Coldharbour Mill Museum in Uffculme has received a grant of £96,115 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help it recover and re-open.

The award, which comes in addition to the £230,169 received from the fund in the first round, will secure the mill’s recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic until it can fully re-open on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, May 31.

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 visitor experience.

Coldharbour Mill’s chief executive Martin Halse 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 re-open and cover costs until visitors return to something like pre-pandemic levels.

“At the same time the award funds a complete overhaul of the charity’s business model, setting the groundwork for a sustained and resilient recovery and a dynamic future for Coldharbour Mill.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced last week that more than £300 million was being awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country, including Coldharbour Mill, in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund.