Salisbury Cathedral getting Government Culture Recovery grant

There's also support for Old Sarum's Wessex Archaeology and the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 9th Oct 2020

A total of 455 organisations across England have been given cash from the Government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The first tranche of funding available has been announced today (Friday 9th October), including a few local grants:

  • £245,000 for Salisbury Cathedral
  • £222,200 for Wessex Archaeology
  • £236,200 for the Great Dorset Steam Fair

The Government says the money is to 'help restart vital repair and maintenance work on cherished heritage sites, to keep venues open and support those working in the sector'.

The Great Dorset Steam Fair, on the Wiltshire Dorset border, is one of the projects that's got cash to protect our heritage

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

"As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This money will secure our shared heritage for future generations."

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund said:

"It is absolutely right that investing in heritage should be a priority during this crisis and this support by the Government is crucial. Heritage creates jobs and economic prosperity, is a major driver for tourism and makes our towns, cities, and rural areas better places to live. All of this is so important for our wellbeing and will be particularly vital when we start to emerge from this incredibly difficult time.

"Our heritage is still facing a perilous future - we are not out of the woods yet. But this hugely welcome funding from the Government, and the money we continue to invest from the National Lottery, has undoubtedly stopped heritage and the organisations that care for it being permanently lost."