10th April

FANTASTIC NEWS - The Blake Cottage Trust has been awarded a grant of £243,954 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This will enable us to repair and restore the roof and the thatch and start important outreach work for the Trust.  Here's the full text of our news release:

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release, 10th April 2025

The Blake Cottage Trust Secures £243,954 Grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant to Safeguard Historic Site

The Blake Cottage Trust is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a £243,954 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support essential conservation and planning efforts for Blake’s Cottage, in Felpham, the historic Sussex home of visionary poet and artist William Blake.

This crucial funding will enable the Trust to undertake three key objectives:

1. Conservation of the Roof, Thatch, and Timbering – Ensuring the structural integrity of the cottage by preserving and restoring its historic roofing materials and timber framework.

2. Stabilisation of Wall Tops and Chimneys – Addressing urgent structural concerns to make the cottage safe for future generations.

3. Engagement with Communities, Partners, and Stakeholders – Continuing to develop a long-term, viable plan for the future of Blake’s Cottage as a site of cultural and historical significance.

Doug Nicholls, Chair of the Blake Cottage Trust, welcomed the grant, stating:

“This generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is a vital first step in securing the future of Blake’s Cottage. It allows us to undertake essential conservation work and ensure the structural safety of this unique historic building. However, this is just the beginning of our journey. Our long-term vision is to create a vibrant centre that informs, inspires, and celebrates the extraordinary legacy of William and Catherine Blake. We invite all those who cherish Blake’s work to join us in shaping an enduring future for this special place.”

William and Catherine Blake lived in the cottage for three years at the start of the nineteenth century, a period that profoundly influenced his poetic and artistic work, including Milton: A Poem and inspired the iconic words, ‘And did those feet in ancient time’, later set to music as Jerusalem. Preserving the cottage will ensure that Blake’s legacy remains accessible and inspirational to future generations.

The grant marks an important milestone for the Blake Cottage Trust as it continues to develop a comprehensive conservation strategy. Alongside vital restoration work, the Trust remains committed to engaging the public in Blake’s legacy, fostering educational initiatives, and creating opportunities for community involvement.

The Blake Cottage Trust extends heartfelt thanks to the Heritage Fund and National Lottery players. Further details on the restoration project and opportunities for community engagement will be shared in the coming months. [Ends]

Notes to editors

Blake’s Cottage

Blake’s Cottage, located in Felpham, West Sussex, was the home of William and Catherine Blake from 1800 to 1803. It was here that Blake produced some of his most famous work and experienced the countryside that profoundly shaped his artistic and poetic vision. The cottage remains a symbol of his enduring creativity and spiritual imagination.

The Blake Cottage Trust is a charitable organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of William Blake through the conservation of Blake’s Cottage. The Trust works to protect this historic site and inspire public engagement with Blake’s art, poetry, and visionary ideas.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in the strategic plan, Heritage 2033. 

Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.  

The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are. 

The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. 

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund  www.heritagefund.org.uk.

Further information

For further information, images and interviews please contact Doug Nicholls, at The Blake Cottage Trust on 07557 770230 or chairperson@blakecottage.org.

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