Our Big Picture is celebrating after being awarded a £164,982 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver From the Ground Up: A Heritage Hub for North East Lincolnshire, an ambitious project that will bring local heritage to life and establish a dedicated Heritage Hub for communities across North East Lincolnshire.
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project will run until March 2028 and build on Our Big Picture’s decade of community-led arts and heritage activity across the area.
From archaeology beneath the streets of Grimsby to the stories of women whose contribution to local life deserves greater recognition, From the Ground Up will explore, preserve and share different aspects of North East Lincolnshire’s heritage while creating more opportunities for local people to get involved.
At the heart of the project is Our Big Picture’s Grade II-listed home on Bethlehem Street in Grimsby town centre.
Previous archaeological investigations at the site have uncovered more than 3,000 finds, including medieval walling, pottery, coins, oyster shells and rare painted glass, providing fascinating clues to the people who lived and worked in medieval Grimsby.
Through Medieval Grimsby, Our Big Picture will work with historians, archaeologists and academic partners to research these discoveries and connect them to the wider story of the medieval town. A new collections policy will also ensure archaeological finds are properly documented, cared for and accessible for future generations.
Community archaeology will form another major part of the project. The North East Lincolnshire Festival of Archaeology will bring archaeology into schools and communities through digs, Days of Discovery, artist-led workshops and family activities, giving people opportunities to explore the history beneath their feet.
Children and young people will be able to take their interest further through a new Young Archaeologists’ Club, combining archaeological exploration with creative practice and opportunities to develop skills and learn more about heritage.
Another major strand, Gentle Voices: Silent Stories, will establish North East Lincolnshire’s first Women’s Heritage Network. Co-created with its members, the network will provide a welcoming space for women to research, explore and share women’s heritage from across the area, bringing greater attention to stories and experiences that have not always formed part of traditional accounts of North East Lincolnshire’s past.
Inclusion and accessibility will run throughout From the Ground Up, with free or low-cost activities, an accessible town-centre venue and opportunities for people across North East Lincolnshire to participate in and help shape local heritage.
Environmental responsibility will also be embedded within the project, including reducing waste, reusing materials and exploring how landscape, climate and the natural environment have shaped the area’s heritage.
Together, these activities will demonstrate what a dedicated Heritage Hub can offer North East Lincolnshire: a place where people can explore local history, develop skills and connect with others, while helping to preserve and share the area’s heritage for future generations.
The funding will also strengthen Our Big Picture’s long-term sustainability. Two new roles, a Heritage Manager and Heritage Engagement Coordinator, will be created, alongside the development of a five-year business and sustainability plan, strengthened governance and closer relationships with regional and national heritage partners.
Paula Denton, CEO of Our Big Picture, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and incredibly grateful to National Lottery players for making From the Ground Up possible.
“There is so much heritage across North East Lincolnshire waiting to be explored and shared. We have already seen that through the incredible discoveries made beneath our own building and the enthusiasm of people who have taken part in our previous archaeology and heritage activities.
“This project gives us the opportunity to build on that momentum, explore more of Grimsby’s medieval past, bring forward stories that haven’t always been heard and give more people opportunities to get directly involved in their local heritage.
“Our ambition is for Our Big Picture to become a Heritage Hub for North East Lincolnshire, bringing people and organisations together and creating a place where our heritage can be explored, cared for and shared for generations to come.”
From the Ground Up will be delivered from Our Big Picture’s newly renovated and accessible arts and heritage hub on Bethlehem Street in Grimsby, alongside activities with schools and communities across North East Lincolnshire.
Further details about the programme, including opportunities to take part in the Festival of Archaeology, Young Archaeologists’ Club and Gentle Voices: Silent Stories, will be announced as the project develops.