Within the grounds of Haworth Art Gallery, the Grade II listed building has not been used for many years. The £552,500 grant from HLF will go towards the total £604,000 needed for the project with the Council putting in the rest. The former Stables and Motor House will be opened as a centre for local crafts people and artists, where people, including visitors, will have the opportunity to learn more about  the building’s long and fascinating heritage and appreciate the restoration work.

Built in 1909, alongside the construction of what is now known as Haworth Art Gallery, the building carries a Grade II listing and sits within the Christ Church Conservation Area. It was designed by Walter Henry Brierley (1862 – 1926), a York architect. Purpose-built as a stable and motor house the building encompasses the period when motor vehicles were becoming more common and horse drawn transport was in decline.

English Heritage recognise the significance of the heritage of the building, stating that: "motor houses and stables combined, as at the Haworth, are really very rare and we have found few other examples of combined stables and motor houses which have survived in a relatively unaltered state".

The project was granted planning and listed buildings consent late in 2014.  Work on restoring the building is due to start late spring 2015, and should be completed by December 2015. The Council aim to open up the Studios to artists no later than April 2016.

Sara Hilton, Head of the HLF North West, said: “The Stables and Motor House at Howarth Art Gallery depict a transformational part of our industrial heritage – the move from horse power to motorised vehicles. The newly restored buildings will tell this revolutionary story to visitors for the first time as well as providing a much-needed space for local artists and visitors to use, providing a long-term, sustainable future for the stables. Hyndburn is an important development area for HLF, so this project is particularly important for us and will also make a great addition the wider Conservation Area."

Councillor Ken Moss, Cabinet Member for Education, Leisure and Arts, said: “This is really fantastic news for the Council, the Stables and Motor House and for Haworth Art Gallery. This HLF grant award and refurbishment works will enable us to restore the former Stable and Motor House, and at the same time create a hub for artists, making Haworth Art Gallery a centre of excellence for local artists.”

Further information

Cathy Kierans, Marketing and Communications at Hyndburn Borough Council, on tel: 01254 38010/98 or email: cathy.kierans@hyndburnbc.gov.uk