Seaton Tramway win award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund

East Devon Attraction, Seaton Tramway have successfully been awarded National Lottery Heritage funding of £680,000 for their ‘Travels through Heritage and The Axe Valley’ project.

The project will enable Seaton Tramway and its partners to provide in-depth engagement with visitors, staff, volunteers and expand into new audiences through an ambitious programme of new interpretation, facilities, training, learning, events and long-term activities.

In June 2017 Seaton Tramway was very pleased to receive the news of a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Heritage Grants, Round 1 pass for the project, to research and develop the project before moving through to Round 2. With the development of the new station at Seaton, this was the ideal time to undertake the project and HLF provided development funding and an in-principle delivery grant of £420,000 as part of an overall project cost of £682,300.

As part of the development phase during 2018 staff, volunteers and consultants worked on detailed plans which will provide greater opportunities for visitors to find out and learn more about the Tramway, the heritage of the line and the natural heritage with new interpretation in the new Seaton station, at Colyton station and other points along the route. Interpretation will also link with Seaton Wetlands with interpretation panels and live webcams.

The project will allow a range of opportunities for visitors to participate in new activities during their visit with an extensive programme being planned involving special events, participation activities and creative projects. There will be greater access to the Tramway and its environments with a new Seaton Marshes halt and access during set times to the Riverside Depot Tramway workshop.

The project also involves participation opportunities for new audience groups, supporting people with dementia and people living with mental health problems, developing proposals for a creative filmmaking project led by young people with extended training, apprenticeship and work experience opportunities, access to an enhanced programme of learning opportunities for informal and formal learners andin particular working closely with local schools and colleges in STEM subject areas and in partnership with Seaton Jurassic and Seaton Wetlands.

The new Seaton Station will provide an exciting and versatile venue for events, performances, screening and community activities – working closely with other local providers and events.

The project will see the development of the existing partnerships in and around Seaton and with Seaton Jurassic, Seaton Wetlands, Devon Wildlife Trust and the Jurassic Coast Trust

Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said: “Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we’re delighted to support this project which will ensure heritage is at the heart of Seaton Tramway’s exciting vision for the future. Natural heritage, stories of the historic tramway and local communities are all set to benefit so we look forward to seeing the plans develop!”

This news comes after an already award-studded start to 2019, with Seaton Tramway winning the Heritage Railway Association’s Outstanding Achievement award for the new Seaton Station. The Tramway also received the Visit England Welcome Accolade for customer service.

Seaton Tramway was furthermore granted £100,000 in 2018 from the Making it Local EU Leader programme towards the new station.

Jenny Nunn, Chief Executive at Seaton Tramway said “What wonderful news from NLHF and we can’t wait to get started, as the project funding is going to make a big difference, not only to what Seaton Tramway can offer but also to the wider community. We are extremely grateful also to NHLF for supporting this project and highlighting the importance of sustaining our industrial and natural heritage”

As a charity, Seaton Tramway aims to ensure the maintenance and preservation of the industrial and natural heritage for the benefit of future generations.