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National Lottery grant to tell Bamburgh’s unique story
The photograph is of: Sam Morton (left)- the chair of Bamburgh Heritage Trust and the Rev.Brian Hurst (right).

Bamburgh Heritage Trust are delighted to announce that their recent submission to

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has been successful and they have been awarded a

development grant to get their ‘Accessing Aidan’ project ready to deliver.

Bamburgh Heritage Trust’s project, called Accessing Aidan, aims to develop the crypt of

St. Aidan's Church, Bamburgh into a beautiful community and interpretation space

where Bamburgh Heritage Trust can tell the unique story of Bamburgh.

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the Trust has been awarded initial

support* for a £399,300 HLF grant and development funding of £43,800 to progress

the plans and apply for the full grant at a later date.

The central message will concentrate on the Bowl Hole Ossuary, created last year in the

small second crypt by BHT. The crypt is the last resting place of the people who live in

Bamburgh 1,400 years ago, when Bamburgh was the cosmopolitan centre of the Golden

Age of Northumbria. Just like today, people lived and worked in the spectacular coastal

village or travelled from far and wide to visit and enjoy its treasures.

Over the next eight months the Trust will work to develop their vision into a deliverable

project. It is the ambition of the Trust to use projection and interactive technology to tell

the fabulous story of Bamburgh as well as create a 21st century digital ossuary that will

make the wealth of osteological data recovered from the early Anglo-Saxon Bowl Hole

cemetery available to the public for the first time.

Sam Morton, chair of Bamburgh Heritage Trust said: “We are thrilled with our National

Lottery award, this will enable us to showcase Bamburgh’s fantastic heritage in an

innovative and exciting way. We will be working in partnership with Bamburgh Research

Project, Durham University, Bamburgh Castle and St. Aidan’s Church to provide amazing

insight into the lives of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors.”

The Reverend Canon Brian Hurst added: “It is a wonderful opportunity to reopen the

beautiful 12th century crypt to the public once again. Not only will we celebrate St. Aidan

and his Anglo-Saxon brothers and sisters but also tell the remarkable story of the

Forsters whose memorials are in the crypt.”

Ivor Crowther, Head of HLF North East, said: “Thanks to money raised by National

Lottery players, we’re pleased to support plans to transform access to Bamburgh’s Anglo

Saxon heritage and story as the heart of the Golden Age of Northumbria. With crucial

support from volunteers and partnerships, the project will use 21 st century techniques to

reveal the secrets of a centuries old story for even more people to enjoy. We look forward to seeing plans develop.

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