simonrl
  • simonrl
  • 51% (Neutral)
  • Administration Topic Starter
16 years ago
I've had an enquiry from a chap who owns a Cornish engine house which is in danger of collapse. He was enquiring if any grants are available for repair and preservation. I can't advise, but was wondering if any members could provide any info on who or where to contact?

Thanks,
Simon
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
AR
  • AR
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16 years ago
English Heritage _sometimes_ are able to provide financial assistance for emergency stablilisation works, AFAIK, but I think it depends on the perceived importance of the building and how much they've got in the kitty (possibly nowt, as the heritage budget has been heavily raided to fund the Olympics!)

If collapse is imminent and there's a public safety risk, the local authority might help with emergency shoring, but again, no guarantees there - perhaps the threat of pre-emptive demolition might make them take notice.....

Other than that, there's the various historic/victorian building societies to try, maybe the Trevithick soc - if nothing else, these groups are more likely to know about possible funding sources, and you can but ask. 🙂
Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!
stuey
  • stuey
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16 years ago
Bob Pit on Mine Explorer is an English Heritage chap, I believe.

Good bloke as well
simonrl
  • simonrl
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16 years ago
Thanks for all the responses, both on the forum and PM, I've had the name and contact details for somebody from the Trevithick Society so I will forward that on. Thanks.
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
spitfire
16 years ago
One solution would be to gift the engine house to the local authority. They would then be ( I think ) be duty bound to ensure its survival
spitfire
Bill
  • Bill
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16 years ago
A conversation with the Historic Environment Service of Cornwall County Council might be helpful
BILL
terrycorby
16 years ago
Thanks for all the comments - I'm the chap in question. The Trevithick Society are aware of the mine and I've contacted English Heritage who had no cash. I don't trust my local authority and in any case the local authorities are going away soon in Cornwall to be replaced by one County Council. I'll try the suggestion to contact them. I'll let you know.
wheal
  • wheal
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  • Newbie
16 years ago
Having personally converted an engine house to a dwelling 10 years ago (the partly completed pumping house built at East Wheal Rodney by the Wheal Hampton adventurers, Marazion) I can tell you there is virtually no chance of getting funding Even if listed as Grade 2 there will be little chance only Grade 1 tend to get help. I had to beg/borrow/steal(ish) to convert mine. Local authority were happy to see the building converted but no help alas.

Also acted as Chairman of the Harvey's Foundry Trust during the saving of the Foundry remains in Hayle. Eventually got funding but only of the back of a regeneration project with the promise of jobs etc etc.

Wheal
poke around long enough and you'll find something..
terrycorby
16 years ago
That's what I guessed Wheal. As you can see from the picture, it's in a pretty poor state - and no chance of me doing anything unless I start buying lucky lottery tickets! 🙂
justin
  • justin
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  • Newbie
16 years ago
Sorry ...........nothing to offer re: cash for preservation.....

But getting the ivy off and sealing the tops of the walls will
certainly buy you some time ......
carnkie
16 years ago
Could help with Tolvaddon Stamps as well.

🔗Tolvaddon-Smelt-Mill-2-User-Album-Image-007[linkphoto]Tolvaddon-Smelt-Mill-2-User-Album-Image-007[/linkphoto][/link]



The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
justin
  • justin
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16 years ago
"carnkie" wrote:

Could help with Tolvaddon Stamps as well.

🔗Tolvaddon-Smelt-Mill-2-User-Album-Image-007[linkphoto]Tolvaddon-Smelt-Mill-2-User-Album-Image-007[/linkphoto][/link]




certainly could ivy's horrible stuff finding it way into the joint and splitting them open and letting the water in ....
nasty stuff :thumbdown: :thumbdown:
GolowDydh
16 years ago
The main difficulty will be being able to show a future for the engine house. You are unlikely to get anything for maintaining a romantic ruin which in years to come is likely again to fall into disrepair, similarly personal use is not a winner in the grant stakes. In order to gain funding you are likely to be required to make the project sustainable or provide some benefit to the local community. The costs of the feasibility study of any project, the required archeologically assessment, bat survey etc. will soon mount up before a single stone is pointed. You may need for a professional to help from a fund raiser in order to be able to tick the right boxes to get any substantial funding, most will take a percentage of any grants they secure.
The past actually happened but history is only what someone wrote down
Jon_a
  • Jon_a
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  • Newbie
15 years ago
Is it a listed building or a scheduled monument?
Grants from English Heritage might be more likely if it was scheduled, but grants from any source are getting less and less.
Last year I worked on the specifications for urgent repairs and stabilisation on the Aberduna engine house in north Wales.
A lot depends on why it is felt to be in iminent danger of collapse. Sometimes some simple, well placed temporary support can avert collapse while funding is sought. If it can be demonstrated that a few thousand pounds of temporary works will avoid 10xThousands of pounds of damage and lost historic fabric then grants may be more readily available....

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