Bell House, Dulwich – a charity only three years old – has been awarded the prestigious Frances Garnham Award 2019 by Historic Houses for innovation in education and outreach in historic houses – selected from 1,500 houses.

Director of Historic Houses, Ben Cowell, said, “it’s wonderful to see such an energetic and dynamic approach underway at Bell House. This beautiful place is a beacon for its local area showing how historic houses continue to serve vital purposes.”

Louise Wood, receiving the prize on behalf of Bell House charity pointed out, “Bell House is a place of calm and inspiration where people can learn new things, from bee-keeping to learning to read.  A huge thank you to all the volunteers who have put time into Bell House and made it a welcoming community.”

The judges were hugely impressed by the reach and creativity of Bell House’s offer to its local community, including the increasing work in dyslexia, adult literacy, cookery, garden volunteering and film-making.

As a relatively new charity, Bell House particularly welcomes the Frances Garnham Award.  The certificate was presented at the award ceremony by Ana and Alex, Frances Garnham’s children, and celebrates Frances’ passion, encouraging heritage sites to embrace a wide range of audiences, which is consistent with the Bell House mission – “for wider learning”.

For more information about Bell House visit the website www.bellhouse.co.uk.