Winter Gardens awarded £0.5m for its restoration

A Grade II listed building on a seafront has been granted £500,000 towards its restoration.

The Winter Gardens, in Great Yarmouth, was given the funding by Historic England to help restore it into a community space.

The Victorian glasshouse, on the Norfolk coast, is the last of its kind standing, although it closed to the public in 2008.

Tony Calladine, East of England regional director of Historic England, said the grant would help "breathe new life" into the building, "securing the future of this rare and remarkable structure".

Originally erected in Torquay, the building was transported and reassembled in Norfolk in 1904.

This grant forms part of collaborative funding, including £12.3m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and about £6m from the UK Towns Fund.

The building's original features - including cast and wrought ironwork - will be restored as part of the project.

Plans for the Winter Gardens will include creating community spaces and café areas to be used for leisure, entertainment and learning.

Councillor Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ''The restoration of the Winter Gardens is hugely significant for people in Great Yarmouth – and nationally."

"We are extremely grateful to Historic England for this major grant support as our team of heritage experts breathes new life into this landmark building on the seafront," he added.

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