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Two 'at risk' coastal heritage sites in the South West awarded Coastal Revival Funding

Posted December 5, 2018 at 12:48 pm

An Elizabethan House in Plymouth, and a Miners Chapel in the heart of the community in St. Just, Penwith, have won Coastal Revival Fund grants. The two sites are among the six Heritage England classed 'at risk' sites of the 25 sites that have been awarded almost £1million funding.


Plymouth Coastal Community Team was awarded £44, 208 for 'The Elizabethan House – New Street, New World, New Future' project to restore the Grade II* listed coastal historic house, on the national heritage at risk register, as a major local visitor attraction. St Just Miners Chapel was awarded £43,732 to regenerate the Grade II* listed St Just's Methodist Chapel to 'secure a long-term, sustainable future for this historic building and its graveyard by installing heating and LED lighting'.


Elsewhere in the South West, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council was awarded £50,000 for the refurbishment of Weymouth Esplanade shelters to 'improve the Esplanade public space and provide a space that welcomes visitors and increases dwell time in Weymouth'. The repairs to the Grade II listed shelters will enhance the conservation area and enhance the heritage offer of the resort. Lyme Regis Development Trust will benefit from £24,500 towards modernising and making The Hub, a historic building in a conservation area, suitable and accessible for multi-purpose use.


The fund, now in its third year, provides grants to coastal heritage sites to fund repairs and restoration. In also supports large scale projects which are important to local communities but have not yet reached their full economic potential or are facing neglect.


Jake Berry MP, Coastal Communities Minister, said: "It’s fantastic to be able to kick start the restoration of 25 important sites up and down our Great British coastline. From Whitehaven to Weymouth, we’re saving some of the nation’s most cherished coastal heritage assets and landmarks from falling into disrepair. The Coastal Revival Fund also helps regenerate our coastal communities and support them to grow by bringing these sites back to life and making them the focal points of their communities once more."


Deborah Lamb, Deputy Chief Executive, Historic England, said: "We welcome news of funding to help save at-risk historic buildings and places in our seaside towns and villages, so that they can be brought back into use for the benefit of local communities. Restoring local gems can attract investment and help to tackle the deprivation that is a problem in a number of our coastal areas. There are great examples of restoration projects in our seaside towns, often bringing together the private, public, voluntary and social enterprise sectors. This funding will inspire more."