Mevagissey Museum has launched an appeal to raise £40,000 to restore its roof.

The award-winning Mevagissey Museum is housed in a harbourside building dating back to 1745 which needs constant maintenance. 

The museum desperately needs a new weatherproof roof to preserve the building, its contents and local heritage and traditions for future generations.

Mevagissey and District Museum is a registered charity, and is housed in a Grade-II listed building that once was a boatbuilding yard dating back to 1745.  

The museum is situated at the end of the inner Harbour of Mevagissey.

In 1995 a new felt roof was put on by a local builder and three of his workmen but due to the weather conditions the Museum experiences during the winters, it is now in need of a new roof.

The museum is now run by seven trustees all with skill sets such as accountancy, marketing, social media and local history that help keep it running on a day to day basis.  It has 36 volunteers all committed to the welfare of the museum.  Without their time and commitment, it would not be able to operate. 

The curators and trustees over the last 55 years have kept the museum open and have looked after its contents adding to the artifacts over this time.

But now it desperately needs to have a new weatherproof roof to preserve the building, its contents and local heritage and traditions for future generations.

The museum launched its appeal to restore the roof on Monday, with the High Sheriff of Cornwall Toby Ashworth in attendance, as well as many other prominent local residents including Dr Lynne Behennah, president of Mevagissey Museum, Jane Morgan, chair of Mevagissey Museum, Jeremy Roberts, vice-chair of Mevagissey Museum, Mike Roberts, chairman of Mevagissey Parish Council, Michael Bunney former Mevagissey Museum trustee and St Ewe councillor, current harbour master Andrew Trevarton, retired harbour master and harbour trustee Capt Hugh Bowles, and former Museum trustees David Palk, Geoff Pollard and Gary Mitchell.

High Sherriff Toby Ashworth said: “Congratulations for keeping this museum open and to all the volunteers who give their time.  It is most important that we raise the funds to repair the roof and make sure it remains open for future generations of visitors and the community of Mevagissey.”

Annie Butler, vice-chair of Mevagissey School’s Board of Governors said: “Mevagissey Primary School has enjoyed a very special relationship with Mevagissey Museum, ever since it opened 55 years ago.”

“Anyone who grew up in Mevagissey and attended Mevagissey School will have fond memories of taking part in a Mevagissey Museum Project and this still continues today.

“Visits to the museum are always a highlight for our children. The children look forward to these visits and enjoy many memorable learning experiences, both at the museum and after their visits.

“Many of our children’s families have been part of the Mevagissey community for generations; so within the museum they may well find pictures, stories and artefacts that relate directly to their grandparents and great grandparents: so for these children it’s also a very personal history they discover at the museum!”

Cornwall councillor and museum trustee James Mustoe added: “Mevagissey Museum is a real treasure trove, jam-packed with hundreds of years worth of historical items that give a fascinating glimpse into the history of Mevagissey and the surrounding area.”

“It is wholly run by volunteers while maintaining strong and enduring relations with its community. I have fond memories of taking part in the Mevagissey Museum Project when I was in Year 6 way back in 1996 and I know friends whose own children are now taking part.

“While our museum is itself, located in a piece of history, these old buildings are more and more expensive to maintain, which is why we are now looking for funds to restore the museum roof. 

“Your money will go direct to realising this goal and securing the future of this local institution. 

“I encourage anyone who feels able, to give generously via the Just Giving appeal which has been started.”

• You can donate via Justgiving at www.justgiving.com/campaign/mevagissey-museum