Lancashire landmarks 'saved' by lottery windfall

Two of Lancashire’s most historic country attractions have been handed a six figure cash lifeline.
Blackpool Grand TheatreBlackpool Grand Theatre
Blackpool Grand Theatre

Samlesbury Hall, near Preston, has been awarded a grant for £388,000 from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.

According to officials, the money will be used to ensure the hall can cover its running costs, prepare for the future and be more resilient from threats related to coronavirus.

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The hall is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to share a £103m funding pot from the government thanks to the Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

Samlesbury Hall is to get a lottery grantSamlesbury Hall is to get a lottery grant
Samlesbury Hall is to get a lottery grant

The Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund is funded by Government and administered at arms length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Built in 1325, the attraction is Grade I listed, and is a private charity owned by Samlesbury Hall Trust whose deed is to ensure the hall is kept open for members of the public to enjoy.

This funding will allow Samlesbury to resume guided tours and open up rooms which have been closed as a result of Covid-19.

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Samlesbury Hall’s director Sharon Jones said: “I am absolutely thrilled that this will see the hall through these shocking times and keep my fabulous team in jobs.

“It will also look after the heritage of the hall should there be any further lockdowns, and enable us to move forward and become more resilient in future years. This really is a lifesaver.”

Meanwhile. Blackpool Grand Theatre has been awarded £483,666 from Culture Recovery Fund.

The grant, which aims to support the theatre while it is unable to open with consistently financially viable productions, will pay to keep a small staff team in place to look after the building and its business through until March 31, 2021.

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It will also underwrite the cost of unavoidable job losses, preparations to re-open with Covid-secure provisions in place and help rebuild the theatre’s reserves, ready to be able to return to full operation when this is possible.

Tony Stone, chairman of the charity which operates the Grand said “We are beyond grateful to be awarded this grant by the Government. It is an absolute lifeline.

“Since March we have been unable to earn any income as shows have cancelled or postponed. We have relied on generous individual donations from our supporters, along with grant support from Arts Council England and Blackpool Council, plus the furlough scheme to avoid insolvency.

“This additional grant makes the difference between permanent closure and the potential to return when it is safe and viable to do so”.

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Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past.

“This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post-Covid.”

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