A PROJECT set to preserve and celebrate the history of Kidderminster Town Hall has been awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Kidderminster Town Council has successfully gained a £249,696 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The council wants to develop and deliver a programme of heritage activities that "celebrate and reveal the history of the building, its people, and the town".

As part of the project, the council will look to refurbish assets including the Town Charter and Seal of King Charles I, presented to Kidderminster in 1636 in recognition of the town’s role in the Civil War, and carry out works to restore and redecorate the William Hill organ.

The grant will also contribute towards recruiting and training a team of volunteers to design and deliver a series of heritage tours.

There are also plans to develop a partnership with Higher Education leisure and hospitality students who will help support the tour programme when the building reopens.

David Ross, the chairman of Kidderminster Town Council Town Hall Committee said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are confident the project will complement the current refurbishment project and engage the local community and visitors with the history, heritage and create civic pride in their Town Hall.”

The town hall is currently closed as it undergoes a £8.6m renovation.

It's set to be transformed into a hub for the arts, with work taking place to redevelop the courtyard and upgrade the music room, the Corn Exchange and King Charles room.

Work commenced on the refurb earlier this year and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2024.