Museum secures Heritage Lottery Fund support for ambitious programme

Hinckley and District Museum Ltd, based in the Framework Knitter’s Cottages on Lower Bond Street, Hinckley, has recently received £46,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out works to the thatched cottages.

The money will ensure that the building can continue as an important landmark and hub for heritage activities for the town. The Museum is run entirely by volunteers and opened in 1995.The latest project which attracted the funding is entitled “My People, My Place” – a two phase programme of development for the Museum centred around developing a broadened appreciation of the town and district.

The grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will help the Museum with phase one of the programme.

The Museum will be able to undertake a complete re-thatch of the cottages with the grant but will also undertake some community based activities, such as a travelling arts display and a creative writing project in order to engage the wider community, particularly younger people, in the development of the building.

Speaking about the award, Mr Andy Pratt, Chairman of the Museum said: “This is fantastic news for us. We have been developing a long term plan for the Museum and the immediate works were essential as a building block for the future. There are ambitious plans to expand our facilities over the next few years and we want to encourage more people to visit us and take a pride and share in what is being presented”

Mr Pratt added: “The cottages are an iconic part of Hinckley, over 300 years old and the upkeep can be very expensive. We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for recognising this and engaging with the community in this part of Leicestershire”.

Keep up with Hinckley and District Museum’s news on their website at http://www.hinckleydistrictmuseum.org.uk/