Moulton Mill and Crowland projects among those to benefits from UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment

Volunteers who care for one of the area’s most iconic buildings are over the moon to have received a grant.

Moulton Mill - which is Britain’s tallest wind mill - will be getting four new windows which are being specially made by a local carpenter thanks to the £5,840 awarded by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation’s GRASSroots Grants.

The latest round of grants saw a total of 13 groups receive a share of £142,305, which has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund. This batch of awards has been made possible thanks to efficiency savings realised in the management of current contracts.

Chairman of Moulton Mill Geoff Hoare said four of the current windows at the Grade I listed building have become rotten and need replacing.

He said: “It is a bit of a Forth Bridge situation as we are always painting windows. We paint them inside and out so there’s always a window being painted.

“Local carpenter Shane Ingham is making the windows for us out of a hard wood so it will last longer. There are 20 panes of glass in each window.”

The grant will also fund a new coffee machine and radiators for the mill’s tea room - which plays an important role in the continued operation of this vital landmark - which is 100ft tall.

The mill, which was built in 1822, underwent a major refurbishment project more than 20 years ago thanks to the hard work and dedication of volunteers to ensure this important building was not lost.

Another historic area has also received a boost thanks to the fund, which has awarded grants to more than 150 projects across South & East Lincolnshire since it began in July 2023.

Twenty new bins will be adorning Crowland’s conservation area after receiving £8,294.

Crowland Parish Council had put in a successful application for the new bins - which are not always possible to fund due to ever decreasing local authority budgets.

Chairman Coun Bryan Alcock said: “The environmental impact should be noticeable as more attractive and fresher bins will be available. We are also going to be able to get rid of bins which are on poles and near the pavement.

“Hopefully it will make Crowland an even more attractive place to visit and enjoy.

“The parish council is very grateful for the fact that they were alerted to the opportunity for funding and able to respond to it.”

Members of Crowland Leisure Centre will soon be able to enjoy some new equipment thanks to the £11,849.63 grant.

The charity was formed in 2021, following significant investment by Crowland Parish Council, and has limited funds available to set aside for new equipment.

But manager Alison Burton is looking forward to bringing in a new Stairmaster, new weights and weight plates along with an analysis machine.

She said: “We are absolutely overjoyed to get the grant. We have spent the last three years growing the membership.

“We are a not-for-profit organisation so all the money goes straight back into the gym.

“Some of the equipment needed updating and we have had a lot of requests for different things so to be able to fulfill those earlier than we would be able to on our own is amazing.

“It is a massive boost.”