£423K HERITAGE LOTTERY GRANT FOR LINCOLNSHIRE HISTORY PROJECT

Brigg Blog likes history and old aircraft, especially those from Lincolnshire - dubbed"Bomber County." So the following we've just received certainly hits the spot...


Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, part of Lincolnshire County Council and working in partnership with West Lindsey District Council, has received a confirmed grant of £423,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for their project Lincolnshire in World War One: Bastion in the Air.
The project, which will begin in early 2017 and run through to 2020, aims to highlight the importance and significant contribution the county made to the defence of the country and the development of aviation in World War One.
Thanks to this grant we will offer the public the opportunity of seeing a depiction of a World War One airfield, including flying replica fighter aircraft from the period, within a hangar on an operational RAF station in 2018. In addition there will be an exhibition held at the Collection in Lincoln detailing the technical and social advances that such an important hub in military arms production brought to the county.
There will be travelling exhibitions at community centres and village halls at locations throughout Lincolnshire, detailing specific themes to local areas and what their particular contribution was and where community volunteers will be recruited and given training on supporting this project. A comprehensive educational programme is also planned to run the entire period of the project. 
The story of Lincolnshire's part in the defence of the realm against the aerial threat of the Zeppelin and the menace of the U-boat is one of national importance. 
Lincoln was one of the world's largest aircraft production centres in World War One. Through the development of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service, who were based at airfields around the county, the world's first independent Air Force  - the Royal Air Force – came into being.
The social changes in the workplace, where thousands of women were employed in previously male-only engineering roles, will be a central theme to this story.
Commenting on the award, Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire's Dave Harrigan and Phil Bonner said: "We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support. We have a story here from a century ago, much of which is not widely known, which will be of huge interest not only to the people of Lincolnshire but also those wider afield as well." 
Coun Stuart Tweedale, of Lincolnshire County Council, says: "Our links with aviation here in Lincolnshire are so important to our heritage. I'm thrilled that we've been successful in getting support for such an exciting project which I'm sure will be a huge draw for both local people and visitors to the county too. This project will help educate and inspire the next generation on a significant moment in our history, creating more opportunities for people to remember the contribution made by Lincolnshire in the First World War."
Coun  Roger Patterson, of West Lindsey District Council, says: "West Lindsey District Council is very pleased to support this fantastic heritage project. The fact that the Heritage Lottery Fund also supports this is a testament to the value of passing on the heritage of aviation in Lincolnshire to local, national and international visitors. Aviation is one of the main sectors for our visitor economy and I am sure this project will bring lots of visitors telling them the story of aviation in Lincolnshire."    
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, says: "From the first pilots to the men and women who worked tirelessly in the factories, Lincolnshire made a vital contribution during the First World War. This project will help thousands of people discover this important story and I'm delighted that National Lottery funding is able to play a part in making it happen."