National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £250,000 to £5million
Alice Billing House in Stratford, East London, is a Grade II listed building that was built in 1905 to provide accommodation for firemen from the West Ham Fire Brigade.
The North Block, featuring a practice and hose drying tower, was added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register in 2019.
Together, we are breathing new life into a piece of Newham’s heritage while creating much needed space where artists and creative communities can thrive.
Gordon Seabright, CEO of the Creative Land Trust
The project will save the historic buildings and create a new bustling space that will bring creatives together. There will be studio space for around 80 artists and makers. The first 25 set up shop in 2024, when the restored South Block opened.
Other aspects of the project include:
- a new exhibition space that can be used for community activities and functions
- a community café
- landscaped accessible courtyard garden open to the public
- an education programme including local schools, apprenticeships and artist bursaries
The project will also work with the local community and Newham Archive to celebrate the story of Alice Billing, a local Victorian sanitary inspector. A digital archive will capture the stories of the building and site.
Gordon Seabright, CEO of the Creative Land Trust, said: "Together, we are breathing new life into a piece of Newham’s heritage while creating much needed space where artists and creative communities can thrive. This funding is not just an investment in a historic building; it’s an investment in the very heart of Stratford, fostering creativity, cultural engagement and community wealth building for years to come.”
The regeneration project has been supported with a £3.3million grant, alongside funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Architectural Heritage Fund and Historic England.
