Borough heritage landmark gets cash from £1.57bn Government fund

The money will go towards supporting staff, upgrading cleaning and sanitation within the mill and covering operating costs including work that has to be done to make it compliant with coronavirus measures.

Nationwide some 445 heritage organisations are sharing around £103m from the fund to restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on cherished historic sites, keep venues open and support jobs in the sector.

LBPT chair Peter Rowlinson said: “This funding will ensure the continued operation of Leigh Spinners Mill until a full re-opening early next

year.

“We are undertaking a series of major works to prepare ourselves for the new environment in which we will be operating and to make us a welcoming and safe building for visitors, volunteers and tenants.

“We will have made major changes to our systems, improvements to the building and will have significant improvements to our heritage offer.”

The money comes from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund, which are being provided by the Government and administered at arms length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Both form part of the £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund which it is hoped will help to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our

past.

“This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post-Covid.”