Sunderland’s Old Fire Station and Hylton Castle are currently little more than shells but represent fascinating parts of the city’s heritage and amazing potential for its people and economy.

Driven by the cash boost and community support, both relics will be brought back into use.

The Old Fire Station

The Old Fire Station, one of 3,000 buildings bombed in Sunderland during the First World War, will become a space for dance and drama groups, a bar and restaurant, and a heritage centre celebrating the city’s civic pride and firefighting legacy.

As Paul Callaghan at the Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture Trust, the group behind the Old Fire Station revamp, puts it: “The Old Fire Station is a prime example of the way in which the heritage of a city can be successfully used to develop its future.”

Hylton Castle

Hylton Castle has stood in Sunderland for centuries and has been a part of everything from the War of the Roses to the rise of the coal mining industry. Now it is set to become part of a bright future for the city’s heritage. The Scheduled Ancient Monument will receive some much-needed repairs and be transformed into an educational, community and visitor attraction.

Sunderland's heritage

Over the last 21 years more than £30m has been invested in Sunderland’s heritage. Chris Mullin, chair of the HLF Committee in the North East, welcomed the latest grants as marking "a bright new chapter for the heritage, culture and economy of the city".