Twenty traditional barns across the Lake District are being saved thanks to an investment of over £3.2 million.
Work ranges from small scale specialist timber repairs to reroofing and addressing structural issues.
Over £2.6 million has come from Defra and £550,000 from applicants.
Rose Lord, the Lake District National Park Authority’s built environment adviser, said: “Our traditional Lake District barns are incredibly important. They are part of the agricultural heritage of the area and a reason for its World Heritage Site status.
“These features greatly enhance the cultural landscape and it’s why many people love the Lake District. Many barns continue to be essential to the business of farming and all provide great homes for nature.
“With this funding we can support farmers to repair and maintain these buildings in a way that supports the area’s economy and supply chains.
“This also keeps traditional building skills alive. Plus, materials are local and from sustainable sources, for instance riven oak through Cumbria woodlands, and lime from Eden Hot Lime. Locally quarried slate reduces transport miles and fits traditional building styles.
“We’ve also drawn on the expertise of local conservation architects for the more complex projects including Countryside Consultants, Crosby Granger Architects, John Coward Architects and Lewis Surveying.”
The work will help to meet Cumbria’s ambition to be a net zero carbon county by 2037.
Rose said: “Repairing traditional buildings is an inherently sustainable thing to do. Energy has gone into winning the raw materials, transporting them to site and constructing the building.
“As we think about reducing our carbon footprint and living more sustainably, traditional buildings can offer us some useful pointers including ‘repair not replace’, ‘repurpose rather than demolish’”.
The Lake District National Park Authority added that the money invested will generate £4.55 in the economy for every £1 spent over a five-year period, rising to £6.07 over 10 years.
In the south, £436,172 is being spent on restoring and renovating:
- Henry’s Castle at Underbarrrow
- Chapel House, Cartmel Fell
- Hall Farm, Rusland
In central Lake District, £415,767 is being spent on restoring and renovating:
- Townend Bank Barn, Troutbeck
- The Brow, Little Langdale
- Brimmer Head, Easedale
- Robinson Place, Great Langdale
- Wall End, Great Langdale
- Holme Ground, Tilberthwaite
- Dale End, Little Langdale
In the north Lakes, £1,336,612 is being spend on restoring and renovating:
- Wallthwaite Hogg House, near Threlkeld
- Wallthwaite Courtyard, near Threlkeld
- Yew Tree Farm, St Johns in the Vale
- Gate Ghyll, Threlkeld
- Low Nest, Naddle, near Keswick
- Low Beckside, Mungrisedale
In the west Lakes, £732,559 is being spend on restoring and renovating:
- Stickle Cruck Barn, Broughton Mills
- Taw House, Eskdale
East of the Lake District, £203,696 is being spent on restoring and renovating:
- Cote Farm, Howtown
- Hogg House above Hartsop
