Dec 2007

Leighton Linslade Sand Heritage project receives lottery fund boost

The Greensand Trust is celebrating after hearing that their application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the ‘Sands of Time’ project has been successful.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a grant totalling just over £47,000 for the archive project that aims to collate information and celebrate the history of the Leighton Buzzard Sand industry.

HLF Regional Manager, Robyn Llewellyn said, “This is great news both for local people and visitors to this part of Bedfordshire. The collecting and recording of these stories about the history of the Sand and related industries in Leighton Buzzard will not only preserve them in a permanent archive but will help people to understand the past, why it’s important and relevant to them, and how the character of this area has developed. We are very keen to fund projects that make local history accessible and encourage communities to identify, look after and celebrate their heritage, and Sands of Time will do exactly that.”

The project will be in two phases and initially aims to collect information, written research and recorded memories, reminiscences, artefacts and photos of local people who work or used to work in the Leighton Buzzard Sand Industry and related sand, tile and brick works.

Archives are an ideal way to keep history alive for future generations and the second phase of the project will see this collected material being made into a sand history archive. Part of the funding will help make this accessible to the local community through events, talks and exhibitions, the development of a route for a permanent sand trail and educational resources to encourage people to learn about our unique local heritage.  

In addition, the information will be made available online as a virtual museum facility and in this way local people will be able to share their stories and recollections of the past with the widest possible audience.
 
The first step is to employ a member of staff to move the project forward and work with local people and volunteers to build on some fascinating information which has been already collected.

The Heritage Lottery Fund enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and countryside or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation's heritage for everyone to enjoy. We have awarded grants totalling more than £240million to over 2,500 projects across the East of England. For more information about Heritage Lottery Fund, please go to www.hlf.org.uk