Residents invited to help choose heritage sites for restoration in Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary year
Small heritage treasures, such as statues, war memorials, fountains, murals and street furniture, can be nominated by the public
Residents across Stoke-on-Trent are being invited to help decide which much-loved heritage assets should be restored as part of the city’s Centenary celebrations.
Re-Form Heritage, working in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, is delivering the new Centenary Restoration Fund to restore small but significant features that help shape the character of each of the six towns thanks to a £240,252 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. These could include statues, war memorials, fountains, murals and street furniture that matter to local communities.
An online public event will take place on Wednesday 17 December from 6pm to 7pm, where residents can find out more about the project and learn how to take part in the city-wide vote. A recording will be available to watch after the event for anyone unable to attend.
During the event, the Re-Form Heritage team will outline the aims of the fund, explain the shortlist of assets and how people can vote, and show how residents can also nominate additional assets they feel deserve attention.
Votes and nominations will help shape the final selection, alongside other factors including the size and historic significance of each asset and the complexity and cost of repair work.
Voting will open on Wednesday, 17 December, and will run until Sunday, 25 January. Residents will be able to vote online or by picking up a paper form from the reception at Middleport Pottery.
Inês Jorge, Centenary Restoration Fund Officer at Re-Form Heritage, said: “This project is all about the little heritage treasures that make our city special. We know how much pride people have in their local landmarks and we really want to hear which ones mean the most to you.
“With the support of National Lottery players and our partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we have the chance to protect the small but meaningful heritage features that hold so many memories for local people.
“We’d be delighted if residents joined the conversation, voted and shared their ideas. Your involvement will help us choose the sites that matter most in this special Centenary year.”
Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, added: “Our heritage tells the story of who we are as a city - it reflects both our industrial strength and our creativity. We know there are challenges to tackle but 100 years since Stoke-on-Trent was granted city status is the perfect time to reflect on its past and invest in its future.
“It’s great that we’re working with our heritage development trust, Re-Form Heritage, on this project. It will not only restore important local landmarks but also give communities the chance to shape how we care for them in the future.”
Love the approach of letting communities vote on heritage prservation. There's something powerful about residents having a direct say in what landmarks actually get resources instead of top-down decisions. I remember when a similar thing hapened in my old neighborhood and people showed up for things I never would've guessed mattered to them. The tiny details sometimes carry the biggest emotional weight.