TRUSTEES at one of the area's most popular tourist attractions, Whittington Castle, say they are entering 2022 with 'renewed confidence' after securing more funding.

After announcing at the start of 2021 that it faced closure, the castle has received more than £65,000 in grant and lottery funding, which not only allowed trustees to make repairs to toilets and open a new kitchen, but also create reserves in case they are forced to lockdown again.

A spokesman for the trustees announced that the castle had received £36,500 from a successful Historic England culture recovery fund bid last month, and that they are looking ahead.

They said: "We're delighted to share with you another successful Heritage Lottery bid – we have been awarded £36,500 from the Heritage Lottery Continuity Fund.

"These monies will be used to build up our reserves, having invested in our new kitchen and toilet facilities, and to complete much needed internal repairs.

"It’s possible to see daylight through some of the walls in the Tudor House.

"Feedback from the Heritage Lottery since we received funds in the early part of the year has been extremely positive and we enter 2022 with renewed confidence.

"We are also very grateful for financial support from Shropshire Council and Whittington Parish Council for our new toilets.

"We hope the toilets will be up and running in January."

A total of £138 million has been awarded to heritage organisations from the three rounds of the government’s £2 billion Culture Recovery Fund support package made available for arts, culture and heritage organisations during the pandemic.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive at Historic England, added: "We are delighted that the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage grants continue to keep so many heritage organisations going.

"From major historic buildings to small community organisations promoting local heritage – all deserve this support, to continue to open up to everyone the opportunities that our shared history creates."

Nigel Huddleston, Heritage Minister, said: "I'm delighted that this vital funding from our unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund is giving so many brilliant heritage organisations a helping hand this winter.

"I want everyone to enjoy what our fascinating and diverse heritage has to offer and with this money we're safeguarding these organisations for generations to come."