• Coldharbour Mill Museum among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund 
• This award will fund Coldharbour Mills reopening costs and secure this Nationally significant Heritage sites future, allowing the Charity to adapt to a new business model and improve the accessibility and the visitor experience.  

Coldharbour Mill Museum in Uffculme has received a grant of £96,115 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, in addition to the £230k received from this fund in the first round to help the organisation recover and reopen.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Coldharbour Mill Museum in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

This award will secure the recovery of the Mill following the pandemic until we can fully re-open on the 31st May, the award also allows for the Mill to develop a sustainable business model going forward, allowing better use of resources and space to improve the visitors experience.

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:

“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced.
Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”

Martin Halse Coldharbour Mill’s Chief Executive, said:

“The Cultural Recovery Fund has been a lifeline to Heritage sites such as Coldharbour Mill in the last year, this latest award will enable Coldharbour Mill to reopen and cover costs until visitors return to something like pre-pandemic levels, at the same time the award funds a complete overhaul of the charities business model setting the groundwork for a sustained and resilient recovery and a dynamic future for Coldharbour Mill.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said:

“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work. We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.

John Jasper has made a considerable contribution to Devon’s industrial heritage.  His knowledge, expertise and commitment has been invaluable to the development of Coldharbour Mill Working Wool Museum in Uffculme, Devon. His work as a volunteer since 1990 has left a remarkable legacy of heritage conservation and restoration for visitors to learn from and enjoy.

Historic England describe Coldharbour Mill as ‘one of the best-preserved textile mill complexes in the country.” The Mill was a commercial enterprise between 1797 and 1981. Upon closure, although the fabric and power machinery were in a poor state, a local independent trust was established to save the grade II* listed site and open it to visitors (Coldharbour Mill Trust Ltd – registered charity no:1123386).

In 1990 the whole steam complex including the 1888 and 1910 Lancashire boilers and the 1910 Pollitt and Wigzell engine were not working nor had they been for several years. John assessed their condition and set about gathering a team of volunteers to restore the boiler to get it back into commission.  Without him, it is doubtful that anyone would have had the knowledge or commitment to return the steam plant to operation. John’s substantive contribution has been as the driving force to return the Mill’s rare and original steam plant and associated engines to full working order, to lead a team of volunteers to operate the complex for the public at regular steaming events throughout the year; manage the labour-intensive annual insurance inspection process, continue the improvements to the museum by managing regular work days of volunteers and, continuing that commitment over a prolonged period of time as a volunteer.

Undoubtedly, his greatest achievement has been the rescue, installation and restoration of the 1867 Kittoe and Brotherhood Beam Engine in the Beam Engine House, (replacing the original beam engine that had sadly been scrapped in an earlier era). Having discovered the abandoned and unwanted beam engine in Wiltshire where it had lain in a transport yard with a ripped tarpaulin over it, neglected for many years. John realised its potential significance to the steam collection of the Museum. John gave his time to draw the plans for the foundations, working out how it would fit and then overseeing the haulage and delivery. John built the form and reinforcements for the substantial concrete slab and led the volunteers in installing the heavy parts such as the 8 ton cast iron base plate (which would be irreparable if it broke), safely lifting the rest of the massive parts into position. There was no manual, no ‘You-tube’ video, no jig-saw box picture to show how it would all fit together. To not only assemble it but then for it to successfully steam for the public to enjoy into the future and long after John is no longer with us is a terrific legacy and an amazing achievement.  John has recounted the full five-year story in ‘The Beam Engine Story’ published on the Mill website.

Not only has he overseen the return of immobile, rusty and static engines such as the stationary fire pump and Marshall engine to running order, and installed a boiler feed pump and re-seated the 1910 boiler for use, he has also created policies, procedures and operating documents, taking responsibility for Health and Safety. He has written the Statement of Significance for the Steam Collection at Coldharbour Mill, testament to his enormously valuable expertise and knowledge. His achievements are all the more remarkable given that most of this volunteer activity has happened while he was working a demanding full-time job as an engineer.

In addition, for 30 years John has contributed his remarkable talents to many other aspects of museum operations. He led a team to clear the waterways and rescue the pipes from the Gas Retort House from the millstreams. He provided technical information to the contractors who restored the Mill’s unique waterwheel. As volunteer Steam Curator, he has continued to train and lead volunteers in the ‘Steam Team’, who not only maintain and operate the restored steam engines, but also assist with the maintenance and display of the Mill’s collection of textile machines, both working and non-working exhibits. This exceptional collection includes a full set of Taylor Wordsworth combing machines – unique as they are apparently the last remaining examples in the country – which were restored  for display in the Mill’s Combing Shed as part of a Heritage Lottery funded project in 2015/16. John drafted the interpretation for visitors.

He has built up a reference library to assist with solving problems with the old machinery and has learned, and passed on, traditional skills such as being able to splice rope to keep the Rope Drives in operation.   He has given tours to the public and promoted Coldharbour Mill in broadcast documentaries and in print media.

Upon retirement, he took a course of independent study to increase his knowledge and keep abreast of modern museum practice, gaining a postgraduate qualification in Heritage Management from Birmingham University in 2013. In the last few years, he has served as interim Volunteer Coordinator, and also joined the Board of Trustees and stepped in as Acting Chairman in 2018.

Since retiring he has also given his time and skills to the Wellington Arts Association using his initiative, expertise and leadership qualities to solve existing problems.  He set about recruiting and leading a team to make improvements to the Art-Deco Wellesley cinema, a rare example of a 1930s single screen cinema that is virtually untouched, to improve back of house facilities for performers and to undertake structural alterations to allow for proper scenery changes.

His many admirable qualities include unflappability and complete dedication to the tasks he undertakes. All this is testimony to a most remarkably modest man who has continued to quietly donate his skills, energy and ingenuity in the service of heritage for a sustained period of 30 years.  As such, he is richly deserving of this national honour.

Coldharbour Mill is delighted to announce we will be continuing our Rural Skills Programme. Our Rural Skill Programme has been running throughout 2021 and which will help candidates learn new rural work skills including estate, countryside and land management along with practical work-based skills which trainees will be able to take on into employment. They will also have the opportunity to learn wider heritage attraction skills.

The Programme will offer free training opportunities for unemployed or inactive people who are looking to learn new skill and improve their employability. The programme is fully funded by the European Social Fun (ESF) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency, who are working with Petroc in Devon and Somerset to deliver the funding.

The goal of the programme is to aid unemployed or inactive people to gain new skills and move into work, but trainees will also be helping Coldharbour Mill improve and manage our community space as part of our Project Splash! There will be two rounds of the programme, each running for 1-day a week for 3 months starting from January. There will also be opportunities to join Museum & Heritage Attraction training which will focus on administration, Marketing, Retail and Customer Service skills.

To find out more about the programme or to register interest go to: https://www.coldharbourmill.org.uk/ruralskills/

Coldharbour Mill Trust are excited to announce the appointment of our newest Trustee Director, Elizabeth (Beth) Crockett. Beth has joined the charity at a pivotal time in Coldharbour Mill’s development and brings a new dynamic to the Board, along with a passion for the work of the charity.

Chair of Trustees, Jackie Dawkins commented that “Beth’s appointment was as a result of the Boards succession planning and widening access. Coldharbour Mill and the Board are learning to adapt to the challenging cultural landscape and Beth will come with new and exciting ideas which will help us secure this nationally significant site’s future.”

At 22, Beth is our youngest Trustee and is currently studying with the Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage in Birmingham where her research focuses on the benefits that heritage can bring to communities.

Beth said “I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a volunteer and believe the estate is a vital asset for the local community’s history and a significant contributor to its wellbeing. I want to make a positive contribution as a young trustee, offering a different perspective going forward and believe my education and volunteering have given me the insight to do this, particularly around the engagement of young people within the sector and working with communities.

This appointment marks the next step in the Boards planned evolution, Beth joins two other recent appointees; Rachel Tyler, who is currently completing AHRC-funded doctoral research on the geography of London’s fashion Industry and Bryher Mason, recently appointed Vice Chair, who has 16 years of experience in collection management, curatorship and conservation management.

Having grown up in Wellington Beth is aware of the significance of the Fox Brothers’ Mills to the community’s social and economic history with many of her ancestors working at the mills. Chief Executive, Martin Halse said that “Beth’s appointment will be of real asset to the charities strategic future bringing current heritage thinking to the benefit of the organisation and its visitors.”

Coldharbour Mill Trust continues to seek new Trustee Directors, the Board is particularly interested in hearing from underrepresented groups across society to ensure the charity can continue to increase access and widen participation, many of our quarterly trustee meetings are held via Zoom allowing our trustees to join us from anywhere in the world.

Uffculme Green Team triumph with the approval of their plans to renovate the bus shelter in the heart of the village.

The bus shelter in Uffculme has been in a state of disrepair for a while, adorned with graffiti, it has been creating a bit of an eyesore in the village. The Uffculme Green Team, who have already created many worthwhile initiatives in the village in the hope to fight the Climate Crisis, have now succeeded in winning approval to renovate the Bus Shelter.

This project was approved by Uffculme Parish Council at their meeting on Thursday 1^st October and they have agreed to support the project going forward.

Coldharbour Mill, a nationally significant Museum and Visitor Attraction in Uffculme will also be supporting the project. The renovated shelter will highlight both the History of the Mill in the village as well as their upcoming events and activities for visitors and the community.

The proposal put together some suggestions on how the bus shelter could look after the renovation as well as ways in which to make the structure vandal-proof. The Uffculme Green Team’s volunteers will commence work over the winter period and the renovated shelter should be ready for unveiling by spring next year.

Coldharbour Mill has received £230,169 from The Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage which is part of the £1.57 billion rescue package announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The aim of the fund is to safeguard cultural and heritage organisations across the UK from the economic impact of COVID-19 and the funding will help support the ongoing costs of maintaining Coldharbour Mills nationally significant heritage site.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown began Coldharbour Mill Trust has been working hard to keep up with maintenance of the heritage buildings, re-introduce its team of volunteers and start progressing projects put on hold by the pandemic. Although it has been raising funds through its emergency appeal, it has been in dire need of extra support to guarantee that the site is protected for future generations to enjoy.

Martin Halse, Chief Executive of Coldharbour Mill said: “Thanks to the Culture Recovery Fund we will be able to make the dramatic changes needed to re-open the estate, factory and museum next season as well as support the ongoing projects which are vital to the success of Coldharbour Mill going forward. The Board of Trustees and I are extremely grateful for this lifeline in a continually challenging situation and these funds will be pivotal in continuing to sustain Coldharbour Mill.”

Despite reducing costs where possible and utilising government schemes such as furlough, Coldharbour Mill were still facing a losses in visitor income for this season on top of the additional costs required to make the site Covid Compliant. This funding will allow Coldharbour Mill to continue to provide volunteering opportunities to over 100 volunteers as well as educational experiences for schools and visitors locally, nationally and internationally.

We at Coldharbour Mill Museum showcase a huge portion of the rich industrial and social history of the local area over the last 220 years. It inspires the local community, national and international visitors with stories of the regions industrial heritage as well as engaging a large volunteer workforce who continue to create new stories at the Mill every day.

Coldharbour Mill is now looking for our communities’ stories of life during the pandemic and how it has impacted everyone’s lives. We feel as a local depository of history it is important for us to continue to record the lives of people at and around the Mill for posterity.

Our aim is to create an archive of the current times that can live on in the Mill’s history for others to reflect upon in years to come, with a goal of one day creating an exhibition of these stories. Although these times have been extremely hard for a lot of us, many have also found new passions, honed creative skills and already created wonderful pieces of writing, poetry and artwork which we would love to include in this project along with recordings of conversations, written stories, diaries, blogs or local crafts you have created that have significance of these times and you would like to be a part of our shared history.

If you are interested in having your memories, stories, artwork, writing, conversations or poetry included and shared please send us your work for consideration.

You can email digital works and stories to gm@coldharbourmill.org.uk

Or you can post us work to Coldharbour Mill Museum, Uffculme, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 3EE.

Please see our terms & conditions before entering your work.