PLANS to secure the future of George Stephenson’s birthplace in Wylam are ongoing, according to the National Trust.

George Stephenson, the famous ‘father of the railways’, was born and spent the first eight years of his life in the cottage in Wylam.

The National Trust took the decision to close the visitor attraction in January last year, describing the move as a ‘temporary closure’ and said the time would be used to re-evaluate what the site would offer.

It was said that the move was needed to save jobs, after a drop in visitor numbers.

The heritage site, which sits on the Wylam Wagonway, also featured a tea room and garden.

In response to the closure, a petition was set up and presented to the National Trust in March, after gathering 2,429 signatures.

Now the National Trust has confirmed that research into what could lie ahead for the property was ongoing, and funding to allow the research to continue had been granted.

A spokeswoman for the National Trust said that an intern was curently looking into the early Stephenson family, to understand more about the world George Stephenson was born into rather than his later achievements, which are much better known.

“We were advised by the National Railway Museum that this would be worthwhile, as most of the previous research has focused on George’s achievements which all happened after he left Wylam and his birthplace at the age of eight,” she added. We have also been successful in achieving a grant from Museums Development North-East to do some further audience development work.

“We have now appointed a consultant to carry this work out, which will be completed by March 18, 2018.”

Representatives from the National Trust met members of Wylam Parish Council on Tuesday as part of a continued consultation with the local community.

The spokeswoman added: “In essence, the research into the Stephensons’ early life will tell us more about ‘what’ the story is we’re telling and the audience development work will tell us more about ‘how’ we tell it.

“This will be both physically how we tell it, what the themes are that will engage people better and who the potential partners are to help us tell it.”