Chichester Community Development Trust has received initial support* from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Heritage at the Heart of Graylingwell project, it was announced today. Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to renovate and repurpose Graylingwell Chapel into a warm, inviting, building that will tell the story of Graylingwell and that will serve the community both at Graylingwell Park and Chichester for decades to come. Development funding of £142,900 has also been awarded to help Chichester Community Development Trust progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.
With the HLF funds CCDT will:
- Appoint a Building Works Project Manager, a Project Coordinator and activity plan consultant
- Appoint a Lead Architect including CDM Coordinator, Quantity Surveyor, Mechanical and Engineering Consultant, Structural Engineer
- Carry out surveys to the stained glass windows
- Develop ideas for a memory café
- Support with designs for landscaping as well as Interpretation design
Graylingwell Chapel, as part of Graylingwell Hospital, has a fascinating history. Graylingwell Hospital, formerly known as the West Sussex County Asylum, has had a significant impact upon Chichester’s local community throughout the last century. In its day, as a medical institution, Graylingwell Hospital was at the forefront of mental health treatment in the UK and the development of psychiatry in the 20th century. Graylingwell Chapel played an important role for the community at Graylingwell, not only spiritually, but as a performance space for community singers and the percussion band.
The architect of Graylingwell Chapel, Sir Arthur Blomfield, was a prolific church architect and the chapel has the feel of a parish church. However, the chapel was never consecrated but designed to be a place of reflection and safety for staff and patients of all faiths. It is not hard to imagine that patients who attended chapel services welcomed a different experience to daily life on the ward.
Commenting on the award, Clare de Bathe, director of CCDT, said:
“We are thrilled to have received the support of the start-up fund from the Heritage Lottery Fund. We are going to make the most of this amazing opportunity; we want to save the building and heritage of Graylingwell Chapel for future generations. Graylingwell Chapel will not only be a wonderful community venue for Chichester, but will also be a fascinating place to visit. The development grant is crucial in moving the project forward.”
Jo Dixon, marketing manager at Linden Homes South – one of CCDT’S partners – said:
“The National Lottery grant is a great boost for the CCDT and one that will ultimately see a significant milestone now get underway. The transformation of the Chapel into a welcoming community space is not only going to benefit the residents of Graylingwell Park, but also the wider Chichester community and we are thrilled to be part of this legacy.”
Notes to editors
About Chichester Community Development Trust
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
A first-round pass is given when HLF has endorsed outline proposals and earmarked funding. A first-round pass may also include an immediate award to fund the development of the project. Detailed proposals are then considered by HLF at second-round and as long as plans have progressed satisfactorily and according to the original proposal, an award for the project is confirmed.
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #HLFsupported
Further information
For further information, images and interviews please contact Clare de Bathe at CCDT on 01243 537526 and clare@chichestercdt.org.uk
About Linden Homes, Galliford Try’s Housebuilding Division
Linden Homes is the award-winning housebuilding division of Galliford Try, one of the UK’s leading housebuilding and construction companies. The residential developer builds high quality schemes in prime locations across the country, striving to create sustainable new developments.
Linden Homes was named Developer of the Year at the 2016 New Energy and Cleantech awards in recognition of its efforts to place environmentally friendly and renewable energy features at the heart of its developments. Linden Homes was also awarded Silver at the What House? awards in 2016 for Sustainable Developer of the Year.
As part of its ‘future talent’ programme, Linden Homes is a proud sponsor of Women in Property’s (WiP) National Student Awards 2017.
Building approximately 3,000 homes annually and committed to the redevelopment of brownfield sites, we pride ourselves on our values of excellence, passion, collaboration and integrity – demonstrating strong ethical standards with openness and honesty. These values have laid the foundation for our success and enabled us to earn a reputation as a leader in our field: www.lindenhomes.co.uk.
For media information about Linden Homes, contact Rebecca Reid and Claire Oakley at Remarkable Content on 01962 893893.
