500 listed buildings in South East Cornwall and North Cornwall are to be surveyed thanks to an £18,600 grant from the National Lottery

The grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will see Cornwall Council working with local groups and volunteers to survey the condition of 500 Grade II Listed buildings.

Despite being the least favourable time of the year to carry out outdoor surveys the first keen volunteers have already been getting out and about.

The Cornwall Listed Buildings at Risk project, which is being led by Cornwall Council’s Historic Environment Service, has organised training sessions for volunteers from existing groups and societies to carry out the survey.

As well as the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, five local societies – the Cornish Buildings Group, Cornwall Archaeological Society, Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust, Cornwall Heritage Trust and Caradon Archaeology – are making financial contributions and/or directly supporting the project.

The project aims to build on the wealth of public interest and support for Cornwall’s heritage by giving volunteers new practical skills, and enabling them, building owners and the public to learn more about the quality and diversity of our historic buildings and the risks that some of them face.

By raising the profile of several voluntary groups, it will also create a legacy of greater volunteer engagement in managing Cornwall’s heritage, and increase the capacity of groups to do more surveys.

Community Archaeologist Trainee Richard Mikulski, who is organising the project said: “We’ve had a fantastic turnout from local volunteers in north and south east Cornwall. It’s great to see so many people interested in historic buildings and from such a wide range of backgrounds. We’re already becoming more aware of some real architectural gems, as well as the issues affecting them.

“As a community archaeologist, it’s been a real privilege to meet so many people from the east of Cornwall. We’re all learning a lot very quickly from each other, about everything from modern building regulations to local history, not to mention where to get the best pasty locally!

“We are grateful to our local partner organisations for helping to co-ordinate volunteers in the different areas of the current survey. We’re already seeing some interesting results, which are going to enhance Cornwall’s Historic Environment Record significantly.”