independent Cornish news and comment

Carrick: Heritage Lottery Grant for St Agnes

The village of St Agnes on the North Cornish coast has received a huge boost for its future development with the news that the National Lottery Heritage Fund is to give a grant of £150,000 towards the ambitious plans for creating a community, learning and heritage hub within an important listed building in the centre of the village.

This major project centres on the Miners & Mechanics Institute which was donated by the Cornish philanthropist John Passmore Edwards who was born in the parish, and is one of 64 buildings countrywide gifted in his lifetime.

The concept is to provide a multifunctional community building of the very best quality. This will include high quality function rooms including a multi media centre, for use as an outreach centre for local colleges, and provide access to facilities not available currently in the village. In addition part of the original Library provided by John Passmore-Edwards, will also be restored, and the many nineteenth century photographs held will be displayed and made available as a world-wide resource to those with an interest in mining and family history.

This grant together with funding from the Big Lottery fund, Cory Environmental Fund and Pennon Fund total £296,500; almost half of the £633,000 needed. Further bids for grant funding have been submitted but the fund-raising target of £100,000 locally needs to be met. The Institute is calling on the whole community including, all organisations and businesses in the area to assist in probably the most important restoration & renaissance project ever undertaken locally. They are looking for sponsors for some major events next year including a Golf Tournament, together with support for 'Proms in the Park' and regular table top sales, whilst saying a big 'thank you' to everyone who has helped them to get this far.

Nerys Watts, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager in the South West commented; "we are delighted that St Agnes Miners and Mechanics Institute have been awarded this grant. Not only will it help to restore a Grade II Listed building but it will increase access and provide learning opportunities for both the local community and visitors. I wish the Institute well in raising the additional funding required."