Latest news with #ArchitecturalHeritageFund
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Historic Bradford-on-Avon cottages to be made available for rent
A pair of historic cottages on the site of a grand country estate will be renovated and made available as rental homes thanks to a new loan. Work on the stone cottages at the entrance to The Hall in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, is being funded by a £150,000 loan from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), which has supported the charitable trust which runs the estate since 2017. The estate was last occupied by engineer Dr Alex Moulton, who invented the suspension systems used in the Mini and the Moulton bicycle. Christine Olivieri, CEO of the Moulton Trust, said the organisation was "delighted" to have received the loan which had been "instrumental" in restoring the cottages. "Providing much-needed residential accommodation within the Bradford-on-Avon community has been a key priority for the Trust," Ms Olivieri Dr Moulton's death in 2012, The Hall was donated to a charitable trust set up in his own name, with the missions of preserving the building and its collections as well as promoting the estate for public visits and weddings. Built in the early 17th Century by clothier John Hall, the Grade I listed main house has been home to leading figures in Britain's wool, rubber and automotive industries. The AHF's Heritage Impact Fund loan will help refurbish the two cottages - thought to date back to the mid-19th Century and used to house estate workers - to go be used as rental properties. The rent will be used to help the Moulton Trust preserve The Hall and other buildings. Andrew Hitches-Davies, investment manager at AHF, said the loan would "help secure the future" of the estate. "Once the work has finished, these cottages will bring in a steady income to fund the trust's charitable work and community programmes while continuing its mission to protect and preserve the historic hall," he added.
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
English beach town to convert derelict seafront shelters into new tourist attractions
The town is also home to the world's biggest Wetherspoons BEACHY KEEN English beach town to convert derelict seafront shelters into new tourist attractions Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ENGLISH seaside town has revealed plans to convert the abandoned beachfront shelters into a place for tourists. Ramsgate's eight shelters line the East Cliff promenade, having been built in the 1930s. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Ramsgate's abandoned shelters are being converted Credit: The Heritage Lab 3 The eight shelters were built in 1935 Credit: The Heritage Lab The eight shelters - measuring 6m by 2m - look out across the sea but have been left to decay in recent years. Most of them are now covered in graffiti, without any form of seating. And the new plans will convert them into attractions such as a food and drinks outlet, as well as a sauna, beach huts, art spaces and fishing huts. One confirmed shelter will become seating and information screens right by the Grade-I listed Chine steps. The Architectural Heritage Fund, behind the transformation, has a small fund set to create the new designs. However, they are set to raise further funding for them to include power and water to them. If the target is met, then the new attractions hope to be open by summer 2026. Locals can add their own ideas to the open consultation form. The shelters, built in 1936, were part of the Marina Bathing Pool, a lido that was an Olympic-sized pool and diving zone. However, it closed in 1975 and has since been filled in to become a car park. The Sun visits Wetherspoons largest pubin Ramsgate Rob Kenyon, CEO, Heritage Lab CIC: "We are excited to be able to kick start this new project thanks to a viability grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund which will help to pay for the research, design and early development costs. "The project epitomises our ambition to develop curiously creative spaces, and we hope that this will help the regeneration of the East Cliff area and Ramsgate more widely.' In the mean time, tourists can visit the Ramsgate Tunnels, the UK's largest network of wartime tunnels. Or there is the Royal Harbour - the only one of it's kind in the UK. Ramsgate is also home to the world's biggest Wetherspoons. The Grade-II listed Royal Victoria Pavilion reopened as a Wetherspoons in 2017. We went down to try it out - here is what its really like.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- The Sun
English beach town to convert derelict seafront shelters into new tourist attractions
AN ENGLISH seaside town has revealed plans to convert the abandoned beachfront shelters into a place for tourists. Ramsgate's eight shelters line the East Cliff promenade, having been built in the 1930s. 3 3 The eight shelters - measuring 6m by 2m - look out across the sea but have been left to decay in recent years. Most of them are now covered in graffiti, without any form of seating. And the new plans will convert them into attractions such as a food and drinks outlet, as well as a sauna, beach huts, art spaces and fishing huts. One confirmed shelter will become seating and information screens right by the Grade-I listed Chine steps. The Architectural Heritage Fund, behind the transformation, has a small fund set to create the new designs. However, they are set to raise further funding for them to include power and water to them. If the target is met, then the new attractions hope to be open by summer 2026. Locals can add their own ideas to the open consultation form. The shelters, built in 1936, were part of the Marina Bathing Pool, a lido that was an Olympic-sized pool and diving zone. However, it closed in 1975 and has since been filled in to become a car park. The Sun visits Wetherspoons largest pubin Ramsgate Rob Kenyon, CEO, Heritage Lab CIC: "We are excited to be able to kick start this new project thanks to a viability grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund which will help to pay for the research, design and early development costs. "The project epitomises our ambition to develop curiously creative spaces, and we hope that this will help the regeneration of the East Cliff area and Ramsgate more widely.' In the mean time, tourists can visit the Ramsgate Tunnels, the UK's largest network of wartime tunnels. Or there is the Royal Harbour - the only one of it's kind in the UK. Ramsgate is also home to the world's biggest Wetherspoons. The Grade-II listed Royal Victoria Pavilion reopened as a Wetherspoons in 2017. We went down to try it out - here is what its really like. 3
RTÉ News
04-06-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Future of formerly at-risk tower house in Derry secured
The future of a formerly at-risk tower house in Co Derry, which dates to the 1800s, has been secured. Culmore Fort has been converted for community use and is set to accommodate youth mental health support and host meetings for a variety of sports, heritage and cultural organisations. The work was completed by Culmore Community Partnership thanks to funding of £265,000 (€315,000). Northern Ireland Communities Minister Gordon Lyons welcomed the move. "We are seeing more and more communities applying to Village Catalyst (grant scheme) and I am pleased that my department is able to support projects where at-risk heritage properties are being revitalised and restored for the benefit of the local community," he said. Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said it was part-funded through his department's Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme. "The programme tackles rural poverty and social isolation by refurbishing neglected community-owned historic buildings for locally identified uses which provide access to services and address core community needs. "The provision of a multi-functional community facility in the Culmore area is a significant development and I'm delighted that this project will help support the local rural community for many years to come," he said. Culmore Community Partnership Chairman Neil Doherty thanked of all the funders, which also include the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. He said historically the fort was held by the Crown until 1840, when it and its surrounding lands were sold to The Honourable The Irish Society, who remain its owners to this day. "We are pleased to share that Culmore Community Partnership (CCP) has now assumed the lease to facilitate the restoration of this historic building and to open it up for wider community use," he said. Meanwhile, the partnership's strategic manager Una Cooper said that it is excited to see the fort go from being a reminder of the past to a "cornerstone for the future of Culmore". "We're preparing to launch vital mental health and emotional wellbeing programmes for children and young people, offering them a safe and supportive environment to thrive. "The fort will also become a place for cultural and heritage events that celebrate our community's identity. "The work at the fort was carried out by dedicated professionals whose craftsmanship and care brought this conservation project to life," she said. "We would like to extend our thanks to We Build Ireland for their tireless commitment, precision and ability to bring out the best in every stone, beam and brick. "Their work has preserved the soul of this fort for generations to come. "Our architect Mark Hackett's vision and sensitivity to the fort's historic character ensured that every decision respected the past while making room for the future. "His attention to detail has been nothing short of extraordinary. Culmore Fort has been transformed into a vibrant community space - a place where history meets hope," Ms Cooper added.
North Wales Chronicle
04-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Future of formerly at-risk tower house dating to 1800s secured
Culmore Fort in Co Londonderry has been converted for community use and is set to accommodate mental health support for youth in the area, and host meetings for a variety of sports, heritage and cultural organisations. The work was completed by Culmore Community Partnership thanks to funding of £265,000. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons hailed the move to provide a vital community resource for Culmore and the surrounding area. 'We are seeing more and more communities applying to Village Catalyst and I am pleased that my department is able to support projects where at-risk heritage properties are being revitalised and restored for the benefit of the local community,' he said. Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said it was part-funded through his department's Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme. 'The programme tackles rural poverty and social isolation by refurbishing neglected community-owned historic buildings for locally identified uses which provide access to services and address core community needs,' he said. 'The provision of a multi-functional community facility in the Culmore area is a significant development and I'm delighted that this project will help support the local rural community for many years to come.' Culmore Community Partnership chairman Neil Doherty thanked all the funders, which also include the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. He said historically the fort was held by the Crown until 1840, when it and its surrounding lands were sold to The Honourable The Irish Society, who remain its owners to this day. 'We are pleased to share that Culmore Community Partnership (CCP) has now assumed the lease to facilitate the restoration of this historic building and to open it up for wider community use,' he said. Meanwhile, Una Cooper, strategic manager for the partnership, said they are excited to see the fort go from being a reminder of the past to a 'cornerstone for the future of Culmore'. 'We're preparing to launch vital mental health and emotional wellbeing programmes for children and young people, offering them a safe and supportive environment to thrive,' she said. 'The fort will also become a place for cultural and heritage events that celebrate our community's identity. 'The work at the fort was carried out by dedicated professionals whose craftsmanship and care brought this conservation project to life. 'We would like to extend our thanks to We Build Ireland for their tireless commitment, precision and ability to bring out the best in every stone, beam and brick. Their work has preserved the soul of this fort for generations to come. 'Our architect Mark Hackett's vision and sensitivity to the fort's historic character ensured that every decision respected the past while making room for the future. 'His attention to detail has been nothing short of extraordinary. Culmore Fort has been transformed into a vibrant community space — a place where history meets hope.'
