Keighley and Worth Valley Railway gets financial support from the Culture Recovery Fund

A heritage railway service in Yokrshire is set to receive a major financial boost from a Government relief fund.
A train at Oakworth on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.A train at Oakworth on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
A train at Oakworth on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country to get support through the coronavirus pandemic from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The railway - a registered charity run by more than 500 volunteers - was successful in its application and has received £231,000 from the fund to help towards costs such as utility bills and rent from November to the end of March 2021.

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The funds are from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund - funded by Government and administered at arm’s length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund - designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

David Pearson, fundraising coordinator at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society, said: “The Railway has been an important part of our landscape since 1867.

"It was saved from permanent closure in 1968 by a team of dedicated volunteers.

"Like many other heritage organisations, 2020 has been a very difficult due to the Covid-19 crisis, and our volunteers have been working extremely hard to safeguard our future once again.

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"During the pandemic we had generous support from the public, and also received funding from other grants to help see us through.

"We’re delighted to have been awarded £231,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund and are extremely grateful to the Government for this support."

Other heritage sites to benefit from the fund include Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire the Piece Hall in Halifax.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief executive said: “It is heartening to see grants, both large and small, from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund helping heritage sites and organisations across the country which have been hit hard by the effects of Covid-19.

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"These grants range from giving skilled craft workers the chance to keep their trades alive to helping heritage organisations pay the bills, and to kick-starting repair works at our best-loved historic sites.

"The funding is an essential lifeline for our heritage and the people who work tirelessly to conserve it for us all, so that we can hand it on to future generations.”

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “It is absolutely right that investing in heritage should be a priority during this crisis and this support by Government is crucial.

"Heritage creates jobs and economic prosperity, is a major driver for tourism and makes our towns, cities, and rural areas

better places to live.

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"All of this is so important for our wellbeing and will be particularly vital when we start to emerge from this incredibly difficult time.

“Our heritage is still facing a perilous future – we are not out of the woods yet.

"But this hugely welcome funding from Government, and the money we continue to invest from the National Lottery, has undoubtedly stopped heritage and the organisations

that care for it being permanently lost.”

Round trips in a private family compartment depart from Oxenhope and Keighley every weekend, and during October half-term, as part of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway services.

Advanced booking is essential. Visit www.kwvr.co.uk or call 01535 645214 for full details or to book.

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