Newport’s medieval pottery kiln project is fired up with excitement after securing £52,000 of LEADER funding.

The money will be used to help develop a visitor centre, along with pottery, craft and interpretation rooms, at the town’s memorial hall.

The Newport kiln dates from around 1500 AD and is located under Newport Memorial Hall floor boards - it is believed to be the best-preserved medieval kiln in the UK.

The LEADER funding will be used to support the resources required to manage the implementation of the project, which has been part-funded through the Heritage Lottery fund.

“It’s amazing news for us and for Newport,” said Siobhan Ashe, project manager on the Newport Medieval Pottery Kiln Conservation, Community Engagement and Education Project.

“The funding will help us to meet our targets for the project to go ahead. It will be used to project-manage the conservation of the kiln and for opening it up as a tourist attraction to benefit the local economy and community.

“It’s excellent news for us.”

The current application window for the next round of LEADER funding closes at the end of this month, May 31.

“We hope that there will be a lot of interest in the LEADER programme, which can support all kinds of activity such as mentoring, training, feasibility studies or a pilot projects that test an innovative new idea” said Jess Morgan, local action group (LAG) animator.

Further information about LEADER, can be found on Facebook under Arwain Sir Benfro 2020 or contact Jess or Cris at PLANED on 01834 860965 leader@planed.org.uk.