A £1.5m grant has been awarded towards major improvements to buildings in the town centre, helping to reinvigorate and bring new businesses into the historic Northgate and Blakey Moor areas.

The manufacturing and social history of the town will also be celebrated as part of two projects that aim to inspire residents to take part in capturing and sharing Blackburn’s history as a town of makers.

[quote=Sara Hilton, Head of HLF North West]"This is a really exciting moment in the regeneration of Blackburn and we are delighted to be playing our part.”[/quote]

Up to 25 historic buildings will be restored and refurbished as part of the Townscape Heritage scheme. The money will be available to businesses looking to undertake conservation works to heritage buildings, to repair or reinstate architectural features and help bring vacant floorspace back into commercial use.

Other grants include a project run by Super Slow Way, the Canal & River Trust's arts programme inspired by the industrial heritage of canals, is also receiving a £50,000 grant to mark the bicentenary year of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Ten artists will work with businesses in Blackburn to research the history of their company and produce an artwork to interpret this story. These will be displayed at heritage sites around the town during the first National Festival of Making in Blackburn on 15th-16th October 2016.

HLF has also awarded a £49,000 grant so that Blackburn and Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire councils can deliver a heritage-based project for people living with dementia. They will run a series of events at sites across the county at which people will explore the social history of how we used to live, work and play. 

Looking for funding in Blackburn and Darwen?

Blackburn and Darwen was designated a priority area for HLF in 2013 because of the historically low levels of funding awarded since 1994.

Since then £1.76m has been awarded to 15 projects. If you have an idea for a project exploring Blackburn and Darwen's heritage, get in touch with our North West development team.