Bourne Arts and Community Trust’s trustees (BACT) are delighted to announce that they have been awarded a grant of £1,095,909 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund; this is 80% of the total approved project cost of £1,376,589. The main two purposes of the project are:

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• both the completion of the restoration of Wake House and significant accessibility improvements, including ground levelling and ramps to help parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users and staff and

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• to create information displays and events celebrating 200 years since the birth of Charles Frederick Worth (who was born in Wake House in October 1825 and is known as “The Father of Haute Couture”).

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BACT is very grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and to National Lottery players for this grant which will directly benefit the people of our area and will enable many more people to learn about the extraordinary and fascinating beginnings of the very first international high fashion brand.

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Appropriately, this announcement is made on 13th October 2026, the 201st anniversary of the birth of Charles Frederick Worth.

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