The borough is one of six new places to have been chosen as a Heritage Place by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with selected locations across the UK set to benefit from a multi-million-pound UK-wide investment.
Dudley joins nine others announced in 2023 – including Stoke-on-Trent and Leicester in the Midlands – as part of the Heritage Fund’s commitment to invest £200 million in up to 20 areas across the UK.
It is hoped the initiative will connect people to heritage in the places where they live, work and visit. It aims to play a vital role in supporting communities in the long term during challenging times to revitalise the heritage they care about and to explore untapped possibilities, contributing to local identity, increasing heritage skills and boosting pride in places.
Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for economy and infrastructure at Dudley Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Dudley borough has been recognised as a Heritage Place by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“This is a testament to the passion and resilience of our communities who have huge pride in their heritage, and we look forward to working closely with the Heritage Fund and local partners to celebrate, protect and promote the incredible heritage of our towns and green spaces.
“This opportunity will enable the delivery of a pipeline of exciting projects and place-based investment within our communities, building on the investment already made by the Heritage Fund over the years across the borough.”
The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the largest funder of heritage in the UK – awarding money raised for good causes by National Lottery players since 1994, has handed out more than £9.2 billion to more than 52,000 projects over the years.
Liz Bates, Midlands and East director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “There is real momentum in Dudley borough, and this new long-term approach builds on our recent legacy of investing in Dudley’s heritage. From conserving historic town centre features to supporting iconic visitor attractions, money raised by National Lottery players makes a difference in Dudley and as a Heritage Place this work will increase.
“We want to support Dudley Council and partners in realising the potential for heritage to play an active role in the borough’s future, benefitting people, the places on their doorstep and the local economy.”
Elaine Bouckley, who volunteers with Friends of Wrens Nest Nature Reserve in Dudley, added: “We are delighted that Dudley is receiving this recognition, of which Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve is particularly worthy as the birthplace of Abraham Darby who played such an important role in the Industrial Revolution.
“In addition to being one of the country’s most notable geological locations, Dudley features significant limestone quarrying remains and a diversity of rare flora and fauna. The possibilities that this recognition will bring will hopefully enable an even wider audience to protect and celebrate our heritage.”
Dudley is one of five new UK Heritage Places announced today. The others are: Barking & Dagenham, Belfast Historic Waterfront, Orkney Islands, Tameside, and Ynys Môn (Isle of Anglesey).
The Heritage Places initiative is part of Heritage 2033, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s 10-year strategy, which includes other initiatives helping places to thrive including Landscapes Connected and Nature Towns and Cities. Together, the programmes aim to tackle the challenges facing heritage and maximise its contribution to people and places across the UK.
The Heritage Fund’s legacy of awarding funding to numerous Dudley borough projects over the last few years including for the repair of the Grade II listed entrance to Dudley Zoo, for the restoration and extension of Tintern House at Stevens Park in Quarry Bank, for the Dudley Townscape Heritage Scheme which saw repairs made to Fountain Arcade, Plaza Malls and the Old Co-op, to support the creation of Stourbridge Glass Museum and for the Black Country Living Museum’s Forging Ahead project which has seen a new 1940s-50s street open.