Bid for museum to house Crowland Buffalo is gathering pace
Campaigners are hoping to raise £30,000 to build a museum in Crowland - as work continues to restore the Buffalo unearthed in the town.
A patch of land has already been earmarked for a building to house the amphibious vehicle and highlight the town’s rich history - and now a fundraising drive is under way to get this built.
The Buffalo had been sent to Crowland to help combat devastating floods of 1947 and had sunk 28-feet below the surface, where it stayed until the end of last month.
The project has sparked international interest from media outlets and enthusiasts, giving farmer Daniel Abbott - who masterminded the recovery mission - hope that a museum will be a popular attraction.
He said: “I have regular chats with a couple of people from Australia, people from America, New Zealand and the Netherlands - it’s gone worldwide.
“By the time we get the museum up and running, people will travel to come to see it.”
With the land secured - at an undisclosed site near Crowland - the estimated price of putting up a building is £30,000, although the hope is to raise even more to make the museum as wide-ranging as possible.
Full restoration of the Buffalo is likely to cost about £100,000, however.
Volunteers are now restoring the personnel carrier - which is still in good condition.
During that work, the team keeps making new discoveries - with tools, a fire extinguisher and even some toothpaste being found in a tin under the floor panels.
Items such as these as well as former railway track and the remains of a brickyard could be put on display in the museum.
Mr Abbott said: “At the moment, every night after work we are flat out cleaning and getting prepared for sealing it up. She has stood up well and looks pretty damn well.”
He added: “Every time we do work on the Buffalo it brings up new things.
“You can’t fault the machine - the machine is now talking to us.”
To support the museum cause, visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/crowland-buffalo-restoration-museum
