Bromsgrove Rotary Club's £5,000 donation to Avoncroft to get windmill sailing again - The Bromsgrove Standard

Bromsgrove Rotary Club's £5,000 donation to Avoncroft to get windmill sailing again

Bromsgrove Editorial 27th Sep, 2021   0

THE ROTARY Club of Bromsgrove has presented the town’s Avoncroft Museum with £5,000 to help the venue start work on essential repairs on its historic windmill to enable it to sail again safely.

The latest donation comes on the back of another fund-raising scheme to repair thousands of pounds worth of damage caused by vandals shortly after its post-pandemic reopening to the public, in May. Intruders smashed windows and damaged the interiors of Toll House and Nailers Cottage as well as smashing plates and ornaments.

Following an appeal more than £50,000 in donations poured in from around the world which paid for repairs as well as improved security on the site.




John Teece, President of the Rotary Club of Bromsgrove, who presented the latest cheque, said: “The 1820 Danzey Green Windmill is an iconic symbol for the Museum, and for Bromsgrove, and the Rotary Club is delighted to be supporting the efforts to maintain it.

“We were really pleased to be able to join the Court Leet and celebrate Lammas Day* at the same time as presenting the donation to the team at Avoncroft.”


Lammas Day – celebrated on August 1 – is a wheat harvest day, also known as ‘Lord Mass Day’. It encourages celebrations and mass gatherings to thank God for the first harvest of the season.

According to tradition, a loaf of bread has to be taken to mass on Lammas Day.

Zoe Willems, Director of Avoncroft Museum, said “Rescuing historic buildings isn’t a one-off event, we have to keep them in good repair.

“There is a backlog of work needed on many of our buildings which were originally rescued in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s – but the Windmill is at the top of the list because it is so iconic.

“We want Avoncroft to be a working museum, so it’s a priority to get the Windmill sailing again.

“We’re so grateful to the Rotary Club of Bromsgrove for their extremely generous donation, which will bring us more than half-way to the total of £25,000 we need to employ a mill-wright to repair the wind-shaft and running rail.”

She added she looked forward to welcoming back the Bromsgrove Rotary Club and other donors, as well as members and visitors to see a very rare working post-mill in action, once the repairs were complete.

The Bromsgrove Rotary Club are always running or contributing to local projects that add benefit to the community and schools.

Anyone wanting more information should visit bromsgroverotary.org.uk

Donations can still be made to Avoncroft Museum at avoncroft.org.uk/make-a-donation/

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