Appleby: Fighting Climate Change
Climate change and the climate crisis pose a major threat not only to our built heritage but to the people and communities that depend on it. The reuse and sensitive upgrading of historic buildings and places has never been so important.
Appleby is a small market town in Cumbria that was severely impacted by flooding in the winter of 2015. Many buildings were inundated, and key railway links were damaged due to landslides. This significant damage led to the town being designated as a ‘Conservation Area at Risk’.
Not only was the town’s heritage at risk but tourism fell and business confidence in the town decreased, with 50% of business units affected. Commercial decline, low tourism, and poor upkeep of property, were just some of the problems the community faced.
Gallery
Please click on the gallery images to enlarge.
Thanks to the work of Historic England, Eden District Council and other local partners, many of Appleby’s heritage assets have been restored to withstand the impacts of a volatile climate.
The HAZ project repairs showcased the use of appropriate materials, designed to allow breath-ability and restore the ability of the buildings to dry out quickly if they were to be flooded again.
This diverse range of repairs has provided the residents and building owners with prominent examples of good construction practice, setting a benchmark for future maintenance and repairs for the remaining buildings.
Appleby HAZ has generated an improved understanding of sustainability and flood resilience, in the town and the wider region. Commercial confidence has increased in Appleby, with an increase in residential and commercial investment in the area. Historic England are proud to have played a role in this positive change.
