Lafarge is backing a major new project to unearth the history of County Leicestershire, England, where the based building materials company is based.
Lafarge is backing a major new project to unearth the history of County Leicestershire, England, where the based building materials company is based.
Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK, which has its headquarters in Syston and operates a flagship granite quarry at Mountsorrel, has donated £500 (€600) to the Charnwood Roots Project, an initiative run by the Leicestershire Victoria County Trust that aims to research the history of 27 towns and villages in and around the Charnwood Forest area of Leicestershire, Mountsorrel, Syston, Rothley and Quorn among them.
Local people are being invited to get involved and help with archaeological digs, document research, building and landscape surveys and oral history gathering.
A major development grant of £19,100 (€22,900) from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enabled the venture to get off the ground while other donations including the money from Lafarge has demonstrated local support.
A condition of gaining the lottery grant, the local fundraising means the Trust can apply for further HLF backing to support what organisers hope will be a four-year project involving hundreds of Charnwood residents.
Angus Shedden, site manager at Mountsorrel Quarry, said: “Leicestershire contains important sources of igneous rock which have been quarried since Roman times so quarrying is a major element in the history of both the county and of Charnwood Forest.
“Lafarge is proud to be part of this heritage and proud to be able to support such a pioneering project which will really bring the community together to delve into the past and ensure it is recorded for future generations.”
