Papplewick Pumping Station has started a fundraiser to help it outlast the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the attraction – which is regarded as Britain’s finest working pumping station – had over 13,000 visitors who flocked to see its original James Watt beam engines, boilers, chimney, cooling pond and unique brick vaulted underground reservoir.
But now the charity in charge of the museum say its future is under threat without visitor income during the coronavirus lockdown.
The venue has now started a JustGiving page to help find the £35,000 it needs to stay operational.
A post on the page reads: “We are reliant upon donations and admission fees and receive no external funding from the council or other governmental bodies.
“We are now severely threatened by the COVID-19 situation.
“Our last event was on 8th December 2019 and we don’t know when we will be open again to generate visitor income. It could mean no visitor income until 2021.”
The site shut its doors in mid-March, but still has bills to pay despite a lack of income.
The post continued: “Our continuing overheads of power, insurance, security, fixed commitments and salary continue. Government support will help with salaries but most other grants do not seem to apply to charities like ours. We are currently using up our meagre reserves and desperately need funding to survive.
“Please help us survive this ordeal so we can re-open when circumstances permit and demonstrate the outstanding features of this Victorian masterpiece to the public once more.”
Papplewick Pumping Station was built in the 1880s to help save Nottingham’s population from water-borne health epidemics.
Papplewick Pumping Station first opened its doors as an industrial heritage attraction in 1975 and is funded with the support of the Papplewick Association.
The pumping station is steamed 16 times a year to demonstrate how the pumps raised millions of gallons of water to surface each day.
You can contribute to the museum’s appeal at their JustGiving page here: https://justgiving.com/campaign/supportpapplewickpumpingstation
Your donation will be very gratefully received and will help us weather this unfortunate period. If possible please Gift Aid your donation – the government will contribute an additional 25p for every £1 you donate to us.
Thank you so much for your support. You are contributing to the survival of Papplewick Pumping Station.
