What

In July 2024, Stricklandgate House Trust successfully secured a Development Phase grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Over the past two years, the team has worked intensively to shape the project and prepare a Delivery Phase application. If successful, this next stage will unlock a £4.6 million grant and enable a total investment of more than £5 million into Kendal.

Why

Stricklandgate House is a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse at the heart of Kendal’s civic life since 1776 and, today, a welcoming base for charities and voluntary organisations supporting more than 13,000 people each year. The building has not benefited from proper investment in over 30 years and faces serious maintenance issues, limited accessibility and spaces that do not fully meet the needs of vulnerable users or the organisations working with them. At the same time, demand for local charity services is rising while affordable, accessible community spaces are increasingly scarce, and access to heritage in Kendal has reduced following local museum closures. This project needs to happen now to secure the building, protect fragile archives and collections, sustain the Trust’s role in supporting the third sector, and embed heritage into everyday community life for the next 250 years.

How

Stricklandgate House 4 Sustainable Heritage will conserve and adapt Stricklandgate House as a Heritage & Community Hub: an accessible, rich, valued and sustainable heritage setting that strengthens the charitable, voluntary and community sector across Kendal, Westmorland and Furness. Capital works will repair and restore the Georgian House and Service Wing, replace poor-quality and unsightly modern extensions, improve access throughout (including clearer routes and a new lift), and transform underused areas into flexible meeting rooms, offices and a Community Hub with event space and a shared Community Lounge. Alongside this, the project will protect and conserve archives and collections, create a digital archive, and co-create interpretation, activities and volunteering opportunities that support wellbeing, creativity and belonging, especially for people who do not usually engage with heritage, including those already accessing services in the building. Energy-efficiency upgrades and modern systems will reduce environmental impact and support long-term financial sustainability, demonstrating how a living historic building can be conserved and used to strengthen communities.

When

From July 2024 to June 2026, a dedicated team of staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to prepare and submit our Delivery Phase application, which was completed in February 2026. Following a committee visit in May, we expect a funding decision by the end of June.

If successful, the project will begin in September 2026, with building works scheduled to start from July 2027. Until then, we remain hopeful and keep our fingers crossed for a positive outcome.