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Council announces plans to turn historic NI home at park into ‘cultural visitor experience'

Council announces plans to turn historic NI home at park into ‘cultural visitor experience'

Golden Thread Gallery has secured £83,270 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to undertake a feasibility study in partnership with Belfast City Council, which owns Wilmont House, which is a Grade B+ listed building, with the council also saying it is carrying out a condition assessment of the property to inform the study.
The feasibility work will explore the viability of transforming Wilmont House into 'a community and arts space' that 'celebrates the building's built, cultural, and environmental heritage.'
It also aims to make the most of its distinctive open space setting with a consultation among park users and community groups planned for the summer.
Footage of historic building - Potential restoration of Wilmont House moves a step close
Once complete, the findings from both the feasibility study and the condition assessment will be brought before councillors to decide how to progress any future works, including exploring a range of funding options.
Peter Richards and Sarah McAvera, Co-Directors with Golden Thread Gallery, said it will hopefully offer a 'unique experience for visitors.'
'We are thrilled to be working along with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Belfast City Council on the feasibility of restoring Wilmont House as a cultural venue,' they said.
'The gallery has been developing a collection of Northern Irish Art and Northern Ireland's first Visual Arts Research Library and Archive since 2019. This project will assess whether Wilmont House is an appropriate home for these and other collections to be seen and enjoyed by the residents of and visitors to Belfast.
'Wilmont House offers the perfect opportunity to blend art, culture and the environment and create a unique experience for visitors that could include sculpture trails, art activities, exhibitions and reading rooms.'
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, also celebrated the work and added: 'This is just the first step in a lengthy process and, while it isn't a guarantee that Wilmont House can be returned to its former glory any time soon, it's still a moment worth marking.
'Previous expressions of interest processes have not secured an economically viable use for this beautiful building, but we recognise its significance to the city, and the park, and we want to find a way of bringing it back into use that really works.
'Golden Thread Gallery approached the council last year with a vision for Wilmont House which reflects the amazing work they have done at Queen Street in Belfast city centre, transforming the former Craftworld premises into a vibrant gallery space with a strong community engagement ethos.
'Thanks to National Lottery players, our council has been able to access funding to breathe new life into other historic buildings, most recently at the Strand Cinema and Templemore Baths. We value the Heritage Fund's support to Golden Thread Gallery to undertake this feasibility study.
'This is an opportunity worth exploring and, while the concept of a community and arts space may grow and change as both these pieces of work progress, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Wilmont House.'
Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: 'Finding a sustainable future for Wilmont House is of great public interest and we are committed to strengthening heritage to be adaptive and financially resilient so that it contributes to communities and economies.
'We are pleased to be able to support Golden Thread Gallery with funding to provide capacity and expertise to develop their long-term organisational and financial plans and consider the role that Wilmont House could play in realising them.'

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Council announces plans to turn historic NI home at park into ‘cultural visitor experience'
Council announces plans to turn historic NI home at park into ‘cultural visitor experience'

Belfast Telegraph

time21-05-2025

  • Belfast Telegraph

Council announces plans to turn historic NI home at park into ‘cultural visitor experience'

Golden Thread Gallery has secured £83,270 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to undertake a feasibility study in partnership with Belfast City Council, which owns Wilmont House, which is a Grade B+ listed building, with the council also saying it is carrying out a condition assessment of the property to inform the study. The feasibility work will explore the viability of transforming Wilmont House into 'a community and arts space' that 'celebrates the building's built, cultural, and environmental heritage.' It also aims to make the most of its distinctive open space setting with a consultation among park users and community groups planned for the summer. Footage of historic building - Potential restoration of Wilmont House moves a step close Once complete, the findings from both the feasibility study and the condition assessment will be brought before councillors to decide how to progress any future works, including exploring a range of funding options. Peter Richards and Sarah McAvera, Co-Directors with Golden Thread Gallery, said it will hopefully offer a 'unique experience for visitors.' 'We are thrilled to be working along with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Belfast City Council on the feasibility of restoring Wilmont House as a cultural venue,' they said. 'The gallery has been developing a collection of Northern Irish Art and Northern Ireland's first Visual Arts Research Library and Archive since 2019. This project will assess whether Wilmont House is an appropriate home for these and other collections to be seen and enjoyed by the residents of and visitors to Belfast. 'Wilmont House offers the perfect opportunity to blend art, culture and the environment and create a unique experience for visitors that could include sculpture trails, art activities, exhibitions and reading rooms.' The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, also celebrated the work and added: 'This is just the first step in a lengthy process and, while it isn't a guarantee that Wilmont House can be returned to its former glory any time soon, it's still a moment worth marking. 'Previous expressions of interest processes have not secured an economically viable use for this beautiful building, but we recognise its significance to the city, and the park, and we want to find a way of bringing it back into use that really works. 'Golden Thread Gallery approached the council last year with a vision for Wilmont House which reflects the amazing work they have done at Queen Street in Belfast city centre, transforming the former Craftworld premises into a vibrant gallery space with a strong community engagement ethos. 'Thanks to National Lottery players, our council has been able to access funding to breathe new life into other historic buildings, most recently at the Strand Cinema and Templemore Baths. We value the Heritage Fund's support to Golden Thread Gallery to undertake this feasibility study. 'This is an opportunity worth exploring and, while the concept of a community and arts space may grow and change as both these pieces of work progress, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Wilmont House.' Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: 'Finding a sustainable future for Wilmont House is of great public interest and we are committed to strengthening heritage to be adaptive and financially resilient so that it contributes to communities and economies. 'We are pleased to be able to support Golden Thread Gallery with funding to provide capacity and expertise to develop their long-term organisational and financial plans and consider the role that Wilmont House could play in realising them.'

Sunday shopping in Belfast ‘an attack on Christian and family values', say Free Presbyterians
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Belfast Telegraph

time04-05-2025

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Historic railways named best attraction in Wales as £5m revamp is completed
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North Wales Live

time04-05-2025

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Hugely popular and historic railways in North Wales have been honoured by tourism bosses. The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (FFWHR) have recently been awarded for "Best Attraction" in Wales for 2025 by Visit Wales. The Railway is also celebrating the completion of a £5m project thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Building on the inscription of The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site, of which the railway is part, the Heritage Fund project set out to refresh this anchor attraction in North Wales, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this summer. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now The project included major works to revive the historic buildings at the railways works at Boston Lodge. These are the oldest railway works in the world still fulfilling their original function and have built locomotives in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. A multi-faceted project, the Heritage Fund support enabled the railway to completely refresh the way it is interpreted for the 200,000 visitors that come in to contact with the railway each year. Skills training featured strongly in the program, for current employees, volunteers and the local community. An outreach program has given the opportunity for work experience to over 200 young people and more than 250 young people have been engaged with a schools' programme. Nearly 600 individual volunteers have contributed their time to the project, amassing almost 40k hours and more than 100 of those volunteers are new to the railway. Overall volunteer contribution over the whole of the FFWHR is more than 90k hours per year. Building work with a value of £3.3m has been led by local contractors using local subcontractors. Specialists from elsewhere were only brought in when local contractors were not available. Celebrations took place on May 1 when the completion of the project was marked by a visit from the Heritage Fund team and leaders from the heritage and tourism industries. Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said: 'We are delighted to celebrate the completion of this project with the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways that has centered on the Boston Lodge Works. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, over £3.7 million has helped to restore and revitalise Boston Lodge, creating opportunities for more people to volunteer, learn new skills, and understand how this industry has shaped the landscape and community over 200 years." He added: "We know that heritage can play a huge role in bringing people together and creating a sense of pride in people's hometowns and cities, and in turn boosting the local economy. The realisation of this ambitious project is a huge achievement and means this truly world-class heritage attraction will be enjoyed by visitors and its local community for many years to come.' Paul Lewin, Director and General Manager of Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, said: 'After 70 consistent years as a leading attraction and caring for a large collection of rolling stock, buildings and infrastructure of national historic importance, the railway really needed help to refresh the offer to visitors and to make the original workshops at Boston Lodge fit for the next seventy years. "The National Lottery Heritage Fund listened carefully to the complex needs of our organisation and worked with us to develop a plan that has brought significant benefits for visitors, staff and the local community.' For those who wish to find out more, a new visitor experience in the shape of a behind the scenes, guided tour of Boston Lodge is now available. The three-hour tour, with its professionally trained hosts, brings visitors in to contact with the railway, its history and operations in a new way.

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