since the £2.45 million colourful transformation of the Great Tower.

Almost 117,000 people have toured the halls of the Great Tower - previously known as the Norman keep - since it was re-launched on August 1.

In August alone, 62,680 people visited, an increase of 49 per cent on the same month last year, and visits by English Heritage members soared by 89 per cent.

The Great Tower has been transformed into King Henry II’s impressive palace - looking as it did when it was newly completed in 1186 - with rich and colourful furniture and fittings.

“It is money well spent,” said Simon Lang, head of visitor operations at Dover Castle.

“It was designed to connect with the rest of Dover and we are now starting to see people making two-day, rather than one-day, visits,” he said.

“Guest houses and restaurants are benefiting from it.

“We aim to continue this growth well into our 2010 season and are forecasting a 20 per cent uplift in visitor figures compared to the months in 2009 before the Great Tower opened.”

English Heritage have been working closely with Visit Kent to attract more visitors and chief executive Sandra Matthews-Marsh said the castle was now one of the top two or three most significant buildings in the United Kingdom.

“Visit Kent view Dover Castle as one of the jewels in the Kent tourism crown,” she said.

“This has become an international centre of excellence for interpretation and story-telling. It has really brought history alive.”

Full story in the Dover Mercury,Thursday November 19.