Heritage Sites Bag £103 Million Government Lifeline
Britain’s treasured heritage sites are getting a massive cash injection to survive the coronavirus crisis. A whopping £103 million from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund will be shared among 445 organisations to help them reopen, repair, and protect jobs.
Famous Landmarks and Hidden Gems Saved
This vital funding, managed by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, targets iconic heritage spots across the country. From Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens and the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincolnshire, funds will safeguard sites dear to communities nationwide.
Even locations immortalised on screen will benefit, including Gloucester Cathedral, the magical Hogwarts cloisters from Harry Potter, and the stately Highclere Castle, home to Downton Abbey.
Big Grants for Big Names and Vital Repairs
- Grants range from £10,000 up to £1 million, with an additional round offering up to £3 million coming soon.
- 12 major organisations like English Heritage and Historic Royal Palaces will receive £34 million to resume crucial construction and maintenance.
- The Architectural Heritage Fund also scored a grant to help charities in historic buildings develop pandemic recovery plans.
Leaders Praise Government Support to Protect National Treasures
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden: “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post covid.”
Lucy Worsley, Historic Royal Palaces Chief Curator: “The grant we have received from the Culture Recovery Fund will enable us to resume critical conservation work, ensuring Britain’s most historic buildings get the care they deserve while supporting specialist craftspeople.”
Duncan Wilson, Historic England Chief Executive: “This funding is an essential lifeline for our heritage and those who tirelessly conserve it. It helps pay the bills, keeps skilled crafts alive, and kickstarts vital repairs.”
Ros Kerslake, National Lottery Heritage Fund Chief Executive: “Heritage creates jobs and drives tourism. This funding is crucial for wellbeing and economic recovery. It has stopped heritage sites and organisations from being lost forever.”
The government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund is securing the future of museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas, heritage sites, and music venues, ensuring Britain’s cultural heartbeat keeps pounding after the pandemic.
