- the good news
We
learned a year ago that our round-1 application to HLF was
successful, but did not receive permission to start detailed planning
and costing until April 2016. This frustrating period, when parts of
our budget were substantially revised, meant that the November 2016
target for submission of our round-2 application was uncomfortably
tight.
We
appointed Shirley Muir Associates of Blennerhasset, who helped us
with the round-1 bid, as project organisers, against competitive
quotations. We invited tenders and appointed Peter Kempsey,
architect, of Countryside Consultants in Alston to lead the design
team, and Minerva Heritage of Lancaster to produce an activities and
interpretation plan. Chris Healy of Minerva wrote our 2014 options
appraisal , and is now working on our business plan. Lisa Keys is
handling activity and interpretation, assisted by The Way Design.
Peter’s
team is : Stuart Hobbs, millwright (Greenodd); Blackett Ord
Conservation, structural engineers (Appleby); AE Robb &
Associates, mechanical/electrical engineers (Newcastle); William
Shaw, quantity surveyor (Newcastle); James Woolgrove Associates,
health and safety (Carnforth); Wardell Armstrong, archaeology
(Carlisle); Hesketh Ecology, (Silloth).
All
worked hard over the summer, whipped in when necessary by Dave and
Shirley Muir. The Trust is grateful to them all. We discussed their
progress and invited comments at meetings, bringing trustees,
advisers and volunteers together for the first time, and local
residents, businesses and organisations to the mill, continuing
discussions at the Boot Inn. We met the planning authority and
Copeland BC’s disability adviser.
- and the not so good news
By
30 September and our second HLF review meeting, we had, or were on
target for, all the information needed to submit our round-2
application in November. But we knew from the quantity surveyor
that building costs for restoration of the mill and cottage were
significantly higher than expected, taking the project cost from
£807,000 to £1,005,000. On a well-argued case, HLF may allow a
10% increase in the round-1 estimate, but ours is over 20%.
Some
major additional items could not have been foreseen last year, and
removing them would damage the project’s sustainability. Our
architect is looking at cutting some non-essential items.
In
October, the trustees decided to defer our round-2 application until
March 2017, whilst we seek funds to close the gap. After
informal discussion, we hope that Copeland Community Fund and LEADER
will increase match-funding, reducing the gap to £75,000.
Potential sources for raising that amount have been identified.
An
immediate problem is that consultants are close to their round-1
budgets, expected to end in November. We need help to pay
additional fees to during the extended development phase until March,
particularly on new funding bids. Applications to raise that
money are being made now.
The
result of a deferred HLF round-2 application will be known in June,
too late to complete tendering and building work in 2017. A start in
spring 2018 now seems likely, with another season of relying on the
sterling efforts of volunteers next year.
What
will it look like ?
Parts
of the mill will be re-roofed and some timbers will be replaced.
There will be some masonry repairs and re-instatement of lime mortar.
Otherwise, the mill will not change much externally. Inside, the
machinery driven by the lower wheel, which has not turned for many
years, will be restored to working order. We expect to be able to
produce flour for human consumption, but not to produce it on a large
scale.
Internally,
the stages of milling will once again become clear, explained by new
interpretation signs. As during 2016, the main entrance will be
through the double doors, into the room used in recent years as the
custodian’s private office. There will be screens in this room, to
provide a virtual tour for visitors who cannot access the mill
itself. The garage, previously a workshop and store, will undergo
major renovation (acceptable to the planners because it does not
involve changing the main building) to provide a reception, shop and
toilet with disabled access.
The
double privy will be restored as part of the tour, and the ruined
piggery behind it will become the new workshop. The hayloft over the
stable, which already houses the hydro control panel, will be a
volunteers’ rest room. Both the stable and the byre, previously a
private store, will be accessible to visitors. Dilapidated fencing
and external steps will be replaced. There will be improved signage
from Dalegarth station.
The
cottage, a sorry sight once emptied, will be tanked to deal with
extensive damp, and completely refurbished. We would have liked to
gain more space by erecting a large shed behind the cottage, but the
planners will agree only to a small fuel store. There will be a
wildlife management plan for the whole of the grounds, including the
field, which has already been partly cleared of brambles by
volunteers.
There
will be a new website and presence on social media, and a new format
for this Newsletter.
Can
you help ?
We
have to raise £75,000 in three months. If any member is able to
help, either financially, in kind, or by volunteering for work on
site or administrative assistance, we would be delighted to hear from
you. Please contact any trustee. Eskdale mill needs you!
Paul
Pharaoh
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