Oswestry Town Council applies for more than £3m in Lottery funding to save 'cherished' town centre building

A town council has applied for more than £3 million in funding to save a “cherished” historic building.

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Oswestry Town Council said it has submitted a £3,286,336 funding application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the delivery phase of the Llwyd Mansion Framing the Future Project.

The town council bought what it described as one of Oswestry's “most cherished historic buildings” in November 2023 and has said the funding application marks a milestone in efforts to save it.

If the application is successful, the grant will fund the full structural restoration of the 15th-century Grade I-listed timber-framed building, removing it from the Heritage at Risk register, and fitting out the interior to create a new community and visitor destination in the heart of the town.

The ground floor will house visitor information, exhibition and interpretation space telling the story of Llwyd Mansion and its restoration, alongside a retail offer developed in partnership with local artisans and creatives.

A lift will provide full access to all floors, with the top floor dedicated to community use - hosting groups such as Oswestry Community Action, and providing opportunities to learn traditional heritage crafts, attend art classes and after-school clubs.

The application follows a successful development phase, during which the council worked with conservation specialist Buttress Architects and funding partner Historic England to fully understand the building's history and condition.

That process revealed that poorly executed work carried out in the 1980s has left the building in a worse condition than originally anticipated.

The Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor Jonathan Upton, said: "The development phase has been really successful in helping us understand the history of Llwyd Mansion and its condition, and has also shown us that this project could not come at a more critical time.

“Had Oswestry Town Council not stepped in, the building was at real risk of collapse and being lost forever. The Llwyd Mansion Framing the Future Project will save this extraordinary building for years to come, whilst creating a space that serves both our community and visitors to the town."

Samantha Jones, Llwyd Mansion Framing the Future Project manager, added: “We are very grateful to every National Lottery player whose support makes grants like this possible. Without you, this funding would not be available. It is hard to see who else we could have turned to for help to restore this nationally important building.”

A decision from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is expected in the new year.