Seventeen Nineteen wins award at Museum and Heritage show

We are delighted to announce that our project to restore Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland won 'Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year' at The Museum and Heritage Awards 2022. 

The recently completed project was a conservation-led restoration of Grade I listed Holy Trinity Church in the heart of old Sunderland which has transformed Sunderland’s first parish church and civic hub into a spectacular space for connecting and sharing people, stories and heritage through conservation repair and sensitive adaptation.  

Working with Mosedale Gillatt Architects and Historic Property Restoration Ltd the team turned this dream into a reality and Seventeen Nineteen was reopened at the beginning of the year. 

Sarah Robinson, Director of Conservation and Interim CEO said: 'We are absolutely delighted that the hard work and commitment of so many people has been recognised in this Museums+Heritage award. It's particularly gratifying that the judges noted the extensive community engagement in the project. Holy Trinity was always, and is once again, a thriving resource for local people in the East End of Sunderland'

The project was a conservation-led restoration of Grade I listed Holy Trinity Church in the heart of old Sunderland which has transformed Sunderland’s first parish church and civic hub into a spectacular space for connecting and sharing people, stories and heritage through conservation repair and sensitive adaptation.  

Holy Trinity is an incredible early Georgian, Grade I listed church, which had been closed since 1988, this project was never just about repairing bricks and mortar, it’s about creating a new cultural hub. Since completion, the building has also been removed from Historic England’s At Risk Register. 

Despite the pandemic, the project’s success has been measured by the range, reach and impact on both the building and the communities connecting with it. 

Sensitive adaptation works to allow use have included new WC pods; reinstating the central entrance; kitchen servery; reinstatement of floor void to nave for ventilation, installation of underfloor heating; new services (lighting, heating, power, Wi-Fi); access improvements. 

The team hosted a series of events including a public programme of Traditional Craft Skills activities including apprenticeships, work placements, hard hat tours, taster days, and heritage skills training.  

Find out more about the project