22 Nov 2011
£9m Lottery funding for heritage schemes
BY Pete Hayman
The redevelopment of Lews Castle in Stornoway, Scotland, has been confirmed among three UK heritage schemes to be awarded a share of £9m by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
A £4.6m grant is to go towards the creation of an integrated museum and archive service for the Outer Hebrides, which will be based at the historic castle alongside a new hotel venture.
The museum will focus on the Isle of Lewis' people and their relationship with the land and sea, while displaying archaeological finds and material from the island's industrial past.
Elsewhere, The Dreamland Trust has secured £3m from the HLF towards plans for a major transformation of the Dreamland Margate into a new theme park comprising historic rides.
A number of vintage attractions have already been acquired by the trust, including the 1920s Caterpillar, for the scheme. A learning space and exhibition are also planned.
The third heritage scheme to receive funding is the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, which has been awarded £1.4m for the restoration of Storehouse 10.
When complete, the 18th century building will provide new exhibition space and will include interactive displays and exhibitions to help detail the story of the Royal Navy since 1900.
HLF chief executive Carole Souter said: "From Margate's answer to an early Disneyland to a museum that reminds us of our impressive maritime heritage, [these projects] are all extremely important not only to the UK's heritage but also to its tourist industry.
"The Heritage Lottery Fund has made this substantial investment because we believe that enhancing these sorts of places is crucial to their long-term survival, and will provide important training and employment opportunities for local people."
Image: Lews Castle, Stornoway
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