Funding boost to help save heritage organisations across Cornwall

Heritage organisations across Cornwall are getting a share of more than £100m to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

445 sites across the country are receiving government money for essential refurbishment work.

It has been described as an "essential lifeline" in making sure those hit financially can stay open and to save jobs and livelihoods.

In Cornwall, the sites include Bodmin and Wenford PLC, Bodmin Jail Museum, Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre, Jubilee Pool Penzance Limited, Lynher River Barge CIC, St Teath PCC, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Charlestown and Truro Cathedral.

“The impact of Covid on nearly every institution has been marked and serious. For us at Truro Cathedral, it meant an almost complete drying up of certain sources of income, and whilst we have been utilising our resources wherever we can to get us through this challenging time, the award of the CRF grant has given us a real boost in responding to that challenge with more confidence. The cathedral has been open to the public since mid-June, and services have been taking place there since the summer. As a beacon of hope in uncertain times, the cathedral has a hugely important role to play in the life of our community, and, assisted by the CRF, we are confident we can be that beacon of hope for many years to come. We are deeply grateful of the support shown to us by the Foundation; we are sure we will be worthy of that trust.”

Dean of Truro Cathedral, Roger Bush

Across the country, beneficiaries also include famous locations that have starred in film and TV and are huge draws for tourists the world over, such as Gloucester Cathedral - whose cloisters formed the backdrop for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films - and Highclere Castle - the setting of Downton Abbey.

Grants are between £10,000 and £1 million with a further round of grants of up to £3 million due to be announced imminently.

This funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund - funded by Government and administered at arms length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both funds are part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

“We have some of the finest heritage attractions in the world in Mid-Cornwall and I am delighted to see the Government come forward with this significant funding to help them continue to operate through these difficult times.

“These sites are also vital to our wider visitor economy in Cornwall and I am pleased to see Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall Aviation Centre and the Shipwreck Treasure Museum recognised with this which will also support the wider local economy.

“I will continue to work with the Government to ensure Cornwall gets its share of the unprecedented support package that the Government is rolling out in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay