About five years ago, in conjunction with the County Council, plans were made to approach the
National Lottery for funding, as the three chapels on site were all showing signs of major dilapidation, and the barbed wire and chain link fencing along one boundary resembled a prison camp.
Eventually, after a couple of years’ hard work, a grant of £480K was awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the County Council gave a further £70K. Restoration of the chapels (one into a heritage and learning centre} and some of the magnificent Victorian tombs, as well as crafting new metal fencing (to replace that removed during the war} was completed in 2010.
FORC was active during this time; as well as the continuing task of grave discovering, we were carrying out work such as removing ivy from walls that needed repair, so that the stonemasons could spend their valuable time doing the skilled work.