Cambridge Corn Exchange is awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for 150th anniversary project in 2025

Designed by Victorian architect, Richard Reynolds Rowe, the Cambridge Corn Exchange was built on the site of a medieval priory, using a quarter of a million local bricks and began life as a place for farmers to trade corn. 

In the ensuing 150 years the venue has been at the heart of city life: from late nineteenth century motor shows; revolutionary suffragette meetings; Tea for a Thousand in 1935; the cleaning and repair of rifles in the 1940s, on to more recent decades when some of the biggest names in entertainment have performed on its stage.

Telling the story of the venue’s varied history, its unique place in the life of Cambridge and those who’ve passed through its doors, as well as introducing the Corn Exchange into the lives of younger generations, will now be made possible thanks to support from the Heritage Fund.

Cllr Rachel Wade, Executive Councillor for Communities, said: “This announcement is wonderful news. We are immensely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for contributing such a substantial grant to this important 150th anniversary project. It truly reflects the unique cultural and historical importance the Cambridge Corn Exchange holds for the city and beyond. Thanks also goes to Cambridge BID for their invaluable support.

“How exciting looking ahead to 2025! Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this is a precious opportunity to bring the venue’s history to life for all; record its stories and amass a wealth of fascinating memories and experience from those who’ve passed through the Corn Exchange doors – a building at the heart of our city for so long, connected to Cambridge life past, present and future.”

Cambridge BID, is also supporting the venue’s 150th anniversary year. Project Manager, Jenny Granshaw said: “The Cambridge Corn Exchange is a popular and busy building in the heart of our city, and a cornerstone of cultural life in Cambridge. We’re delighted to be supporting the exciting events which will mark this special year in the building’s and also Cambridge’s history.” 

Full details will soon be announced, of the 150th anniversary project designed to welcome all through the doors of the venue itself to be part of the Corn Exchange story. A host of planned activities include: a major specially curated six-week exhibition taking place in the Corn Exchange; an access all areas Community Open Day; an incredible 60 workshops with city schools involving partners like Dance East and Cambridge Literary Festival; a special 150th anniversary Celebration Day in November 2025 and a special story-gathering project, to record for future generations all the memories and experiences reflecting people’s relationship with Cambridge Corn Exchange. Without this grant from the Heritage Fund these stories might remain unheard and unrecorded.

Welcoming the news, Ben Hallworth Senior Arts Development Officer at Cambridge City Council, said: ‘We are thrilled to have the opportunity to take a moment to discover and celebrate the rich heritage of this iconic Cambridge building. Cambridge Corn Exchange has played a major part in shaping the city’s iconic past and we’re excited to uncover more of this rich history with and for our communities.’

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. heritagefund.org.uk 

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund

Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID) is a collaboration of 1000 businesses, working together to promote and improve the city.  Cambridge BID launched on 1st April 2013 following a majority vote by businesses and organisations within the BID Area in October 2012. A second term was successfully voted for in November 2017 and again a third term was successfully voted in November 2022. For more information visit www.cambridgebid.co.uk