A FUNDRAISING campaign to restore a historic windmill at Avoncroft Museum has received a £5,000 boost.

Generous members of the The Rotary Club of Bromsgrove presented Avoncroft Museum with a donation of £5,000 to start work on essential repairs to the windmill which will allow it to sail again safely.

The museum needs to raise £25,000 to employ a mill-wright to repair the windmill and get it sailing once more.

John Teece, President of the Rotary Club of Bromsgrove, who presented the latest cheque, said: “The 1820 Danzey Green Windmill is an iconic symbol for the Museum, and for Bromsgrove, and the Rotary Club is delighted to be supporting the efforts to maintain it."

The group presented the donation to the museum along with Bromsgrove's Court Leet on Lammas Day last month.

Zoe Willems, Director of Avoncroft Museum, said “Rescuing historic buildings isn’t a one-off event, we have to keep them in good repair. There is a backlog of work needed on many of our buildings which were originally rescued in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s – but the Windmill is at the top of the list because it is so iconic.

“We want Avoncroft to be a working museum, so it’s a priority to get the Windmill sailing again. We’re so grateful to the Rotary Club of Bromsgrove for their extremely generous donation, which will bring us more than half-way to the total of £25,000 we need to employ a mill-wright to repair the wind-shaft and running rail.”

“We look forward to welcoming back the Bromsgrove Rotary Club and other donors, as well as our members and visitors, to see a very rare working post-mill in action, once the repairs are complete.”

The latest donation follows a fundraising initiative at the museum earlier this year to repair thousands of pounds worth of damage caused by vandals shortly after its reopening to the public.

Following the appeal, more than £50,000 in donations poured in from around the world which paid for repairs and improved security on the site.