Appleby Heritage Action Zone
The Appleby Heritage Action Zone will focus on restoring and reviving 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 feature on the Heritage at Risk Register. Tourism is one of the towns' major industries but Appleby had suffered from a decline in visitor numbers in recent years; visitor numbers have bounced back somewhat since the flooding, but boosting tourism further is a major ambition.
Actions over the five year programme will include:
- 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 already identified, listed below by theme. Find out more about the Heritage Action Zone and how you can get involved in our Appleby Heritage Action Zone Leaflet
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
- Repair of 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
- Historic Areas Assessment of Appleby
- Publication of tourist book on Appleby based on research
- Conservation Area Appraisal
Planning and Managing
- A Conservation Area Management Plan
- A Neighbourhood Plan for Appleby
- Developing flood resilience measures and uptake
Boosting Tourism
- Marketing Appleby
- Tourism signage review
- Appleby heritage town trail
- Enhance tourism role at St Lawrence’s Church
- 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
- Delivery of a blue plaques scheme
- A heritage schools project