Since that meeting, the CPSG has been engaged in monthly meetings with the Blackburn with Darwen (BwD) council Director of Operations where we have been working to improve the park facilities and look at options to restore the conservatory to its former glory.
The CPSG and BwD were having monthly meetings before and after one wing of the conservatory collapsed following high winds and a thunderstorm in July 2019
The meetings were cancelled early in 2020 due to Covid but resumed again in 2022.
Early in 2023, the CPSG and BwD contacted Historic England (HE) with a view to getting advice about what options exist for restoring the conservatory.
HE provided some extremely useful information which enabled us to look at what would be required to restore the Conservatory. BwD were also looking at the options for the future use/partners for the use of the conservatory as well as funding sources.
From initial assessments, the best option was to look at preparing a bid for the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This would require an in depth assessment of the state of the conservatory, its restoration as well as how it will be used, how it will be secured to prevent future damage/vandalism.
The CPSG and BwD were having monthly meetings before and after one wing of the conservatory collapsed following high winds and a thunderstorm in July 2019
The meetings were cancelled early in 2020 due to Covid but resumed again in 2022.
Early in 2023, the CPSG and BwD contacted Historic England (HE) with a view to getting advice about what options exist for restoring the conservatory.
HE provided some extremely useful information which enabled us to look at what would be required to restore the Conservatory. BwD were also looking at the options for the future use/partners for the use of the conservatory as well as funding sources.
From initial assessments, the best option was to look at preparing a bid for the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This would require an in depth assessment of the state of the conservatory, its restoration as well as how it will be used, how it will be secured to prevent future damage/vandalism.
Restoration Blackburns
Victorian Conservatory
built in 1900.
Victorian Conservatory
built in 1900.
Conservatory drone video
(c) Blackburn Social Media
(c) Blackburn Social Media
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About Corporation Park
Conservatory Restoration activities
Achievements
Your Memories
How to join us
The Gate House
Newsletter
Maps
Late in 2023, Historic England contacted the BwD Director of Operations directly with details of potential grant funding that may be available as well as some interim work that could be done to prevent further damage to the other wing, i.e. remove the glass in case of a heavy snowfall.
Press release and images after glass removal below.
Press release and images after glass removal below.
Click image to read the full article
(C) Blackburn With Darwen Council
(C) Blackburn With Darwen Council
The award from HE will go towards preparing a bid to present to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
For the restoration of the Conservatory, there is not just the rebuilding of the structure but there needs to be consideration of :-
Sustainability - easy and cost effective to maintain. However, we need to understand how much the conservatory will cost in future years and where the money will come from.
Carbon neutrality - not requiring the use of fossil fuels, etc to heat in winter. Carbon neutral is the aim.
Environmentally friendly - no use of materials that can cause harm to the environment and using easily sustainable materials and environmentally friendly materials in its restoration.
Security If we cannot sort this out then the project will not be viable. We need to stop it being vandalised which has been the main problem in the past. There are solutions but they are costly.
Safety - the structure and surrounding area needs to be safe for all.
For the restoration of the Conservatory, there is not just the rebuilding of the structure but there needs to be consideration of :-
Sustainability - easy and cost effective to maintain. However, we need to understand how much the conservatory will cost in future years and where the money will come from.
Carbon neutrality - not requiring the use of fossil fuels, etc to heat in winter. Carbon neutral is the aim.
Environmentally friendly - no use of materials that can cause harm to the environment and using easily sustainable materials and environmentally friendly materials in its restoration.
Security If we cannot sort this out then the project will not be viable. We need to stop it being vandalised which has been the main problem in the past. There are solutions but they are costly.
Safety - the structure and surrounding area needs to be safe for all.
Click image to read the full article
(C) Blackburn With Darwen Council
(C) Blackburn With Darwen Council
6 May 2019. The CPSG held a meeting with BwD council to look at how we could restore the conservatory. The meeting was held in the conservatory itself and we had some constructive ideas. However, everyone in the meeting realised there was a lot to do and the potential cost would be £2 to £3 million.
There had been two previous unsuccessful bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund. We also had lessons to be learned from the previous two bids.
The CPSG put together a basic strategy looking at how we could achieve the restoration. Click on the image to see the Lancashire Telegraph article.
There had been two previous unsuccessful bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund. We also had lessons to be learned from the previous two bids.
The CPSG put together a basic strategy looking at how we could achieve the restoration. Click on the image to see the Lancashire Telegraph article.
Towards the end of 2023, the Council, with input from the CPSG, developed a bid for the funding which was presented to HE for consideration. In late March 2024, HE announced an award of £68,400 as a contribution to develop a bid for the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Click image to read the full article
(C) Lancashire Telegraph
(C) Lancashire Telegraph
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Click image to read the full article
(C) Blackburn With Darwen Council
(C) Blackburn With Darwen Council