Appleby Heritage Action Zone
The Appleby Heritage Action Zone aimed to restore and revive Appleby as a tourist destination, benefitting the local economy and the people who live and work there.
Since the flooding, Appleby has been designated a Conservation Area at Risk and several buildings featured on the Heritage at Risk Register. Tourism is one of the towns' major businesses but Appleby had suffered from a decline in visitor numbers in recent years. This has been exacerbated by the Covid -19 pandemic. In 2021 visitor numbers have recovered but we are committed to supporting the community further.
Actions over the five year programme have been:
- Improving the historic environment and repairing a number of key listed buildings
- Boosting tourism through a series of projects to showcase the town's rich heritage, including a town trail
- Engaging local people through initiatives like Heritage Open Days and surveying the town's listed buildings
The Partnership Team is made up of representatives from Historic England, Appleby Town Council and Eden District Council.
There are a number of projects that have been underway, listed below by theme. Find out more about Heritage Action Zone Projects on the Historic England website.
Heritage at Risk
- Further renovation works to the keep at Appleby Castle
- Repair water damage at the Moot Hall
- Restoration of the railings at St Lawrence’s Church
- Detailed Condition Survey completed for the White Hart Hotel to encourage return to use
- Explore conservation works at Bongate Mill
- Appleby Conservation Area grant scheme to repair targeted buildings and shopfronts in the town centre
Research
- Completion of Historic Areas Assessment of Appleby
- Mini guide, trail leaflet, new maps and information boards for the town under the ‘Story of Appleby’
- Conservation Area Appraisal
Planning and Managing
- A Conservation Area Management Plan
- Working towards a community plan with other stakeholders
- Developing flood resilience measures and uptake
Boosting Tourism
- Marketing Appleby
- Tourism signage review
- Appleby heritage town trail
- Working in partnership with volunteer groups
- Explore opportunities for development of the visitor offer at Appleby Castle with the site owner
Listing
- Review of targeted current and potentially new listed buildings in Appleby
Community Engagement
- Heritage Open Days
- A grade II listed buildings survey
- Engaging local businesses to support ‘The story of Appleby’
- Delivery of workshops during the Moot Hall building repairs
