Bancroft Mill Engine Trust has, since its start in 1982, operated a policy of self funding for the day to day running and maintenance of the Museum.  From time to time it has been necessary to obtain grants of money from various bodies in order to make considerable improvements, or to carry out essential work, so that the Museum may continue to run as a working experience for the benefit of the public.  The Trust is staffed entirely by volunteers who have a large variety of skills and experience, and much of the work and improvements have been carried out by them.

Each year, the volunteers carry out a programme of continuing improvements.  This year has seen work on storage facilities for spares, extra safety measures, restoration of a number of pumps and associated artefacts, fresh steam-pipe insulation and  safer access for  disabled persons.   Also ongoing, is the Bradley Engine project, which the Trust has made the subject of a special fund, as it is such a large and long-term project.

Throughout its existence, apart from some minor funding from mainly local bodies (such as the Civic Trust and Green Lantern) for smaller improvements, the Trust has received grant monies from Pendle Council (£2,000 in 1991 and £3,000 in 1996), and from The Heritage Lottery Fund (£66,000 in 1996), which helped to fund essential work  on the Cornish boiler, chimney and buildings, needed to keep the Trust in operation.

One of the biggest and escalating costs to the Trust is insurance.  This is required to insure the Cornish boiler, the buildings and public liability.  Earlier this year, as a result of new legislation from the E.U. which came into force in January 2005, the insurance company (AXA) made a requirement that all electrical systems in the Museum be brought up to the required standard.  It is also required that emergency lighting and a fire alarm be installed.  The company gave the Trust two months, up to 4th August 2005, to make a start on the necessary work.

The Trust Committee decided that, in order to be able to continue to run the Museum for the public, funds held by the Trust and intended for other projects, would have to be used to carry out sufficient work to be able to run the Mill Engine and the weaving looms.  The alternative was to close the Museum as a working heritage centre.  That first phase of the work has now been carried out at a cost of  £4,124.  (An estimate of the remaining electrical work is  £7,618. ) After costs incurred this year, the Trust is left with £814 and £1,500 in the Bradley Engine account at the present time.  The emergency contingency fund of about £2,000, which the Trust has always tried to keep in place, in the event of sudden break-downs, is therefore seriously depleted. 

As stated in accompanying documents, the expansion and improvement of the Museum, with more working and static exhibits, is considered by the Members of the Trust to be essential to attract more visitors, and to encourage them to return to what is, a quite unique heritage experience in Pendle.  The cost of providing this expansion, and the Health and Safety requirements which now exist, has now become quite beyond the scope of the Trust without adequate funding from outside sources.

Full costing for the extension to house the Bradley Engine and other artefacts has not yet been received, but is believed to be in the region of £12,000.  This amount could be reduced as Bancroft volunteers are able to carry out a considerable amount of work themselves.

text & images © 2007 Bancroft Mill Engine Trust