Historic England announces £500,000 grant for restoration of Great Yarmouth's Winter Gardens

The cast iron and glass structure, which stands as one of the last surviving Victorian seaside winter gardens in the country, has been closed to the public since 2008 and is currently on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register due to its deteriorating condition.

The Historic England funding will support the stripping of existing coatings from the cast and wrought iron framework, essential repairs to the structure, and the careful removal and preservation of the historic oculus ('eye') glass for future reinstallation.

This grant forms part of a larger collaborative funding effort to restore the landmark, which includes £12.3 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and more than £6 million from the UK Towns Fund.

Built between 1878-1881 in Torquay and relocated to Great Yarmouth in 1904, the Winter Gardens represents the pinnacle of Victorian cast iron and glass design and engineering. Originally designed by John Watson and William Harvey, the structure features an unusual, tiered lantern and decorative cast iron framework.

The Winter Gardens was one of the three largest cast iron and glass seaside winter gardens constructed in England during this period. Its ironwork was created by Jesse Tildesley of the Crescent Iron Works in Staffordshire.

The restoration project has already gained recognition, with designs receiving the Architects' Journal Retrofit Award in the "Future Reuse" category. Judges praised the project for its architectural ingenuity and approach to creating a more environmentally friendly and climate-resilient structure.

Public consultation has demonstrated strong local support for bringing this architectural gem back to life. When restored, the Winter Gardens will reopen as a year-round publicly accessible venue with views to the beach and sea, a new café and exhibition space and a programme of community events. Horticultural activities will recall the building's original interior, which was adorned by flower beds, trailing plants and hanging baskets.

Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England, said: "Great Yarmouth Winter Gardens is an extraordinary survivor of Victorian engineering and seaside architecture. By working collaboratively with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Great Yarmouth Borough Council and local partners, we're helping to breathe new life into a building that has been a focal point of Great Yarmouth's seafront for over a century, securing the future of this rare and remarkable structure."

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. Alongside a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has provided invaluable support, we look forward to works getting underway and being able to once more welcome visitors to enjoy the unique venue this amazing project will deliver.''