£111k grant secured to save historic Birnbeck Pier Toll House

North Somerset Council has successfully bid for a grant worth £111,496 from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, delivered by Historic England.

This funding – part of a UK government pot totalling £15m – will enable the restoration of the Grade II Listed Toll House that sits at the southern side of the entrance to Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare. This work will take place alongside other elements of the landside phase of work, part of the council’s overall project to restore the Birnbeck Pier site, the only pier in the country to connect to an island.

Closed to the public since 1994, Birnbeck Pier has long been a symbol of Weston’s seaside heritage. Now, the derelict Grade II Listed Toll House and its extension, known locally as the ‘shell shop’, will be carefully restored and reopened as a new community-focused space.

Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s cabinet member responsible for the Birnbeck Pier project, said: “I’m delighted that our grant application has been approved by the UK government – well done to council officers for all their hard work in making this happen. This additional money enables us to restore the Grade II Listed Toll House and its extension. The building was once used as a retail space which sold seashells and other seaside souvenirs, which explains why some locals still affectionately call it ‘the shell shop’.

“Once work is complete, the building is intended to serve as an information point at the beginning of the visitor journey. This grant offers us the opportunity to breathe new life into the building while presenting us with an exciting opportunity to re-engage locals and tourists alike. Our plans for the new space include hosting exhibitions that capture memories and oral histories.

“Following the decision made by the RNLI’s head office to withdraw from the project at the end of June, we continue to work hard in partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England, to identify solutions to progress with the restoration of the pier structure.”

Main photo credit © Historic England Archive.

Louise Brennan, Director of Regions at Historic England, said: "Thanks to the extra funding from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, we are able to breathe new life into neglected historic buildings that we haven’t been able to help through our existing grant schemes. This initiative will not only boost economic growth but also create amazing opportunities for people in some of the nation's most disadvantaged areas. We're thrilled to support projects that harness the power of heritage to make a real difference where it's needed most."

The initial phase of landside restoration is being funded from an allocation of £3.47m from the £20m awarded to the council by the UK government, through the former Levelling Up Fund.

To find out more about the project, visit the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/BirnbeckPierProject.