SHUGBOROUGH SHARES £35M TOURISM CASH
Historic sites getting help to bounce back
ONE of Staffordshire’s top tourist attractions will receive a share of £35 million to help it bounce back from the pandemic.
A total of 142 historic sites across England are receiving the grants from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, to pay for repairs and major building programmes.
The Shugborough Estate, near Stafford, which is run by the National Trust, has been offered £195,420 of funding under the scheme.
A total of £1.9 million has been allocated to sites in the West Midlands, with other recipients including Lichfield Cathedral, Attingham Park in Shropshire, and
Moseley Road Baths in Birmingham.
The cash is coming from the second round of the Heritage Stimulus Fund, which is being administered by Historic England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of
Historic England, said: “Funding from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund is hugely welcome at a time when the people and organisations who look after our vast and varied array of heritage urgently need support to carry out essential repairs.
“Heritage is a fragile eco-system, with an amazing cast of characters who keep our historic places alive, with specialist skills that take time to learn and experience to perfect. These grants will protect their livelihoods, as they use their expertise to help our heritage survive.”
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “From local churches to ancient buildings and landscapes, the UK’S unique heritage makes our towns, cities and villages stronger, more vibrant and helps bring communities together.
“This latest funding – £35 million from our unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund – will help protect sites, including Jane Austen’s House and Hampton Court Palace, for future generations and help them build back better from the pandemic.”