The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is today announcing over £1.2million of funding for two of Ilkeston’s key historical sites.

The money will see the transformation of the old stables at Dalby House into a new café and exhibition area and help restore Victoria Park, the town’s largest green space.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “This is a landmark day for Erewash and a very exciting one – winning this funding is a great success that we have worked hard to achieve. It is the good news we hoped for and means we can now turn our plans for two very important heritage projects into reality.

“We thank all those residents who helped us in putting together our winning bids, the support from the general public has been incredible and we know everyone will share our delight at today’s announcement. This is a milestone moment that signals the go-ahead for two of the biggest and most ambitious heritage projects seen in Erewash.”

The Old Stables at Dalby House
A HLF grant of £503,600 will help to convert the old stables at Dalby House, home of the Erewash Museum, into a permanent exhibition, café and learning space. The stables are the only surviving outbuilding of the Grade II listed Georgian property which was previously owned by the Maltby family who were influential in the development of Ilkeston’s lace industry. Today the Museum contains an important collection of local history and hosts events and activities.

Victoria Park
A grant of £740,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund has been awarded towards a five year project to restore this 3.5 hectare park located close to the town centre. The park, which was donated by the seventh Duke of Rutland in the early 1890’s, has been the site of the town’s ironworking and coalmining industries. The project will restore Victorian features including the bandstand and pergola arch and adapt the pavilion to sell refreshments and be used as a community space.

The grant to Victoria Park is part of a wider investment of £34.8million of Lottery money to 14 parks across the UK. It follows the publication of the HLF’s recent report State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to Risk? on 26th June. This revealed that two decades of public and Lottery investment has ensured that the majority of UK parks are in better condition but are at serious risk of decline unless innovative new ways of funding and maintaining them are found. At Victoria Park, two horticulture apprentices will be employed and members of the Friends’ Group will be trained to become more involved in the park’s management, helping the park to be more sustainable in the future.

Vanessa Harbar, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “Both Victoria Park and Erewash Museum have played a significant role in Ilkeston’s history and are already treasured places for local people to enjoy. Parks and museums help people feel proud about their local area and contribute to everyone’s physical and emotional well-being. I’m pleased that this funding will help restore two outstanding assets to benefit the whole town in many ways.”

Further information

Erewash Borough Council: Stewart Millar or Joy Thompson on 0115 907 1159 or email: stewart.millar@erewash.gov.uk or joy.thompson@erewash.gov.uk.