The protection of Britian's oldest cave art is to be safeguarded following the awarding of a substantial grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
    Creswell Crags, a limestone gorge in Derbyshire, England, is home to caves which contain 12,000 year-old engravings of bison, horses and birds. Their discovery in 2003 led to the Church Hole Caves being dubbed 'The Sistine Chapel of the Ice Age'.
    The area is currently run by the charitable Creswell Heritage Trust. Nigel Mills, the Trust's Director said "This is just the news we were hoping to start the new year with. The award is a mammoth tribute to all the hard work and support we have had over the last ten years from the local authorities, private sector partners, national agencies and local communities.”
    “With the help of the HLF this former coalfield area is developing a national reputation for heritage and landscape. It’s a real boost to regeneration and finally gives Creswell Crags the recognition the site deserves.”
    Sheila Stone, the Heritage Lottery Fund's regional manager, said “The Crags give us an opportunity to learn about a little known area of the past and the new and improved understanding that will result from this project will help people learn and understand much more about how their ancestors lived.”
    The grant will go towards building a new museum and education centre that will tell the story of the Ice Age, while a local road will be re-routed to protect the site.

Source: BBC / 24-Hour Museum (10 January 2005)