HERITAGE SITES GET SHARE OF £1.57BN LIFELINE FUNDING
MONEY WILL SUPPORT GRADE I-LISTED SCHOOL PLUS MUSEUM AND CASTLE IN RUTLAND AND BELLFOUNDRY
LIFELINE heritage grants have been awarded to an historic school, museum and castle.
The Sir John Moore Foundation, in Appleby Magna, Oakham Castle and Rutland County Museum are among 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a financial boost from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
The Bellfoundry, in Loughborough, has also received money from the fund.
The money will help restart reconstruction and maintenance work.
The Sir John Moore Foundation received more than £57,000.
The grade I-listed building houses the village primary school, preschool, community activities, businesses and a heritage centre.
The money will help cover lost income due to cancelled events, essential upgrades to facilities and digitising the museum collection.
Foundation chairman Robert Shields said: “We are delighted to receive this support.
“It is essential in allowing us to continue maintaining our magnificent heritage site that has been a school for over 300 years, and enable us to make the adaptions necessary in response to the Covid-19 crisis”.
The site, designed by Christopher
Wren, was gifted to Appleby in 1697 by native Sir John Moore, a merchant and Lord Mayor of London.
If approved by Rutland County Council’s cabinet, it is proposed the grant of £132,100 will be used to investigate and deliver a programme to support the continued sustainability of both the museum and castle in Oakham.
Councillor Lucy Stephenson, cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “We are very proud of the county’s heritage assets.
“Working with The Friends of the Museum, this funding will support
our work to minimise the impact the pandemic is having on these muchloved places.
“We would like to thank the government for recognising the value of the county’s heritage, not only for future generations but also for the impact on our economy.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation it is essential we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past.
“This support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a bounceback post-covid.”
Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief executive, said: “It is heartening to see grants, both large and small, helping sites and organisations across the country which have been hit hard by the effects of Covid-19.
“These grants range from giving skilled craft workers the chance to keep their trades alive to helping heritage organisations pay the bills.”
Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust received £246,500.
It will be used to introduce Covid safety measures to the foundry and its museum.