A VICTORIAN high street will be restored to its former glory thanks to almost £1m in lottery funding.

Skelton-in-Cleveland High Street, in east Cleveland, has been awarded £952,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help preserve some of its architectural gems.

The village was among four projects in the North-East to benefit from the latest slice of HLF cash, including nearby Thornaby Town Hall, Morpeth Railway Station and Newcastle’s City Pools Building.

The project aims to restore both the character and the architectural features of the Victorian area of Skelton High Street.

Nearly 30 properties, many of them in commercial use, are expected to sign up to the scheme, which will see historic shop fronts reinstated, as well as sash windows and doors, and other improvements carried out to the fabric of the buildings.

Improvements to the public spaces will include new paving, benches and lights, landscaping and tree planting.

Skelton’s history dates back to the Norman Conquest, and a major archaeological investigation of its medieval history will take place.

This will also be supported by an oral history project, to record the history of the area. Local school children will create a mosaic mural depicting ancient Skelton.

The project is being led by Skelton Villages Civic Pride, a volunteer-led community group, in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Tees Valley Rural Community Council.

Cllr Dale Quigley, cabinet member for economic growth at Redcar & Cleveland council, said: “We are delighted that Skelton village has received this funding, and I would like to thank our partners Skelton Villages Civic Pride community group for all their hard work in submitting the bid; it certainly has paid off.

“This is great news for Skelton and I look forward to working alongside the Skelton Heritage Partnership and seeing the project come to fruition.”

Ivor Crowther, Head of HLF North East, said: “Many of these buildings are loved because of their distinctive architecture or for the role they once played in their communities. I look forward to seeing these buildings develop to once again be a focal point of community life.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, these historic buildings will join more than 900 across the North East that have been opened up for communities and secured for future generations to enjoy.”

Thornaby Town Hall, a mostly vacant historic building, received £863,100 which will help transform the building.