Lottery money will be used to make many park improvements

A park in the north-east of England is to undergo a dramatic restoration programme thanks to a grant of almost �1.37 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The money will fund a series of works over two years at Horden Welfare Park, near Peterlee in County Durham, restoring its original layout and improving facilities.

Horden's first mineshaft was sunk in 1900 following the development of the Seaham and Hartlepool Railway.

By 1925, over 14,000 houses and numerous amenities had been built to serve the new mining community, followed by the creation of Horden Welfare Park in 1929 with the help of the Miners' Welfare Fund.

This is the largest HLF grant to be awarded in the local authority district of Easington.

Open space

Keith Bartlett, Heritage Lottery Fund manager for the North East, said: "This park is an important part of Horden's heritage and one of the few surviving legacies of the mining industry in the area.

"The restoration will create a much-needed open space and we hope that lots of people will take advantage of the improvements.

This is a great example of how lottery players' money can be reinvested for the social and economic benefit of local communities.

It is the first opportunity which HLF has had to make a large grant award in this area, and we think it's well deserved."

Art centrepiece

The proposed works will help to reinstate and redefine key features of the park, which have suffered deterioration over the years.

Improvements include restoring the bandstand and rockery, replacing the gates and seating, and planting trees and shrubs.

Railings will be introduced to enhance and secure the park's boundary, and new lighting columns erected to the north-south avenue to encourage evening use.

A new arts centrepiece will be created with the help of the local community, and two new children's play areas built on a piece of land which is currently derelict.