A MEETING with former Culture Minister Helen Whately in February provided the opportunity to discuss Great Grimsby's heritage buildings and how we can support organisations bidding for funds to save our town's history.
Since then, the pandemic has hit many of these groups hard, those which would ordinarily see visitors paying entrance fees or making donations to the individual organisations. The Government's £1.57 billion pot of money for the new Cultural Recovery Fund has provided a bolster with which to save our buildings and culture from closure and putting them into disrepair.
So far, the town has seen £182,900 awarded to the 900-year-old Grimsby Minster, which has been much welcomed as work on St James' Square also continues around it.
The Time Trap Museum at the iconic Town Hall has received £60,000, ensuring children and adults alike will be able to take a wander through the town's history, once we begin to see an end to the enormity of this year's pandemic issues.
The museum is a fantastic educational tool, sharing past news of politics, law and order, and diseases as visitors take a trip back in time.
An important museum in our town, the purpose-built Fishing Heritage Centre has been awarded £75,000 to guide it through to its 30th anniversary next year. Also home to the MV Ross Tiger trawler, the centre entertains hundreds of visitors each year, taking them on a journey through Great Grimsby fishing history.
Lia Nici, MP for Great Grimsby, said: “I will continue to champion our town's history and support the town's museums and heritage as we guide them through a difficult period.
“Grimsby's fishing heritage is of great importance as we enter a new era for the fishing industry in 2021.”
