A NEW heritage project for Halton is being launched as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days programme.

Halton Borough Council has received a grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver a programme of heritage activity as part of Halton’s Borough of Culture 2021 celebrations.

The Celebrating Halton’s Heritage project will be based around a central hub at St Marie’s on Lugsdale Road and will feature exhibitions, workshops and talks, as well as outreach at other community venues.

The theme is Halton’s Trades through the centuries with a focus on rural trades (farming, game-keeping, willow weaving, bargees/ flatmen, local shops and Post Offices), makers (sail making, linen weaving, cheese production, lace making, clock making) and ‘nasty’ trades such as bleachpacking and tanning.

There are a number of ways you can get involved in the project.

Organisers are looking for volunteers to staff exhibitions and workshops;

They are also looking for stories and information about trades from Halton’s past up to current industry in the borough today;

They will also be recruiting a number of young people aged 16 - 25 to work with artist Laurence Payot on a project exploring the lives of workers in the bleachpacking industry. To register an initial interest in any of these areas, email steph.davies@halton.gov.uk

There will also be an opportunity to apply for a small number of grants. Six community grants of up to £5,000 will be on offer as part of Celebrating Halton’s Heritage for projects to explore an aspect of Halton’s trading past; grants will be given to community organisations to work in partnership with a member of Halton Heritage partnership to work up the project.

The applications will be launched on September 10 at the start of Heritage Open Days and close for entries on October 31

Projects must be delivered by the end of August 2022. To register for an application form or ask a question about the grant programme, please contact adele.clarke@halton.gov.uk or steph.davies@halton.gov.uk