Heritage Triangle
Holy Trinity Old School is a video of the Old School
taken in 2012 when it was used by the scouts and on occasions to celebrate the charter giving the Lord of the Castle the right to
hold a weekly market and an annual fair. However, due to a deterioration in the condition of the building it was no longer safe
to use. The condition has worsened and it is now in need of urgent repair.
A group of us from the History Society came together to form a
working party to develop a longer term solution: Geoff and Margaret Edmondson (church wardens), Jonathan Powell,Simone Faulkner,
Liz North,and Jan Bridget. Several meetings were held which produced our aim and objectives.
The aim of the Millom Heritage Triangle Project is to both save and promote this incredible area which includes Millom's only
Grade I listed buildings: Holy Trinity Church;
and Millom
Castle. 
However, we need the support and agreement of the Diocese of Carlisle, the owner of Castle Farm and Castle,
the Town Council and the people of Millom.
We believe the response of local people to try and save the Old School, as well as the numbers who have attended our various
events throughout the year shows there is strong support for this project in Millom.
If Holy Trinity church/Millom Castle could attract eminent visitors like William Wordsworth; J.M.W.Turner (there are four
sketches of the castle/church in the Tate Gallery, London); and more recently Huddleston descendants from around the world
including the USA; as well as archaeology and history societies, then, with appropriate information/display/publicity why
would visitors to the Lake District not also want to come? Those interested in different periods of history would, if they
knew about it, also want to visit.
Our first priority is to stop the Old School decaying further, renovate it
and turn it into The Old School Heritage Centre; a dual purpose building. As well as showing artefacts (some of the findings
by local metal detectorists have already been promised) and information about the buildings and area, it is hoped Millom and
District Local History Society would meet here and, it is envisaged,
the project would continue to hold events to both celebrate, and educate visitors about, our ancient and medieval
history, including, e.g. continuation of the Charter Day events.
The second priority is to continue to build on the recent knowledge learnt about the ancient and medieval
periods in this area (mainly from the findings of local metal detectorists) and acquire funding for
geophysical surveys. Who knows what further evidence we shall find?
The third priority is to help maintain the church.
The fourth priority is to support the Castle owners to acquire funding to secure the Castle remains and to
see if there is any possibility of making them open for the public: at the moment the ruins are
visible from the behind the church.
South Cumberland Cultural Heritage Community Interest Company (CIC)
In order to move forward with acquiring the Old School and School Master's House there
needs to be a different legal structure (we are a small organisation with a simple
constitution). We have, therefore, been working with South Copeland Tourism CIC to encourage them
to change their title and objectives and attract new directors. This change has now taken place
and there are new directors. The South Cumberland Cultural Heritage CIC can now move forward
with negotiations to acquire the Old School and School Master's House.
Meanwhile, the History Society will continue with different projects in order to increase our
knowledge about this incredible place and work towards achieving the second, third and fourth
priorities.
Cumberland Council makes Heritage Triangle a Conservation Area
At their meeting on 31st October 2023 Cumberland Council's Executive Committee agreed to make
the Heritage Triangle a Conservation Area. For more informatiion see
News Section.
Britain Express
Co-Curate
Cumbrian Manorial Records
Maria Lardi
Matthew Pemmott
Millom Lordship Records, National Archives
Open Doomsday Book
Rum Butter
Visit Cumbria
Wikipedia Millom Castle
Wikipedia Holy Trinity Church
A group of us from the History Society came together to form a
working party to develop a longer term solution: Geoff and Margaret Edmondson (church wardens), Jonathan Powell,Simone Faulkner,
Liz North,and Jan Bridget. Several meetings were held which produced our aim and objectives.
The aim of the Millom Heritage Triangle Project is to both save and promote this incredible area which includes Millom's only
Grade I listed buildings: Holy Trinity Church;
and Millom
Castle.
However, we need the support and agreement of the Diocese of Carlisle, the owner of Castle Farm and Castle,
the Town Council and the people of Millom.
We believe the response of local people to try and save the Old School, as well as the numbers who have attended our various
events throughout the year shows there is strong support for this project in Millom.
If Holy Trinity church/Millom Castle could attract eminent visitors like William Wordsworth; J.M.W.Turner (there are four
sketches of the castle/church in the Tate Gallery, London); and more recently Huddleston descendants from around the world
including the USA; as well as archaeology and history societies, then, with appropriate information/display/publicity why
would visitors to the Lake District not also want to come? Those interested in different periods of history would, if they
knew about it, also want to visit.
Our first priority is to stop the Old School decaying further, renovate it
and turn it into The Old School Heritage Centre; a dual purpose building. As well as showing artefacts (some of the findings
by local metal detectorists have already been promised) and information about the buildings and area, it is hoped Millom and
District Local History Society would meet here and, it is envisaged,
the project would continue to hold events to both celebrate, and educate visitors about, our ancient and medieval
history, including, e.g. continuation of the Charter Day events.
The second priority is to continue to build on the recent knowledge learnt about the ancient and medieval
periods in this area (mainly from the findings of local metal detectorists) and acquire funding for
geophysical surveys. Who knows what further evidence we shall find?
The third priority is to help maintain the church.
The fourth priority is to support the Castle owners to acquire funding to secure the Castle remains and to
see if there is any possibility of making them open for the public: at the moment the ruins are
visible from the behind the church.
South Cumberland Cultural Heritage Community Interest Company (CIC)
In order to move forward with acquiring the Old School and School Master's House there
needs to be a different legal structure (we are a small organisation with a simple
constitution). We have, therefore, been working with South Copeland Tourism CIC to encourage them
to change their title and objectives and attract new directors. This change has now taken place
and there are new directors. The South Cumberland Cultural Heritage CIC can now move forward
with negotiations to acquire the Old School and School Master's House.
Meanwhile, the History Society will continue with different projects in order to increase our
knowledge about this incredible place and work towards achieving the second, third and fourth
priorities.
Cumberland Council makes Heritage Triangle a Conservation Area
At their meeting on 31st October 2023 Cumberland Council's Executive Committee agreed to make
the Heritage Triangle a Conservation Area. For more informatiion see
News Section.
Useful Links
Britain Express
Co-Curate
Cumbrian Manorial Records
Maria Lardi
Matthew Pemmott
Millom Lordship Records, National Archives
Open Doomsday Book
Rum Butter
Visit Cumbria
Wikipedia Millom Castle
Wikipedia Holy Trinity Church