National Lottery investment in Bexhill and Battle’s heritage hits £11,715,376 million
Huw Merriman MP welcomes investment and encourages constituents to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for grants to explore the legacy of the First World War
Huw Merriman, the Member of Parliament for Bexhill and Battle has today welcomed news that more than £11,715,376 million of National Lottery money has been invested in Bexhill and Battle’s heritage projects since 1994.
From exploring local archaeology and restoring local parks and buildings to protecting wildlife and researching local history, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded more than 62 grants to heritage projects in the area.
Now, HLF is encouraging people in Bexhill and Battle to apply for grants between £3,000 and £10,000 to undertake projects exploring the impact and legacy of the First World War beyond 1918. Whether that’s looking at the role the war played in bringing about universal suffrage; the introduction of daylight saving; or the mechanisation of agriculture, there is a wealth of local stories waiting to be explored about life following the war.
Huw said: “Bexhill and Battle has an incredibly rich history and I’m delighted to learn that thanks to the National Lottery local people have been exploring and enjoying that heritage. Just like many towns and cities across the UK, the Bexhill and Battle we live in today was shaped by the First World War, and so I strongly encourage local people to make use of the money available from Heritage Lottery Fund to explore its legacy further.”
Sir Peter Luff, Chair of HLF, said: “Sadly, the ‘war to end all wars’ was no such thing and so it is right the events of the First World War should never be forgotten. We’ve been helping people across the UK explore an incredible array of stories from 1914-18, but the war had an impact beyond 1918 and we must recognise this. The legacy of the First World War needs to be better understood and so we are encouraging people to come to us with their ideas for projects.”
The money is available through HLF’s community grants programme, First World War: then and now.