Lottery grant will preserve Portland's High Angle Battery known as the 'ghost tunnels'
Dorset Council's been awarded £250,000 for the site
£250,000 of National Lottery Heritage funding is going towards Portland's High Angle Battery, to improve and preserve the site.
Dorset Council's been awarded the cash with the aim of opening the site up for visits and school tours.
The Battery was built in the 1890s to help defend the isle of Portland against invasion, but has slowly fallen into disrepair and it currently on Historic England's 'at risk' register.
A new project, funded by the Lottery, will focus on improving the site’s heritage, biodiversity, and access, while aiming to tell the story of the battery to a much wider audience.
A previous public consultation highlighted local appetite for more activities and events at the site and for the popular ‘ghost tunnels’ to be fully opened - that feedback's helped to draw up the plans for the latest project.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“We are thrilled to receive this award from the Heritage Fund and are excited to be working in partnership with the local community on a shared ambition and vision for High Angle Battery.
“The rediscovering of this important site will see High Angle Battery become an integral part of Portland that will provide many social, economic, historic, cultural and environmental benefits to the local area and communities.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“We are delighted to support this important project to preserve Portland’s High Angle Battery for future generations. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, even more people will be able to access and learn about the history of the site.
“Heritage has a huge role to play in instilling pride in communities, and this project to save this much-loved landmark is a fantastic example of this.”
A ‘friends of’ group is to be set up to support the long-term care of the site, which will be managed by Dorset Council and Portland Town Council.