The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) has funded a wide range of projects aimed at protecting the built and cultural heritage of the National Park. A case study and some other recent examples feature below.
Restoration of the historic Midland Railway bridge design manual
A huge detailed structural engineering design manual containing the Midland Railway’s original 1870s drawings for the now closed six-mile Garsdale-Hawes branch line has been restored, with support from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).
“The Book of Bridges” – as it is known – is more than two feet high and a yard wide. The pages have been cleaned one at a time and a full restoration carried out by paper conservators. Each page of the book has been digitally scanned. The scans will eventually be printed and made available to view at the Dales Countryside Museum. The book itself can be made available for specialist research (£1,000).
Other completed projects
- Installation of a new interpretation panel alongside an existing former lead mining ore cart at Hall Green in Arkengarthdale. The panel focuses on the importance and heritage of the lead mining industry in Swaledale (£772)
- Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership, Hidden Landscapes project is a two year project that aims to reveal the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales by identifying, surveying and recording new heritage sites (£7,800)
- Restoration of the former Weighbridge Office, part of the Mealbank Quarry Scheduled Monument, to provide additional storage for Ingleborough District Scout Council’s outward bounds equipment (£9,980)
- Installation of stainless steel safety panels along the length of Smardale Viaduct which is a Listed Building, Northern Viaduct Trust – £10,000
- Restoration and replacement of traditional posts/chains on Bainbridge Village Green to provide protection from further damage and identify a safe area for children to play (£685)
- Survey equipment for use by the Yorkshire Dales Landscape Research Trust to enable communities to reveal the archaeological features of the National Park (£7,438)