Porlock InSpired Project December 2025 update

The Porlock InSpired project needs your help to raise an extra £50,000 by June 2026 in order to unlock a grant of £1.6m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is thanks to the National Lottery players who have made the funding possible and this is an opportunity which Porlock will not witness for maybe another 100 years.

Deteriorating Church spire

St Dubricius Church has stood at the centre of Porlock for centuries, but today both the building and the community it serves are under strain. The church, with its rare truncated oak-shingled spire is in a state of serious deterioration. The shingles, last replaced in 1933, are failing and exposing 13th-century timbers to water damage, while rotting beams and fallen bell shutters highlight the urgency of repair. The 2023 Quinquennial Report and a dedicated Spire Condition Report confirm that patch repairs are no longer viable; full re-shingling is the only way to prevent irreversible damage. The spire is a rare survival of traditional oak-shingle construction, and both skills and materials for such work are under threat, making timely action essential. Parts of the church roof are also compromised by “nail sickness” and hence slipped slates, already causing internal water damage. Without intervention, the risks of structural failure, escalating costs, and possible eventual closure grow more likely, threatening an architectural landmark.

The spire project is now much bigger and broader than first envisaged. Our project will enable traditional crafts to be revived through demonstrations and school workshops. There will be hands-on activities which will bring the village history to life, we will also support Porlock’s local economy, delivering wider community benefits.

At the same time, Porlock InSpired will address urgent social needs through heritage activities. For older residents, we will work with partners to reduce loneliness through heritage-based wellbeing activities and intergenerational activities.

For young people, who face rural isolation and limited opportunities, creative, environmental and skills-based programmes will be delivered with partners to build confidence and broaden horizons. Our partnership with St. Dubricius school will enable children to explore local history. The research from this community project will then be available to benefit schools and local residents.

QR code to donate please

Email: [email protected]

Thank you The Porlock Inspired Team

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund  www.heritagefund.org.uk.