CARLISLE Cathedral has received a confirmed grant of £1,918,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for The Fratry Project which will bring the Fratry building back to life.

This award comes at the end of five years careful work to shape plans for an extension to the Fratry and to develop the Cathedral’s teaching and learning work. The extension will provide easy physical access to both levels of the Fratry building as well as a new space for hospitality and catering, Work on site should begin early in 2018 and the building should be completed by summer 2019.

The Cathedral’s stories and its treasures will be available to be seen and explored through visual media and digitally through a touch screen in the main Fratry Hall. A dedicated teaching and learning space will be available in the Fratry Undercroft for use by school groups during term time and for other groups at weekends and at other times. A new full time Heritage Learning Officer will be appointed and there will be significant opportunities for volunteers to work within the building. In particular, volunteers will assist with a piece of work to make the Cathedral’s historic and wide ranging library collection more widely accessible.

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The project includes essential conservation work to the roof and stonework of the Fratry building. The well-equipped and refurbished main Fratry Hall will be used for cultural, musical and community events. In mediaeval times the Fratry was the dining hall of Carlisle Cathedral Priory, but for many years it has stood inaccessible and massively underused at the heart of the Cathedral precinct.

The Dean of Carlisle, the Very Reverend Mark Boyling, said: "We’re delighted that we have received this support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Cathedral is open and active every day of the year and we need the right facilities if we are to meet the needs of the many people from the city and far afield who come to this must-see location with a message. It is good to know that we will be able to reach more people in new ways."

Nathan Lee, head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West said: “This is an important project which the Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to be able to support. Lottery players’ money will be put to excellent use by the Cathedral, which will as a result be able to offer better facilities and opportunities to engage with heritage, for both local people and visitors to this wonderful city."