Heritage Lottery Fund success

We were delighted to learn at the end of November that our first round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a major grant has been successful.  £67,000 has been awarded to fund the development stage when, assisted by various consultants, we will work up the second round application for the full cost of building conservation works, and an activities and interpretation programme.
The trustees are very grateful to HLF for endorsing our plans for the conservation and improved presentation of the mill, and also to Copeland Community Fund, who have agreed to provide match funding of £5,000.  We are particularly pleased that refurbishment of the now vacated mill cottage has been accepted as part of the work to be funded, even though our intention to use it again as accommodation for a resident miller/custodian takes it outside the scope of HLF’s usual guidelines.  The cottage is an integral part of the site, and badly in need of repair to bring it up to an acceptable standard.
At the time of writing, we have not yet been able fully to publicise the award, or to thank individually the many people and organisations who gave us invaluable letters of support, or assisted in other ways.  Notification of our first round pass was followed by a start-up meeting, which could not be arranged until 15 January, and then by a further application for permission to start work, which is currently still pending.  HLF have appointed a mentor, Kate Dickson, a freelance heritage consultant, whose experience and expertise will guide us through the development stage.  Following a helpful meeting with Kate at the mill on 26 February, we have submitted some amendments to our project management and procurement proposals and a revised budget allocation.
Once permission to start has been secured, we will invite competitive tenders from potential project managers, the first consultants to be appointed.  They will then assist us as we move on to the appointment of conservation engineers and activities/interpretation consultants, and commission further work on a business plan.
We had originally hoped to complete the development stage and to submit our second round application to HLF by August this year, but in view of the delayed start we are now aiming to submit in November, for decision early in 2017.  We have also to work up a second application to Copeland Community Fund, for a much larger tranche of match funding.
After the pattern of modest background activity which followed the Trust’s formation and its acquisition and leasing out of the mill, these are challenging times for EMHT.  We know our organisation and commitment needs to move up several gears.  HLF’s emphasis not just on the maintenance of buildings, but on providing a stimulating experience which people will enjoy, is entirely consistent with EMHT’s charitable objects, carried out for the public benefit.  It is an exciting and worthwhile challenge, and without doubt the right thing to do to secure the mill’s future.

Paul Pharaoh

Volunteering and mill opening in 2016

When the Trust decided on a major restoration project and change in the presentation of the mill, to follow Dave King’s retirement early this year, we anticipated remaining closed for the 2016 and 2017 visitor seasons, whilst funding was secured, work was carried out and plans for future operation were put in place.  That would have meant at least two years without income to cover insurance, business rates and other continuing outgoings, as well as suspension of our main charitable object, making the mill available to the public.

So we began to look for volunteers, who after appropriate training would keep the mill going until the eventual appointment of a new resident miller.  The number of volunteers would determine how often we could open.  Appeals at first met with limited success; volunteers are in short supply, and EMHT is not the only local concern seeking to recruit them.

Fortunately we are now able to call on the services of Karl Bartlett as the Trust’s Volunteer Development Officer.  Karl lives close to the mill, at Dalegarth Cottages.  He has not only a post-graduate diploma in heritage management and experience in running projects, but can offer a substantial commitment to opening the mill to visitors himself, and co-ordinating the contributions of other volunteers.  Thanks to Karl for the substantial amount of work he has already put in, particularly on the repair of drystone walls.

On 16 January Karl organised a volunteer recruitment day, starting with an introduction at Dalegarth station and continuing with a tour of the mill, led by Dave King.  This was followed on 13 February by a clean-up day, when volunteers made a start on improving the appearance of the grounds.  Both events generated a cheerful atmosphere and were supported by a mixture of new faces and existing supporters.

From Easter onwards, Karl will himself be opening the mill to visitors, and guiding tours, between 11.00 and 4.30 each Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  The admission charge, previously £1.50, will be raised to £2.50, but there will be concessions for families and groups, and no charge to members on production of a membership card.

This arrangement is entirely new : Dave King ran the mill as his own business, had the legal responsibilities of the occupier and retained admission fees for himself, but Karl Bartlett will open it on behalf of the Trust, which is now the legal occupier, and fees will belong to us.  In recognition of the extensive commitment he is taking on, we have agreed terms with Karl which include an honorarium, fixed by reference to visitor numbers.

Whilst visitors to the mill will see some changes this year, none will necessarily be permanent and all are reversible.  This transitional stage gives us a valuable opportunity to try out ideas, ahead of the major rethink of the mill’s presentation, led by professionals, which will follow as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund project.  There is a small budget in the development stage, which is about to begin, for pilot activities designed to engage people’s interest in the mill and the valley’s history.  Volunteers will be a key part of the mill’s operation for the foreseeable future, not only during the HLF project.

New volunteers who can assist in caring for the mill and presenting it to visitors this year are very welcome.  Please contact Karl Bartlett on 019467 23335 or themillatboot@gmail.com

HYDRO SCHEME PROGRESS

 


By the end of October last year, the waterwheel, gearbox and motor-generator had all been installed on the structural steelwork previously bolted to the granite bedrock by the designers and constructors, Smith Engineering of Maryport.

We have taken up the generous offer of the Worthington family to provide timber from their woodland at nearby Dalegarth for the launder which will take water to the new wheel, saving the Trust some £5,000.  However the winter weather was atrocious, with probably the most persistent rain and winds in living memory.  This made the felling and abstraction of timber (by Ronnie Phizacklea and Johnny Crow) very difficult, and just too dangerous for extended periods.  Eventually in January there was sufficient opportunity, and the european larch was transported to Muncaster Castle to be sawn into planks.  The weather continued to play havoc with Murray Wilson and Martin’s efforts at Muncaster, so that as I write the sawing operation is not yet complete, although it should be finished by the time you read this.

The delays have caused us to miss out on the availability of our joiner, so we are currently arranging for another craftsman to carry out the work.  He will not be able to start until the end of March.  It will take about four weeks to make the launder, and another couple of weeks to install it.  Electrical installation and commissioning may take a further two weeks, so we are looking at completion in early June, compared with my previous estimate of the end of 2015.  Full commissioning and approval by Ofgem before September is essential.

The two existing sluice gates have been fully restored, and a new one has been built to control flow to the waterwheel.  A trench has been cut from the wheel to the stable, where a mounting board for the control panel has been erected in the hay loft.  Another trench from the stable to the cottage will become the cable route for delivering the electricity. Internet cables are also to be laid, so that the performance of the system and security of the site can be remotely monitored by CCTV.

After commissioning, displays of information for visitors, construction of a protective barrier wall and fencing, and restoration of the paved viewing area will be required.  We will fit wire mesh screening over the launder, to prevent things from falling into the water, and make an assessment of tree branches, which might damage the installation by falling on it.  The building of steps over the launder will be needed to enable visitors to follow the route across the footbridge overlooking the waterwheel.

The system will be capable of delivering a maximum output of 3.68 kW.  If its efficiency is as the designer says, and water flow is at least 100 litres per second for 75% of the year, then we should realise about £5000 per annum via the Feed-in Tariff arrangement.


Len Watson