Introduction

The Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust was founded in 1977 with the aim of rescuing historic buildings at risk which for one reason or another, had failed to gain the interest of private buyers.

The Trust was set up by Norfolk County Council and CPRE Norfolk and is a registered charity. It receives an annual grant from Norfolk County Council, with District Councils and other grant giving bodies contributing towards the costs of individual projects if they are eligible.

Properties are purchased and repaired by the Trust and then usually sold on long leases, with the capital receipts being put towards the next project. Since 1977, twenty projects have been completed by the Trust. In addition, the Trust’s involvement in many other neglected buildings has stimulated owners to take action themselves, or to sell their properties to new owners.

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PRESS RELEASE

Denver Mill

The Trust is delighted to report that it has received a contribution of £15,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation towards the restoration of the sails at Denver Mill, following the fracture of the stock which occurred last October. Faced with an estimated repair bill of £100,000, the Trust is now working to raise the funds required to enable the Mill’s sails to turn again.

Dr Douglas Munro, Secretary of the Trust, said : ”This is a very encouraging start. We hope very much that other grant-making organisations will also help the Trust to restore the wind powering of the Mill. Denver Mill is an important part of Norfolk’s heritage, and the Trust very much wants to see it back in action.”

The Trust played a central role in restoring the Denver Mill site between 1995 and 2000, at a cost of over £1 million. Since then it has been operated by two tenants, and the Trust has spent over £100,000 more on repairs. The sudden, unpredictable fracture of one of the steel stocks carrying the sails in October came as a big blow.

Dr Munro explained that the Trust’s insurance policy specifically excludes “latent defects, gradual deterioration, and wear and tear”. He said : “As a result, we are left facing an unexpected six-figure bill  – having already spent that much on the Mill in the past two and a half years. Frankly, the Trust cannot afford this. Not only do we have about twenty other properties to look after – including Waxham Great Barn, Nelson’s Monument and Homersfield Bridge – but also last April we lost our Annual Grant from Norfolk County Council, which we had been receiving for just this purpose for many years. A double whammy, really : losing the Grant and then suffering this unexpected fracture and its consequences.”

The Trust will continue to try to raise the £100,000, and looks forward to being able to restore a much-loved landmark.

Contact : Dr Douglas Munro, 01603 629048 and nhbt@btconnect.com