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Coronavirus Grant Puts Wind In Sails Of Iconic Bembridge Site

An iconic site in Bembridge has got the wind in its sails once again.

Bembridge Windmill - which is the last remaining windmill on the Island - has been awarded more than £10,000.

The funding is part of the Government's Culture Recovery Fund, and will be used to complete the installation of replacement external timber sails and stock sections of the windmill, known as sweeps.

They have been manufactured and are ready to be put in place, but coronavirus had put their installation at risk.

Standing for over 300 years, the windmill was given to the National Trust in 1961 and has even featured in a watercolour by JMW Turner.

It is an iconic sight in the landscape and much loved by the local community, who were central in helping to raise the initial funds.

Kathryn Wilson, Visitor Operations and Experience Manager for the Isle of Wight National Trust said:

“We are delighted to have received the DCMS grant funding to replace the sweeps on Bembridge Windmill. When lockdown happened earlier in the year we thought it could be a couple of years before we would have the finances to make this happen.

"It will be great to see Bembridge Windmill standing proud with its sweeps in place.”

The news comes just two days after half a million pounds was given to a number of Isle of Wight arts and cultural organisations, as Isle of Wight Radio previously reported.

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