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Local Whitehaven · West Cumbria

Boelo's had the slates off Haig Colliery's roof, and the heritage centre's asking for a hand Haig Colliery Heritage Centre in Whitehaven asks for help after Storm Boelo damages its roof

By Kris WM, editor 2 min read From whitehavennews.co.uk
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Haig Colliery Heritage Centre in Whitehaven asks for help after Storm Boelo damages its roof
Photo: Reading Tom via Flickr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (Haig Colliery, 2018)

The weekend wind has lifted slates off Haig Colliery's roof, just after they'd had it fixed. The heritage centre's after scaffolders, roofers, joiners, or anybody who knows a funder.

This one's for anybody who cares about Whitehaven's pit history, and any local trades who might be able to muck in.

Haig Colliery Heritage Centre, up on the cliffs at Kells, says Boelo's wind at the weekend shifted and broke a load of roof slates round the vents on the old building. And they'd only just had the roof repaired, which they said was "disheartening". You can see why.

The centre said: "As a community-driven heritage site, unexpected repairs like this present a real challenge."

So they're asking for help. They'd love to hear from a scaffolding firm who could help get up on the roof, and from a joiner or roofer who could help fix it. They're also after names of any groups that fund heritage or social value projects, to help cover the cost. They're thinking about a GoFundMe as well.

Haig was Cumbria's last deep pit, and the old winding engine house and headgear are a proper landmark above the town. The heritage centre's run by the community, so it leans on volunteers, visitors and grants to keep it going.

Boelo hit Cumbria with gusts up to 78mph over the weekend, knocking about houses, churches and harbours all along the coast.

What you can do: if you're a scaffolder, roofer or joiner who can help, know a heritage funder, or want to chip in, email the centre at info@haigcolliery.co.uk.

Storm Boelo has dislodged and damaged several roof slates around the vents at Haig Colliery in Whitehaven, not long after roof repairs were finished. The community-run heritage centre is asking for scaffolders, roofers, joiners and funders to help.

This is for anyone who cares about Whitehaven's mining heritage, and for local trades and businesses who might be able to help.

Haig Colliery Heritage Centre, on the cliffs at Kells, says Storm Boelo's strong winds at the weekend dislodged and damaged several roof slates around the vents on the historic building. The damage comes only shortly after roof repairs had been completed at the site, which the centre called "disheartening".

In a statement, the centre said: "As a community-driven heritage site, unexpected repairs like this present a real challenge."

It is now asking for help on several fronts. It would like to hear from scaffolding companies willing to support access to the roof, and from a joiner or roofer who could help with the repairs. It is also asking for the names of any organisations that support social value or heritage projects and could help pay for the unexpected work. A GoFundMe fundraiser is being considered.

Haig Colliery is the site of Cumbria's last deep coal mine, and its preserved winding engine house and headgear are a landmark above the town. The heritage centre is community-run and relies on volunteers, visitors and grants to look after the buildings.

Storm Boelo brought gusts of up to 78mph to Cumbria over the weekend, causing damage to homes, churches and harbours along the coast.

What you can do: if you are a scaffolder, roofer or joiner who can help, know of a heritage funder, or would like to donate, email the centre at info@haigcolliery.co.uk.