Crofton Beam Engines has received a grant of £27,760 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project to develop and test ideas for increasing the number and range of people engaging with Crofton. The ‘Crofton 2030’ project will help Crofton Beam Engines retain its position as a premier heritage attraction, worthy of its Grade 1 listed status, and ensure that they can keep the engines operating to 2030 and beyond.
The grant is made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, and builds on a previous Heritage Fund grant in 2018 which funded repairs to the historic buildings, new visitor facilities such as accessible toilets and improved interpretation around the site.
The project has four main elements:
• to review engagement and ‘value added’ activities at similar heritage sites;
• to carry out market research on potential opportunities to broaden audiences and increase income;
• to develop a Site Master Plan, making best use of our existing facilities and developing new facilities where needed and possible (given the limitations of the site); and
• to develop a business strategy for Crofton running to 2030, and a more detailed three year forward plan.
Crofton have now appointed two heritage experts to assist us in this work, Riah Pryor and David Tucker. The project is being managed by a project group headed by Chris Bolt, Treasurer of The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and Vice-Chairman of the Crofton Branch. Chris commented that: “Crofton Beam Engines is one of the most significant industrial heritage sites in the UK and a fascinating visitor attraction. We want to increase the number and range of people who can enjoy and learn from our unique site. We are very grateful for the support of the Heritage Fund to help us do that.”
Riah Pryor said: “I am excited to be working with Crofton Beam Engines. There is great potential to expand its activities and I want to help find the best ways of doing this so that the future of this special part of Britain’s industrial heritage can be assured.” David Tucker added: “Having carried out some initial work for the Trust last year about ways Crofton Beam Engines could increase its appeal to visitors further, I am looking forward to helping the team develop clear plans which turn their ideas into reality.”
The Crofton 2030 project will be completed in the autumn. Crofton Beam Engines is owned by The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, registered charity no 209206
Website – https://www.croftonbeamengines.org/
Industrial Heritage Networks 