Hartlepool has been awarded almost £2.5 million from the government to help protect local treasures in the town’s museum and reopen the Wingfield Castle paddle steamer.

The Museum of Hartlepool is one of 12 cultural venues, museums, and libraries in the North East that are to receive £12 million funding from the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund to improve access to arts and culture.

The Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) has allocated £2,458,641 to Hartlepool Borough Council for the Museum of Hartlepool.

It is for urgent critical works to safeguard the museum and its locally treasured collection, and to support the reopening of PS Wingfield Castle, a nationally significant paddle steamer.

The Wingfield Castle is part of the Museum of Hartlepool but has been closed to visitors for several years.

placeholder image — The Wingfield Castle is part of the Museum of Hartlepool but has been closed to visitors for several years.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport stated: “The award will ensure that visitors from Hartlepool and beyond can continue to explore their heritage through the museum’s collection.”

Built in Hartlepool by William Gray and Company and launched in 1934, the Wingfield Castle has been closed to visitors for a number of years.

Last year, the council was awarded a £1.8 million government grant to help restore it.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “Cultural organisations across the North East are important custodians of local identity and play a key role in the story we tell ourselves as a nation.

"Our Arts Everywhere Fund is delivering on our commitment to support cultural assets across the country, increasing access and preserving them for future generations.

“Arts and culture are the beating hearts of our communities, they have the power to unite us in the face of division and break down barriers to opportunity.”

Hartlepool Borough Council is also to receive £94,400 from the Libraries Improvement Fund to help upgrade buildings and technology to better meet the needs of the community.

Rebecca Ball, area director north at Arts Council England, added: “Our museums, libraries and arts organisations have the power to change lives, they give us access to new worlds, teach us about our heritage and give us new perspectives on life.

“I’m so pleased that we’ll be supporting so many of our cultural organisations in the North with this capital investment, which will ensure that they can continue to deliver incredible arts and culture to their communities.”