Lytham Hall Wins a £42,500 Grant
Lytham Hall has been handed a £42,500 boost towards restoration of buildings and its historic parkland by the Coastal Revival Fund.
Fylde MP Mark Menzies supported the bid and spoke to ministers in support of the Hall's application.
The Government awarded the Hall the funds towards the second phase of restoration of the Grade I Listed Georgian House.
The works include the continuing in-house restoration works with volunteer and local craftspeople.
The funding will also go towards research into planting schemes for the parterre, herbaceous border and woodland areas to make the hall’s parkland more attractive to visitors.
Mr Menzies, pictured on a previous visit to the Hall with Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry, said: “This is well-deserved for all of the team at Lytham Hall.
“The changes at the Hall are tangible now, thanks to the recent works on the exterior paintwork, and the extensive changes to the parkland, making it more accessible and presentable.
“I was delighted to meet with ministers and press the case for the Hall. They understood the value of the works carried out so far, and were happy to support the team with the funding.
“This is yet another example in a long line of bids from Fylde which I have been pleased to support and the Government has funded.”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government James Brokenshire said: "It is exciting to see money from the Coastal Revival Fund help bring our wonderful coastal historic assets back into economic use. This is so important in demonstrating our support to coastal communities in their efforts to bring sustainable economic regeneration to their towns."
Hall general manager Peter Anthony said: “I am delighted at this news. This is a further step in making sure the hall is on a sustainable footing and to make sure it becomes one of Lancashire’s top tourist attractions.
“Lytham Hall is the only Grade I building in Fylde which gives it not just local but national significance.
“This will allow us to finish the west elevations of the Georgian Hall and continue with further works in the south prospect garden.”
Lytham Hall project coordinator Steve Williams added: “I am over the moon at this news. It is another huge step in the restoration of Fylde’s only Grade I listed building.”
The Hall and estate are of national significance and include a number of Grade II listed buildings including the stables, dovecote, paradise wall and paradise garden.
Recent archaeological excavations have revealed the site of two canals, a summer house, early 18th Century glasshouses and parterres.
The Parkland is Grade II Registered and on the Lancashire County Council Biological Heritage Site with Tree Preservation Orders.
The Georgian Hall was built in 1764 by one of the leading architects of the Georgian period John Carr of York, adjoining an earlier Jacobean Hall. He built the Hall for the Clifton family, who were granted land following the dissolution of the Benedictine Lytham Priory and built the Jacobean Hall. Later generations of Cliftons squandered money on travel, horses, and yachts and eventually the last Squire was forced to sell to Guardian Insurance Company in 1963.
The Guardian Insurance Company saved the Hall from dereliction in 1963 and the Hall was sold in 1997 following a concerted public campaign to raise the funds.
The award for Lytham Hall is from the latest round of Coastal Revival and Coastal Communities Funds, and means the Government is on track to deliver on a pledge to invest more than a quarter of a billion pounds into the Great British Coast by 2020.
Almost £1 million (£957,429) of Coastal Revival Funding has been awarded to 23 successful projects that will help restore Britain’s great local coastal landmarks in the second part of the latest round of funding alone. Since 2015, the Coastal Revival Fund has provided £5.6 million to support 144 projects in coastal communities to help kick-start regeneration of “at risk” coastal heritage sites.
