| DURHAM Cathedral is involved in a £6-million scheme to restore a lost treasure of the North-East, it was announced this week.
Durham City Vision (DCV), a “partnership project”, has confirmed that it wants to restore the city’s historic Riverbanks Gardens, which, at the peak of their popularity in the 18th century, attracted thousands of wealthy tourists annually, including Sir Walter Scott.
The gardens, which cover five hectares of the banks of the River Wear around Durham Cathedral, became overgrown during the 20th century. But the DCV team, preparing a grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, is planning to reopen pathways, bring woodlands under control, and open a visitor centre.
The gardens, dubbed the “Hanging Gardens of Durham”, contain a tourist information centre, and the Little Count’s House — an 18th-century folly, said to have been home to the Polish-born dwarf and celebrated musician Joseph Boruwlaski — which has been earmarked as the entrance to the gardens.
The cathedral, which owns some of the land, is also undertaking a separate £49,900 project under the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore nearby woodland.
Jon Williams, a land agent for the cathedral, said: “The woodland and riverbanks around the peninsula have been an integral part of Durham for many centuries, and support a rich diversity of habitats, which is unusual in a city centre.
“Thanks to the grant, we will be able to put in place detailed plans for the long-term conservation of the area, so that it can continue to be enjoyed by visitors and residents for decades to come.” |
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