Hall For Cornwall redevelopment boosted by £2.5m National Lottery grant

We are thrilled to announce that we have today heard that we have been successful with being awarded our full Heritage Lottery grant for our 'Revealing City Hall' project. Since investing initial development funds last year, the Heritage Lottery Fund team have been really impressed by the local support from the Cornish community that has gone into creating the foundations for the full project. Some of you will have been involved with our memory and stories collecting and pop-up performances.

The grant will ensure the conservation and reinvigoration of Christopher Eales’ 1846 Grade II building’s Boscawen Street and Lemon Quay public spaces that currently envelop our auditorium. Alongside this, 'Revealing City Hall' will unveil the 350-year history of the City Hall site and bring it to life creatively for all. A really exciting project that will enable the local community and visitors to discover the evolving heritage of City Hall and its very unique story.

Commenting on the award, Julien Boast, Director of Hall For Cornwall said: “It’s always a thrill and relief to know that everybody’s hard work here has been fully recognized. We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support and after all the research and preparations so energetically undertaken, we are now eager to unleash our building’s cultural and heritage potential and give expression to this enormous confidence in us”.

Over the years, Truro City Hall has been many things to many people. Courts of Justice, skating rink, food market, rifle range, jail, theatre and seat of political power. It has survived fire and more than one economic downturn; provided a platform for civic unrest and played host to award-winning shows. The HLF-funded project will enable people to discover the evolving heritage of City Hall and its place in an emerging city, through a ‘voice-scape’ of people past and present and a host of other creative innovations that will tell its very unique story.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, Hall For Cornwall’s rich 350-year history will be revealed in an enhanced public building. We are particularly excited about the number of people, young and old, who will be involved in the building’s future through education and training programmes, volunteering opportunities and activities connected to their local heritage”.

We’ll certainly be keeping people updated of news and becoming involved over the coming months.