June 8, 2010 6.31 am This story is over 165 months old

Cathedral to train heritage workers

Revamp workers: The Lincoln Cathedral will train heritage workers after it won a £250,000 grant over the next five years.

The Lincoln Cathedral received a £250,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, which will allow it to train heritage skills workers over the next five years.

In the first phase of the project, three students will be recruited in the Cathedral Works Department to gain NVQ levels 2 and 3 in stone masonry, lead work and joinery. More students will be taken on as the project develops.

A Heritage Skills Centre will also be built at the grounds of the Lincoln Castle, and when completed, a series of taster sessions would be held to encourage those who want to pursue a career in the heritage sector.

“The Cathedral and Castle need a constant supply of highly trained people working on their restoration, as do the many other historic buildings in the county,” said Councillor Eddy Poll, Executive Councillor for Economic Development.

“It is excellent that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised this need, and we are grateful for what will be a vital heritage grant,” Poll added.

“We need to remember that our built heritage is not just Cathedrals, Castles, Churches and country homes, it is also pre 1919 domestic properties,” said Carol Heidschuster, Works Manager at Lincoln Cathedral.

“Being able to offer additional placements at the Cathedral, means more skilled crafts persons will be available in our region,” Heidschuster said.

Source: Lincolnshire County Council | Photo: Jeremy Quinn via Flickr