Derbyshire landmark gets a £10k boost

Council cabinet members approved the £10,000 grant to the Heage Windmill Trust (HWT) from the Historic Environment Grants Budget, at a meeting this week.

Restoration work to the Grade II listed building was carried out during the 1970s, although it was not until the formation of HWT in 1996 that the building was more comprehensively restored to function as an operational mill open to the public.

Councillor Dean Collins, cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, said of the decision: “I am delighted that we are able to give Heage Windmill Society £10,000 to help secure the future of the building.

“The windmill is a much loved local landmark and it is important that it is preserved for future generations.”

The funds are needed to combat the wet rot which has been discovered at the landmark.

A report put before the council stated: “The discovery of serious and expensive structural problems was totally unforeseen, for which HWT simply does not have all the money available to contribute to its repair.

“It is proposed that funding from the council’s grants budget could be made available to bridge the gap in the trust’s funding.

“While this proposed grant would not lever in additional funding, it will underpin other funding that has been raised through HWT’s Trouble at the Mill (TAM) campaign.

“It will also help secure the long term future of this building in its original use. As HWT would like to re-open the mill ready for Easter it has raised a large amount for the repairs to date through the TAM campaign, other fundraising efforts and grant applications.”

Find out more at www.heagewindmill.org.uk.