Breaking News – Gregynog awarded National Heritage Lottery Fund Grant
The Gregynog Trust has been awarded a transformational £866,591 Development Grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, for the repair and refurbishment of key parts of the Grade II* listed Gregynog Hall.
The Award to the Trust is a key milestone is conserving and enhancing the historic former home of philanthropists Gwendoline and Margaret Davies allowing to share its stories and protect its significance for future generations.
The ‘Raise the Roof’ project for which funding has been awarded will be used in a first phase development to help realise essential repair and deliver new and additional learning, arts and environmental activity.
The development phase funding will be used to prepare designs for the re-roofing of Gregynog Hall. The roofing works are to extend across the original pitch slate covered roofs to the historic Hall, the felt roofs to the 1970’s extension and the low-level slate roof to the laundry room annex.
We will also be piloting a vibrant series of arts and nature focused events honouring the Davies sisters’ legacy and reaching new audiences
Gregynog Hall, the former home of the Davies sisters, sits at the heart of a 750-acre rural estate in the heart of Wales. Renowned for the hospitality extended to visitors throughout its history, the hall, its gardens and extensive protected woodland – part of the National Forest for Wales – are filled with history, culture, nature and stories.
Gregynog is a place where magic happens and the Trust aims to ensure it becomes, once more, Wales’ most welcoming home for nature, learning and the arts.
Carole-Anne Davies, Chair of Gregynog Trust said “We are thrilled to have been awarded this grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund which unlocks the next phase of our plans for Gregynog and allows us to do so much more for our visitors and the wider community.
We want to share Gregynog and bring to life its incredible stories. Spending time here, learning, playing, enjoying music and creativity in such an outstanding landscape setting, is a magical experience. We want to build on that and be able to welcome so many more people to enjoy Gregynog and be enriched and uplifted by all it has to offer.
We are also delighted to have the support of the Pilgrim Trust, the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Historic Houses Foundation who have each provided matched funding to help us bring forward the phase of development. We are very, very excited to be able to move forward.”
Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund said –
“We’re pleased to support the Gregynog Trust at this important development stage. This grant will help shape detailed plans for conserving Gregynog Hall and enhancing public engagement and we’re excited to support the trust though this stage. We look forward to seeing the full delivery round application in due course.”
Notes for Editors – About Gregynog
Gregynog Hall is a Grade II* Listed building, at the heart of the cultural and architectural history of Wales for centuries and set in Grade I Listed gardens at the centre of a 750-acre estate. The Hall and grounds are surrounded by an internationally important National Nature Reserve, landscape, and woodland setting, which forms part of the National Forest for Wales.
The Gregynog Trust owns and manages Gregynog and is a registered Charity. It’s public purpose is:
- To conserve, develop, maintain, and improve the natural and historical environment of Gregynog Hall and Gregynog Estate
- To advance the arts, culture, and heritage
- To advance education
- To advance the protection and improvement of the environment
- To contribute to the improvement of the conditions of life for people within and beyond Wales by providing facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
*Grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. “Raise the Roof” project has initially been granted round one development funding of £866,591 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by the Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £4,100,729
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
For more information see www.heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
For further information please contact:
Contact Name: Ashley Offa (Senior Investment Manager)
Email: ashley.offa@heritagefund.org.uk
Gregynog
Contact Name: Amanda Pryce (Chief Operating Officer)
Email: amanda.pryce@gregynog.org
