Latest news with #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Monmouth Shire Hall refurbishment confirmed by council
The 301-year-old grade I listed building, where the Newport Chartist leaders were tried in 1840, is to undergo a £2.8m refurbishment with a £1.5 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund confirmed this week. Visitors will also be able to see the historic courtroom where John Frost, Zephaniah Williams and William Jones were convicted of high treason and the cells in which they were held as well as exhibits related to naval Admiral Lord Nelson. The latest stage of the refurbishment is to create new galleries, learning and community spaces and make the entrance foyer 'more welcoming' as part the revamp of the building that dates from 1724 and is considered of national importance. Monmouthshire council's deputy leader Paul Griffiths said the refurbishment that includes relocating the museum into the revamped Shire Hall could boost town centre footfall. He said: 'The challenge for all our town centres is to create ever more reasons for people to be in the town centre. The days have gone when one goes to town purely to shop. One goes out for a range of reasons and very often shopping is coincidental to that. For our businesses to thrive we've got to find those other reasons to bring people into town. 'This project will create a truly exciting visitor experience that will encourage local people to come to town, and as importantly, my ambition is for families in Gloucester and Bristol to think, 'what can we do with the kids on a Saturday afternoon? We can go to Monmouth there's an excellent museum there'.' Cllr Sara Burch, the cabinet member responsible, said the council has also secured £228,850 from the Welsh Government towards the costs and a £30,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation. The council's Labour-led cabinet approved a further £300,000 in capital funding towards the project and Cllr Burch, said she is confident the authority can 'close the gap' of the £500,000 still to be secured. She said a part time fundraiser will also be appointed as part of the project. The Monmouth Museum collection, that is relocating from the Market Hall, includes its large collection of Nelson memorabilia, including his naval sword and those of the defeated Spanish and French commanders at Trafalgar and letters from him to his wife Lady Hamilton. The collection was bequeathed by local landowner Lady Llangattock, mother of Rolls-Royce founder Charles Stuart Rolls, in 1923. Monmouth Town Council will continue to be housed in the hall while the shop and visitor information area will also be expanded. Listed building permissions have been granted for the works.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Lottery grant to help city develop nature access
A lottery grant of £490,000 will help a city improve access to green spaces, the local council says. Sunderland is among 40 areas nationally awarded money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Nature Towns and Cities Programme. Plans include a focus on boosting transport and linking community green spaces including the city's coastline and riverbanks. Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said residents would be consulted in the coming weeks and months to help develop schemes. Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership between Natural England, the National Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Sunderland's council will also work with Durham Wildlife Trust and organisations from the voluntary sector as it looks to allocate the funding. Measures are set to include new conservation and horticulture courses, ecological surveys for local Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), such Tunstall Hills and Claxheugh Rocks, and community grants. Welcoming the funding, Mordey said the aims of the forthcoming projects were "all about improving our residents' access to nature and helping them to enjoy some of the fantastic greenspaces, coastline and riverbanks on their doorstep". He added: "As we all know, getting out into the fresh air can really help us to clear our minds and take time for ourselves. "So we'll be looking to work with residents and partners over the coming weeks and months to help us develop the plans further and make sure that we're making the most of this grant funding." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More on this story The UK's first Nature Towns awarded green funding Related internet links Sunderland City Council Nature Towns and Cities
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sunderland handed Lottery grant to develop nature access
A lottery grant of £490,000 will help a city improve access to green spaces, the local council is among 40 areas nationally awarded money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Nature Towns and Cities include a focus on boosting transport and linking community green spaces including the city's coastline and Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said residents would be consulted in the coming weeks and months to help develop schemes. Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership between Natural England, the National Trust and the National Lottery Heritage council will also work with Durham Wildlife Trust and organisations from the voluntary sector as it looks to allocate the are set to include new conservation and horticulture courses, ecological surveys for local Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), such Tunstall Hills and Claxheugh Rocks, and community grants. Welcoming the funding, Mordey said the aims of the forthcoming projects were "all about improving our residents' access to nature and helping them to enjoy some of the fantastic greenspaces, coastline and riverbanks on their doorstep".He added: "As we all know, getting out into the fresh air can really help us to clear our minds and take time for ourselves."So we'll be looking to work with residents and partners over the coming weeks and months to help us develop the plans further and make sure that we're making the most of this grant funding." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Poole Museum's Scaplen's Court reopens after revamp
A museum is to welcome visitors as part of a phased reopening following a two-year, £10.3m Museum in Dorset closed in 2022, and on Saturday visitors will be able to explore its newly restored Scaplen's Court and revamp has been supported by BCP Council, which owns the site, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Arts Council and charitable trusts and interim director Jaine Fitzpatrick said: "Local businesses and community connections are central to the refreshed Poole Museum experience." Scaplen Court has been made accessible for the first time, with the help of a new platform has increased from 60 to more than 250 people, enabling it to host larger events and celebrations. The addition of the cafe on the ground floor and outdoor seating has transformed the space into a community new museum shop will open the following week, while the full museum opens later in the year and entry will remain free. The museum will include six new galleries across five floors, three new maritime galleries, a new ceramics, art and design gallery, and two flexible galleries for touring Fitzpatrick said: "By opening up parts of the site for the summer, we're encouraging residents and visitors to re-engage with us in Poole's historic Old Town whilst building anticipation ahead of the grand unveiling later in the year."This phased approach supports local enterprise, builds excitement, and offers early opportunities to enjoy revitalised spaces and cultural events."Andy Martin, BCP Council's portfolio holder for customer, communication and culture, said: "This transformation of Poole Museum has been nothing short of incredible."The phased reopening is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to enjoy the museum in two exciting chapters." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Caerleon: £250,000 secured to explore Caerleon Roman remains
The Caerllion Rufeinig - Porth i Partneriaeth/Roman Caerleon Gateway Partnership Project in Caerleon, Newport, has been awarded the sum from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project aims to improve Caerleon's heritage and tourism offerings for both residents and visitors. The initiative will bring together the Welsh Government's historic environment service Cadw, Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales), and Newport City Council. Over the next 18 months, the partners will engage with the community and stakeholders to reconnect them with Caerleon's Roman remains and collections and finalise a shared vision for the future. The funding will support a series of studies and plans that aim to share Caerleon's history, address heritage crime and antisocial behaviour, understand visitor and community needs, and enhance the visitor experience. The project will culminate in comprehensive master plans for Roman Caerleon. Minister for Culture, Jack Sargeant, said: "By bringing together key heritage organisations with the local community, this partnership creates an exciting opportunity to transform how we experience Caerleon's remarkable Roman heritage. "This collaborative approach embodies our commitment to making Wales's cultural heritage accessible to all while ensuring its preservation for future generations." Caerleon is home to major visitor attractions, including the National Roman Legion Museum, run by Amgueddfa Cymru, and the excavated remains of an amphitheatre, fortress baths and military barracks in the care of Cadw. Dating from AD 74-5, the Roman fortress of ISCA remained one of just three permanent legionary bases in Britain for over 200 years. When this initial project is complete, the partners intend to seek further funding to develop and deliver an ambitious project to kickstart the delivery of the new vision and plans alongside the community and stakeholders. On behalf of Caerleon Community Advocates, Neil Pollard said: "We are thrilled that Caerllion Rufeining/Roman Caerleon will be receiving the funding. "This will help us work directly with the local community, ensuring that the 'partnership's' plan is developed with community voices at its forefront." Andrew White, the National Lottery Heritage Fund director of Wales said: "We're delighted to support this innovative partnership project with £250,000, made possible by National Lottery players. "This will help unlock the extraordinary potential of Roman Caerleon, one of Europe's most significant archaeological sites, whilst delivering real benefits for the local community." Lessons learned from the project will be applied to other high-profile or under-appreciated heritage sites where attractions run by different organisations could benefit from collaborative approaches with their communities. The project aligns with the Welsh Government's recently released Priorities for Culture, as well as recommendations in various organisational plans including the Tailored Review of Amgueddfa Cymru and Newport City Council's 10-year Culture Strategy. This comes just over a year after the council agreed a proposed partnership with the museums service Amgueddfa Cymru, which runs the National Roman Legion Museum, while Cadw – the Welsh Government's historic environment service – cares for the Roman Fortress Baths and amphitheatre.
