#CoastalCommunitiesFund

Last year, the L&BR Trust was fortunate to receive grant funding for the restoration of L&B No.11, a seven-compartment, 56-seat all-third coach, and the fourth of 17 original coaches to be restored to service. No's 7, 17 and 16 - already fully restored - arrived at Woody Bay in time for the 2013 Autumn Gala in September.

Work on our grant application to the Coastal Communities Fund started in March 2012, and the result was announced by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles in February 2013, the first round of grants from the fund.

The £150,000 award is funding the work - through our main contractor, Roanoke -,including construction of the steel underframe, bogies, couplings and braking system, and the timber-framed body - incorporating various reclaimed parts from the 1898 original - using the same teams that rebuilt the first three Heritage Coaches for the L&B.

Progress on Coach No. 11 is proceeding well, and the finished vehicle is expected to arrive at Woody Bay in time for this September's Gala.

For examples of some of the other projects that have been funded by the first round Coastal Communities Fund, search Twitter for the "hashtag" #CoastalCommunitiesFund or see this Interactive Map.

Second round grants were announced on 7 March 2014, and applications for the third round are now invited. Initial applications need to be placed by 30th April 2014. For further details, including eligibility criteria and application procedure, see The Big Lottery Fund website.

Images of recent progress on No.11 and the other restored L&B coaches

L&B Coach No.11 as delivered to North Devon in 1898

Machining luggage rack supports.

Laying out planks for assembly.

Sorting and sanding seat slats.

The workshop workbench, well-laden with Coach 11 parts.

A stack of pre-assembled panel sections.

Workbench in full use.

Panel Frame components ready to assemble.

More panel frame parts.

Machining curved joists for the roof.

Coach 11's panels being assembled. Behind is another L&B restoration project - Van 23.

Coach No.11 has seven compartments, each seating four on each of two bench seats. 14 seats. 17 slats per seat means 238 slats are needed - here they are being given two coats of varnish.