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SHEPHERD WHEEL
Shepherd Wheel Restoration Progress
Following the award of nearly £500 000 from th pe Heritage Lottery Fund and the generous underwriting of outstanding funding by Sheffield City Council theroject has now commenced in earnest.
A Consulting Engineer, Scott Wilson, has recently been appointed by the City Council to undertake investigations and detail design for the restoration of the millpond and other associated structures. Construction work will not be able to commence until later in the year when birds have finished nesting and other wildlife have brought up their families.
To further our fundraising efforts we are planning to have a stall in the wheel building at the open days arranged with Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust. These are planned to occur on 19th April and from then on, on the 2nd Sunday in each month, until August/September depending on construction activity.
Members may well have noticed that two large trees have been taken down from the dam embankment to allow access for the future works. Additionally more trees will be coming down on the allotment side of the millpond to make way for the pond liner.
The partnership of the Friends of the Porter Valley ( guardians of the amenity ), Sheffield City Council, (owners ), and the Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust ( proposed managers ), intends to restore this historic site to full working order. Once restored, it will be open to the public for demonstrations at weekends and for school visits during the week.
The total cost of the restoration is estimated to be around £1,000,000. Initially we need £20,000 to add to monies raised from other sources. Donations may be made through GIFT SHARE.
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