Introduction

The Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust was founded in 1977 with the aim of rescuing historic buildings at risk which for one reason or another, had failed to gain the interest of private buyers.

The Trust was set up by Norfolk County Council and CPRE Norfolk and is a registered charity. It receives an annual grant from Norfolk County Council, with District Councils and other grant giving bodies contributing towards the costs of individual projects if they are eligible.

Properties are purchased and repaired by the Trust and then usually sold on long leases, with the capital receipts being put towards the next project. Since 1977, twenty projects have been completed by the Trust. In addition, the Trust’s involvement in many other neglected buildings has stimulated owners to take action themselves, or to sell their properties to new owners.

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DENVER UPDATE

January 2013

The Trust is pleased to announce that Samantha and Graham Styles will have important roles in assisting the Trust later this year with the management of the Denver site. Mr and Mrs Styles live locally, and Mrs Styles was Head of Confectionary Baking at Denver Mill from May 2010 until April 2012. Mr Styles has been running a family building business in Essex.

Three of the Trust’s Directors and its Secretary will also be working in the new management team, which will be running the site from June this year.

September 2012

The Trust has recently received an approach from a fourth party, this time expressing an interest in buying the site. The Trust explained the legal situation prevailing at the site and declined to allow valuation work to be carried out. The Trust has no current plans to sell the site, and continues with its plans to manage the site next year when the current tenancy ends.

August 2012

The Trust has just been approached by a third party which is interested in working with the Trust from June 2013 onwards. A preliminary discussion has taken place. This third party may just be interested in one or two specific site activities. This might possibly fit into the plans of the other parties. Discussions continue.

August 2012

The Trust has recently been approached by a second local group in Denver, which is keen to assist the Trust in running the site when the current tenancy ends in May 2013. Two meetings with the group have taken place, and a promising draft working arrangement has been produced. The Trust is now considering the details of this draft arrangement.

July 2012

The Trust has been successful in obtaining another Grant towards the work of restoring the wind gear at Denver Mill. It has just received a cheque for £2000 from the Lady Hind Trust. This makes a total so far of £27,000 towards the £100,000 needed.

The Trust is grateful for this contribution, and continues to apply to other grant-making bodies for funding to be able to carry out this much-needed restoration work, some of which should start on site in September.

June 2012

The Trust has given notice to the current tenants that their tenancy will not be renewed when it comes to an end on May 31st 2013. The Trust intends to manage the site itself. The reason for this is that the current tenancy has been very unsatisfactory in many ways, particularly financially, and the Trust is confident that it can manage the site much more satisfactorily itself.

The Trust is now discussing a proposal from a local group, which wishes to help the Trust to achieve this. It is hoped that an effective business plan for the site will be refined with this assistance, over the next few months.

The Trust has said repeatedly that it wishes the site to retain its wind-driven milling operation and to remain open and attractive to visitors, and the business plan will aim to achieve this. This is in sharp contrast with publicity saying that the site will close when the current tenants leave. This is quite untrue, but unfortunately the fabrication has continued despite the Trust’s statements to the contrary.

The Trust has also said publicly that it intends to restore to the Mill the sails and wind gear, which were casualties of the unexpected stress fracture of one of the steel stocks last October. It has already committed itself to £25,000-worth of work - out of an expected cost of £100,000 - and continues to pursue funding for the rest of the work.

It should be said that the Trust has bent over backwards to resolve difficulties with the current tenancy – including offering to sell the site to the current tenants at a heavily discounted price to them.

As the situation develops, there will be further updates on this website. The Trust is determined to keep the Denver site open and working properly. 

Contact : Dr Douglas Munro, 01603 629048 and nhbt@btconnect.com