We have launched a new grant scheme offering financial support to local landowners and farmers within the Westmorland Dales to carry out conservation work on a number of traditional farm buildings under threat. 

These buildings are a distinctive feature of the Westmorland Dales landscape but they are also one of the most vulnerable types of historic building in the area.  With dramatic changes in farming practices over the last 50 years, many farm buildings are now redundant and have therefore been demolished, left to decay or converted to other uses.  

A small number of grants are now being made available to assist with restoration work to save these important cultural assets, raise their profile and help to reveal their importance to the heritage of the Westmorland Dales. 

Hannah Kingsbury, Cultural Heritage Officer, 

“The Westmorland Dales area has many beautiful traditional farm buildings, reflecting the area’s rich farming heritage. We’re keen to conserve a few key buildings which will help to demonstrate the link between our traditional farm buildings and how the land was once managed. 

“We are delighted to be inviting  applications from owners and tenants with buildings that are highly visible in the landscape, and that have a proposed future use (excluding residential conversions).” 

The Traditional Farm Building Conservation Grant scheme is now open for expressions of interest. If you have a building which you think may be eligible, visit our Westmorland Dales website www.thewestmorlanddales.org.uk grant section for guidance on eligibility, submission guidelines and contact information. 

Our grant fund is limited and the potential costs of conservation are high, so a small number of buildings will be identified for conservation from the applications for conservation. The grant will provide 80% of funding, with an additional 20% required from the landowner or occupier. 

The deadline for expression of interest applications is Friday 4^th December 2020. 

If you would like to discuss this further, please get in contact with Hannah Kingsbury, Cultural Heritage Officer, on 01539 756624 or [email protected]