The Angel Awards

Founded by Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Angel Awards 'celebrate the efforts of local people who have saved historic buildings and places.'

The awards are co-funded by Historic England with a three-year grant of £150,000 confirmed from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation in 2015. Established in 2011, the awards aim to recognise people who champion their local heritage as well as those who both share and practise forgotten craft skills.

[edit] Criteria

The Angel Awards particularly celebrate young people and champion their efforts to learn about heritage.

The award categories have been expanded in 2016 and include

• Best community action project
• Best contribution to a heritage project by young people
• Best research project
• Best rescue of a heritage site
• Outstanding contribution to heritage

[edit] Eligibility

• Rescued a listed heritage site
• Been an active champion
• The awards are open to a group or individual who has done one or more of the following:
• Actively championed a heritage site (or sites)
• Taken part in a heritage project including young people
• Taken part in a research project to further understanding, or inform value or protection of a heritage site of heritage, showing outstanding contribution to heritage

[edit] 2015 winners

[edit] Best Rescue of a Historic Industrial Building or Site

Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust for the rescue of Blackfell Hauler House, Gateshead

The Bowes Railway is a unique industrial heritage site, once used to transport coal from the Durham coal fields down to the Tyne and to the cities, towns and villages beyond. Of all the buildings at Bowes, the Hauler House was the biggest challenge. Subjected to frequent vandalism, graffiti and metal theft that wrecked the machinery, its transformation is all the more remarkable. With support from Historic England and the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust has been working on its restoration for nearly 40 years. The roof, windows, doors and steelwork have all been repaired turning the building into a successful workshop producing yurts.

Watch a film about the rescue of Blackfell Hauler House, Gateshead and runners up in this category

See press coverage of the refurbishment.

[edit] The People's Favourite: The Historic England followers and Telegraph Readers' award

The Newman Brothers Coffin Works, Birmingham

After 100 years of producing small metal goods in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, the Coffin Works closed its doors in 1998, leaving factory and offices intact, as if the workers had simply gone on a tea break. It soon fell into disrepair and was declared “At Risk” in 2003, leading to a tireless effort from the Trust's previous director Elizabeth Perkins and volunteers, to tell the story of this incredible building. Now open to the public, the building has been rescued and offers a window into a lost world.

Watch a film about the rescue of Newman Brothers Coffin Works and the runners up in the Historic Industrial Building or Site

[edit] Best Rescue or Repair of a Historic Place of Worship

Friends of Forncett St Mary Church for the rescue of St Mary's Church, Forncett St Mary, Norfolk

The Grade I listed St Mary's Church had became redundant in the 1980s and quickly fallen into disrepair. The challenge to restore the building was immense - its windows were broken, walls crumbling, organ vandalised and graveyard overgrown. A 100-strong group, led by Graham Prior, persevered and managed to bring the forgotten church back to life.

See a film about the rescue of St Mary's Church and the runners up in this category.

[edit] Best Rescue of a Historic Industrial Building or Site - Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust for the rescue of Blackfell Hauler House

Watch a film about the rescue of Blackfell Hauler House and the runners up in this category

[edit] Best Craftsmanship on a Heritage Rescue

Emma Dawson for the craftsmanship employed on several rescue sites

Aged just 16, armed only with a Saturday job at Woolworths and an interest in heritage, Emma landed a place on a foundation scheme where she began learning to work with plaster and mortar. Since then she's worked on many historic properties, from the National Trust's Basildon Park to King's Cross St Pancras, and has earned the nickname “The Pointing Queen”.

Watch a film about Emma Dawson and the runners up in this category

[edit] Best Rescue of Any Other Type of Historic Building or Site

Nicholas and Dinah Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury for the rescue of St Giles House and Park, Wimborne St Giles

Abandoned and forgotten in the 1980, the Grade I St Giles House and Park rapidly fell into disrepair. In 2010, the new 12th Earl of Shaftesbury began thinking creatively about how to turn St Giles back into a family home. Building work began the following year with a team of craftsmen, specialists and consultants all pulling together to give this very special building a new lease of life.

Watch a film about the rescue of St Giles House and Park and the runners up in this category