Riber Castle

Riber Castle, a castellated mansion originally built by the esteemed industrialist and philanthropist John Smedley between 1862 and 1868 stands as a beacon of history over Matlock. Originally constructed as John Smedley's private mansion, the castle was built of gritstone from a local quarry which was pulled up the 200 metre high hill by a series of pulleys, showcasing a significant engineering feat of its timThe castle cost a reported £70,000 to complete, equivalent to £11m in today's money.

The castle was occupied by the Smedley Family until the death of John Smedley's wife in 1892. It then became an all boys boarding school. The arrival of WW2 sawit requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence for food storage. At this point the Castle's decline accelerated, until it stood as a towering ruin above Matlock with only the outer walls remaining.

Howard Wynne's Structural and Civil engineers have provided bespoke designs and detailing to reinstate and repair the castle ruins to replicate what John Smedley had imagined all those years ago.

The Castle now fully restored boasts 26 luxurious apartments, offering some of the finest views in England

Our Involvement

Structural Engineering

• Structural survey of existing castle.
• Prepared engineering specification and detailed designs for all structural work in both castle and new build structures.
• Provided structural assessment of existing structure and suitability for reuse.
• Provided intensive remedial and repair details.
• Carried out regular site inspections and monitoring of the renovationof existing castle

Civil Engineering

• Design of new drainage strategy and overcome a complex SUDS attenuation scheme.
• Provided details of off site highway improvement.