Old
News from 2004
Thanks for the memory
23rd November 2004
Geevor Tin Mine Museum has released the first of a series of
fascinating recordings made by local people recalling memories
of their life and times, living and working in and around the
mine.
The recordings, available at Geevor Shop and on CD price £4.99,
have been made by project workers from Geevor's popular Oral
History Unit who interviewed many of the older people in Pendeen
and St Just.
Fiona Young, Oral History Project co-ordinator said "The recollections
we have recorded are often of small and seemingly insignificant
events that would otherwise be lost forever. When pieced together
these fragments of information give a fascinating insight into
life in the community in the past." The first CD, titled "Water
and Wells," looks at life in Pendeen before mains water arrived
in 1959, focusing on the lives of 11 local people and their
recollections of collecting water from the various wells and
standpipes in the district or of buying it from a water seller.
The CDs give a unique insight into the lives of ordinary Cornish
folk in the last century, bringing an intensely personal touch
to the history of the far west of Cornwall.
"Drawn from Memory" at Geevor Tin Mine Museum
25th October 2004
Geevor Tin Mine Museum & Heritage Centre has been selected from
a nationwide field of applicants to participate in the Drawn
from Memory Testbed project.
Drawn from Memory is a 12 month project funded by the Campaign
for Drawing. The Campaign, initiated in 2000 by The Guild of
St George, a small charity founded by John Ruskin, the great
Victorian artist, writer and visionary has a simple but ambitious
aim - to get everyone drawing. Ruskin saw drawing as the foundation
of visual thought. His mission was not to teach people how to
draw, but how to see. The Drawn from Memory Testbed project
is an invitation to historic or natural heritage sites to involve
older people in drawing as a tool for memory and interpreting
heritage.
The cartoonist Gerald Scarfe says, "To young children drawing
is as natural an activity as running and playing but, as we
grow and develop, in general we drop the drawing - why? It's
sad that so many people lose this ability: for me, drawing has
always been a natural form of expression." Local artist Diane
Spiers, who has worked with Geevor through Creative Partnerships
and The Big Draw, will lead a series of drawing workshops using
Geevor's popular Oral History Archive, its huge collection of
photographs and the Museum collection as a source of memory
to inspire drawing. The group will also visit other local sites
to draw on inspiration beyond Geevor. Fiona Young, Oral History
Officer at Geevor, said "We would like to hear from people over
50 years old who would be interested in participating in this
exciting project. This is definitely the project for people
who feel they cannot draw or have lost the ability to express
themselves by drawing."
Another record year for Geevor
18th October 2004
Trustees of Pendeen Community Heritage, the charity that manages
Geevor Tin Mine Museum & Heritage Centre for Cornwall County
Council, have announced record-breaking visitor numbers for
the third successive year. During the 12 month period that ended
on September 30th more than 36,000 people visited Geevor, a
15% increase on the previous year.
Now that the busy season has ended managers and staff continue
to welcome visitors whilst they carry out maintenance work to
buildings on the site and on improving and developing exhibits.
Cornwall County Council funded preservation and maintenance
work to the walls and windows of the Victory Shaft Winder House
is underway, while works are continuing on re-roofing part of
the Count House and to windows of the Shop.
The new Holman Exhibition, tracing the history of St Just and
Penzance engineers Holman & Son and exploring its close association
with West Cornwall's past, is nearing completion and visitors
will soon be able to see 'work in progress.'
The Oral History Project continues to be hugely popular and
a new exhibit will be staged in the Museum displaying items
donated by Egbert Rowe of St Just. Now a pensioner, Mr Rowe
spent his life working on local farms and amassed a huge collection
of historic farm tools and implements. Museum Curator Ben Beckwith
said "The collection includes more sharp, pointed and curved
farm implements than you can imagine. There's also the bellows
from St Just Foundry and, hopefully, a wheel from the WW2 German
bomber that crashed at St Buryan."
More improvements are underway in the mineral gallery of the
Museum, to the Miner's Dry and to the underground section of
C18th Wheal Mexico Mine.
The Big Draw
Sunday 11th October 2004
Geevor Tin Mine Museum & Heritage Centre is taking part in The
Big Draw on Sunday 17th October from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
The Big Draw is a national drawing event organised by The Campaign
for Drawing. The event is open to all - comers, and is taking
place in around a thousand venues across the UK from October
16-23. These range from the grandest - including the British
Museum, the Science and Natural History museums, the V&A, the
National Gallery, all four Tates and Salford's Lowry Centre
- to shopping centres, stately homes, Brighton Pier and the
House of Lords.
This year marks the fifth Big Draw and managers and staff at
Geevor Tin Mine have arranged a creative day for visitors of
all age groups to show that drawing can aid observation, communication
and invention and, above all, give pleasure. Visitors will be
able to collect drawing materials at the Museum's reception
centre and sketch as they move through the site. The event has
been designed to encourage drawings in different scales, highlighting
the history of the mine and visitors' drawings will be combined
in an exciting wall display installation in the Mill. The contribution
of many small sketches is intended to represent the teamwork
of the many miners who worked at Geevor.
A group of local artists, including the organiser of the Geevor
event Diane Spiers, and Bren Unwin, Victoria Turner, Yvonne
McGillivray, Olga Walls and members of the Pendeen Art Group,
will be at "drawing stations" around the site giving help and
advice to sketchers. Diane Spiers, who has spent some months
at Geevor helping to develop creative education resources said
"Drawing underpins all artistic activity - the Big Draw at Geevor
will, I hope, encourage many people to discover, or rediscover,
their enjoyment for drawing.
The Campaign for Drawing was initiated in 2000 by The Guild
of St George, a small charity founded by John Ruskin, the great
Victorian artist, writer and visionary. Ruskin saw drawing as
the foundation of visual thought. His mission was not to teach
people how to draw, but how to see.
Restored
Union House opens at Geevor
Monday 16th August
A new exhibition has been opened at Geevor Tin Mine in the old
Union House, the headquarters of the 6 year campaign by miners
and trades unions to save the mine. After the dramatic 1985
crash in the international price of tin, mining activity at
Geevor was halted, 370 men made redundant and the mine put on
a ‘care and maintenance’ basis. Miners and unions
fought for government aid to restart mining, marching to London
and demonstrating outside Parliament in the hope of saving their
jobs and their local community from the potentially devastating
impact of mass unemployment.
In
1991, after 6 years of bitter and hard-fought struggle, the
battle was finally lost, the pumps turned off and Geevor became
part of the history of Cornish mining. A history of almost 300
years of tin mining on the site was brought to an end and a
major source of employment and community cohesion gone. Through
documents and press cuttings this exhibition shows visitors
fascinating details about the day-to-day work of the unions
(TGWU, AUEW, EETPU, UCATT) in protecting the rights of the workforce,
and in particular shows how miners worked together to fight
against the closure of the mine in 1985.
Bill
Roberts (holder of the British Empire medal) former Branch Secretary
of the TGWU opened the exhibition on Sunday 15 August in the
presence of former Geevor workers and trade unionists. He recalled
his memories of an era when tin dressing was more of an art
carried out by skilled men rather than the largely automated
operation it later became. “A man can correct a process
as it is being carried out” he said “but a machine
can't put itself right when it starts to get things wrong”.
Those
attending the ceremony included Terry Addicoat, Sal Cillo, Cliff
Elson, John Gendall, Cyril Honey, Charlie Hosking, Stuart Keast,
Mick McArdle, Jeremy McCarthy, John and Margaret Phillips, Mrs
Roberts, Jim Roberts, Brian and Christine Stevens, John Thomas,
Maurice Trembath, and Geoff Treseder.
Ian Davey, who has worked at Geevor since he was a young man,
and is now Head Guide at the mining museum said “It was
good to see these workers back at Geevor again. The unions did
play a great part in our lives at the mine – probably
more than management did! We are hoping this exhibition brings
this part of Geevor’s history to life.”
Cliff
top walk through mining country
30th
July 2004
Staff
at Geevor Tin Mine offered guided walks last year and earlier
this summer. The second of this summer’s (free) guided
cliff top walks will take place on Sunday 8 August 2004. The
South West Coast Path National Trail extends 630 miles around
the coastline of the peninsula and is one of the many attractions
for visitors to Cornwall. Geevor Tin Mine is situated on the
Coast Path, over underground mine workings that stretch over
a kilometre out into the Atlantic Ocean. The section of the
path west of Geevor is especially interesting.
The
walks are popular with visitors and local people alike and take
place amidst the dramatic scenery of the far west of Cornwall's
Atlantic Coast, across a landscape littered with the remains
of mine workings of the last few centuries. The coastal path
passes ruined mine buildings on its route to Botallack, with
Kenidjack Castle to be seen ahead and Pendeen Lighthouse behind.
The Crowns Engine Houses at Botallack are amongst the most photographed
mine remains in Cornwall and Levant houses the oldest beam engine
in Cornwall, now once again powered by steam.
The
walks, which are suitable for people of all ages, start from
the reception area at Geevor Tin Mine at 1.30 pm and are a gentle
stroll of about two hours. During the walk expert guides will
tell the story of Geevor and Levant in the years when the mines
were at their most productive and profitable.
There
is no charge to take part and no need to book but the organisers
would appreciate a phone call from people who plan to join in,
so they can anticipate numbers. Geevor’s telephone number
is 01736 788662. Drivers who want to go on the walk can leave
their cars at home and travel to and from Geevor on First Group’s
new open top bus route between St Ives and Penzance, and fully
enjoy the journey on the scenic B3066 coast road. The bus pulls
into the car park at Geevor, close to the café and gift
shop. Bus tickets cost £3.50 for children, £5.50
for adults or £10 for a family ticket, giving unlimited
travel on First’s Open Top service and other bus services
all day. Geevor Tin Mine will refund half the cost of the bus
ticket against the cost of admission to the Heritage Centre.
(Offer applies to First Cornwall services 10 and 300 only).
Return
to the top of the page. 
Geevor’s
popularity soars
27th
July 2004
Geevor
Tin Mine Museum & Heritage Centre is one of the few visitor
attractions in Cornwall reporting increased visitor numbers
this year. In response to a 17% rise in admissions, managers
have taken on extra staff, with guides operating the tour of
the mill and 18th/ 19th century underground workings continually
throughout the day.
Sheila
Russell of site managers Pendeen Community Heritage said “Geevor’s
continuing success as an educational visitor attraction and
the popularity of the underground tour means we do get busy,
particularly during school holidays. We are open from 9 am and
we would advise visitors to come early if possible. There’s
such a lot to see and do here at Geevor” continued Sheila
“and visitors who come late are guaranteed an underground
tour if they are still on site at 4.00 p.m.”
The
popularity of Geevor’s underground tour underlines the
importance of gaining funding for plans that will further develop
the site and include opening up part of the 20th century workings
at Victory Shaft. The work, when completed, will give visitors
access by lift to workings 300 feet below the surface, increasing
both the scope of the tour and the number of people that can
explore underground each day.
Sculpture
celebrates mining heritage.
20th
July 2004
The
photo shows sculptress Jay Doyle and her wall sculpture.
A
dramatic wall sculpture, titled “Descent at Geevor”
has taken pride of place in the reception area at Geevor Tin
Museum & Heritage Centre.
The
sculpture, a wall landscape by local artist Jay Doyle, combines
ceramics, metals and glass and celebrates the mining heritage
of the far west of Cornwall. The 8' high, 5' wide sculpture
stands offset from vertical, representing the lie of tin lodes
underground, and was made using materials either directly mined
at Geevor, or their by products such as tin oxide, melted tin,
copper oxide, copper lustre and red iron oxide dug from the
“slimes” found on site.
Sculptress
Jay Doyle used an open textured stoneware giving a rough surface
finish to represent the harsh landscape and coated the “landscape”
tiles with a red clay soil, heavy in red iron oxide, and Geevor
granite gravel. Real tin was melted and poured onto several
tiles and turquoise glass, created by melting clear bottle glass
mixed with copper carbonate powder, poured on to others to represent
water. The circular, semi domed shape is, explains Jay “An
interpretation of the “buddle” remains on the coast
path – an old tin separation method. The tube shapes are
symbols of the pipes which carried compressed air to the mining
face and also carried the water pumped out of the mine."
The little prongs” continued Jay “are reminders
of the tall chimneys of the C18th and C19th engine houses.
Jay
concluded “I wanted to show the contrast between the “jewels”
of copper and tin and the harsh reality of extracting them from
the ground. I hope that my sculpture will provide a visually
interesting educational tool, furthering one of the objectives
of Pendeen Community Heritage, the charity that manages the
site.”
For
further information please contact Sheila Russell or Bill Lakin
of Pendeen Community Heritage 01736 788662
email: pch@geevor.com or visit the web site at www.geevor.com
Geevor
is open from Sunday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm all year. Last
full tour is at 3.00 pm in winter and 4.00 pm in summer. Geevor
Tin Mine is located in the village of Pendeen, 7 miles west
of Penzance.
Lottery
funding the key to jobs boost.
25th
June 2004
Visitor numbers at Geevor Tin Mine Museum & Heritage Centre
are running at record levels, 15% up on last year, reports Sheila
Russell of Pendeen Community Heritage, the charity that manages
the site for Cornwall County Council. The increasing popularity
of Geevor, the largest preserved tin mining site in Europe,
is a springboard to major developments at the mine.
Penwith District Council officers, led by Chief Executive Jim
McKenna, recently visited the mine, using ladders to descend
deep underground, viewing workings that are presently closed
to the public. Charlotte Hill, Head of Regeneration, Tourism
and Leisure at Penwith District Council, said " It was a real
privilege to be able to see the underground workings - all the
officers are still buzzing from the experience." The Council
has supported PCH's plans to give public access to 1500 metres
of these 20thC workings and pledged £365,000 towards the £3.5
million cost.
Cornwall County Council, working with trustees of PCH, has completed
and submitted a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the additional
funds needed and expect to hear an initial decision in December.
PCH plans to use the Lottery funding to extend the underground
tour so that visitors can see the 20thC workings within the
3rd Level Deep Adit below Victory Shaft, preserve 21 buildings
on the 27 ha site and open a new museum building. The completed
works will transform Geevor from a nationally important heritage
attraction into an internationally respected leader in the interpretation
of hard rock mining and making this accessible to all. It is
estimated that, by 2011, the increased number of visitors attracted
by these improvements will bring a £6 million boost to the local
economy and create, directly or indirectly, up to 163 jobs while
safeguarding a further 57.
Above photo by Neil Clark Penwith District Council The photo
shows, from left to right; Jim Mckenna Chief Executive Penwith
District Council and Anita Pryor West Cornwall Museum Education
& Outreach Development Officer admiring a section of the 20thC
underground workings.
Cliff
top walk through mining country
28th
May 2004
Staff
at Geevor Tin Mine offered guided walks last year and these
proved such a success that two more (free) guided cliff top
walks will take place this year, the first on Sunday 6 June
2004. The South West Coast Path National Trail extends 630 miles
around the coastline of the peninsula and is one of the many
attractions for visitors to Cornwall. Geevor Tin Mine is situated
on the Coast Path, over underground mine workings that stretch
over a kilometre out into the Atlantic Ocean. The section of
the path west of Geevor is especially interesting.
The
walks, amidst the dramatic scenery of the far west of Cornwall's
Atlantic Coast, cross a landscape littered with the remains
of mine workings of the last few centuries. The coastal path
passes ruined mine buildings on its route to Botallack, with
Kenidjack Castle to be seen ahead and Pendeen Lighthouse behind.
The Crowns Engine Houses at Botallack are amongst the most photographed
mine remains in Cornwall and Levant houses the oldest beam engine
in Cornwall, now once again powered by steam.
The
walks, which are suitable for people of all ages, start from
the reception area at Geevor Tin Mine at 1.30 pm and will be
a gentle stroll of about two hours. During the walk expert guides
will tell the story of Geevor and Levant in the years when the
mines were at their most productive and profitable.
There
is no charge to take part and no need to book but the organisers
would appreciate a phone call from people who plan to join in,
so they can anticipate numbers. Geevor’s telephone number
is 01736 788662. Walkers can leave their cars at home and travel
to and from Geevor on First Group’s new open top bus route
between St Ives and Penzance, free to enjoy the journey on the
scenic B3066 coast road. The bus pulls into the car park at
Geevor, close to the café and gift shop. Bus tickets
cost £3.50 for children, £5.50 for adults or £10
for a family ticket, giving unlimited travel on First’s
Open Top service and other bus services all day. Geevor Tin
Mine will refund half the cost of the bus ticket against the
cost of admission to the Heritage Centre. (Offer applies to
First Cornwall services 10 and 300 only).
For
further information please contact Mike Simpson of Pendeen Community
Heritage 01736 788662
email: pch@geevor.com Geevor is open from Sunday to Friday 9.00
am to 5.00 pm all year. Last full tour is at 4.00 pm in summer.
Geevor Tin Mine is located in the village of Pendeen, 7 miles
west of Penzance.
Geevor
on the Buses!
5th April 2004
First in Cornwall will operate a regular open top bus service
from St. Ives to Penzance for two weeks starting on 4th April
and then running right through the summer from May to September.
The bus route will use the B3066 coast road from St Ives to
Penzance, via Geevor and Lands End, traveling through some of
the most spectacular coastal scenery in Europe.
"The Open Top in Penzance was a successful part of the summer
in Cornwall and we have expanded what we are offering this year,"
said Gerald Taylor, managing director of First's bus operations
in Cornwall. "I am delighted we are able to offer two new routes
- as well as retaining the Penzance Open Top."
Last month BBC TV's Countryfile programme featured presenter
Ben Fogle, travelling on three different scenic bus routes around
Britain including First's Penzance Open Top.
This year, for the first time, the bus will turn off the main
road and come 500m down the hill directly to the Reception area
of Geevor Tin Mine. Passengers will have a wonderful view of
the rugged Atlantic coast on the way down, can get off and visit
Geevor, or just stop and shop and have a drink or snack in the
café, before continuing their journey round the coast.
It is a perfect opportunity for people to use the bus and then
walk part of the coast path, or for car drivers to relax and
experience the winding roads of West Cornwall, free to enjoy
the scenery.
Tickets cost £3.50 for children, £5.50 for adults or £10 for
a family ticket, giving unlimited travel on First's Open Top
service and other bus services all day. Geevor Tin Mine will
refund half the cost of the bus ticket against the cost of admission.
(Offer applies to First Cornwall services 10 and 300 only).
Sheila Russell, of the charity that runs Geevor, said "Our trustees
are making this offer because we are keen to encourage visitors
to see West Penwith by bus - it's the best way to experience
this special landscape and its heritage."
Geevor is open from Sunday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm all
year. Last full tour is at 3.00 pm in winter and 4.00 pm in
summer. For further information please contact Sheila Russell
or Bill Lakin of Pendeen Community Heritage 01736 788662 email:
pch@geevor.com or visit the web site at www.geevor.com.
Geevor
Tin Mine Museum wins national recognition
2nd
March 2004
The
Museums Libraries and Archives Council, the national body that
regulates standards in museums, has accepted an application
from Geevor Tin Mine Museum & Heritage Centre for Registered
Museum status. The award of Registered Museum status recognises
that the work done at Geevor is of the professional standard
required and puts the Museum and Heritage Centre on an equal
footing with other museums throughout Britain.
Sheila
Russell, a Trustee of Pendeen Community Heritage, the charity
that manages Geevor, said “We are very pleased that the
Council commended Geevor highly for the quality of work done
for the registration bid. Everyone here is very pleased - it
is a huge credit to the entire staff and principally to our
Curator, Ben Beckwith.”
Ben
Beckwith, 26, a former pupil of Pendeen Primary School, started
work at Geevor 5 years ago on a Government New Deal employment
scheme after graduating with a Degree in Physics from Manchester
University. “When I left University I didn’t have
a clue what to do” he said. “I’d always liked
museums and Geevor was on my doorstep. It seemed natural to
apply for a job.” Ben describes his work during his early
days at Geevor as being “a general dog’s body”
helping out wherever he was needed. He has since studied for
a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies and expects to learn
the result of his hard work in mid March. “I’ve
benefited from PCH’s commitment to its employees and the
community” said Ben. “Not only have they continued
funding my studies since my Trevithick Trust grant ran out,
they were also really understanding when I needed two weeks
off, right in the middle of August, to write my dissertation.”
Bill
Lakin, Chair of PCH, said “We are committed to investing
in all of our employees. Our expansion plans, when implemented,
will create a significant number of new employment opportunities
for local people, many of whom will need to learn new skills.
Providing successful and ongoing training coupled with opportunities
for further education will be of benefit not just to us, as
employers, but to our employees and the community as a whole.”
For
further information please contact Ben Beckwith Museum Curator
or Bill Lakin Chair of Pendeen Community Heritage 01736 788662
email: pch@geevor.com or visit the web site at www.geevor.com
Geevor is open from Sunday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm all
year. Last full tour is at 3.00 pm in winter and 4.00 pm in
summer. Geevor Tin Mine is located in the village of Pendeen,
7 miles west of Penzance.
Cave
painters visit Geevor
1st
March 2004
Geevor
Tin Mine was recently the scene of a visit by members of the
International Society of Spel?ological Art. The group toured
the mine site, visited the underground workings and the Museum
with its extensive range of exhibits. Bill Lakin, Chair of Pendeen
Community Heritage, the charity that manages Geevor Tin Mine
Museum & Heritage Centre, then acted as guide as members
of the Society descended the Deep Adit of Rosemergy Mine, near
Zennor.
The
Society is a friendly group of cavers and artists who share
a common interest in cave related art, descending underground
passages and entering caves, painting in situ or sketching on
the hoof. Bill Lakin of PCH said “It was very interesting
to watch these caver/artists working underground. The quality
of their work, produced in such difficult conditions, was outstanding.”
Member artists work in different media, some using pastels,
others working with watercolours, oils or acrylics. The cave
artist members of the International Society of Spel?ological
Art (ISSA) have staged major exhibitions of their work in Cheddar
and Wells Somerset, La Chaud de Fonds Switzerland, St. David’s
Hall Cardiff; Buxton Derbyshire and in the Blue Mountains Australia.
Robin
Gray, Chair of the Society, said “Not all the group go
to the extremes of caving as some prefer to work near entrances
or in show caves. It is sometimes difficult to carry art materials
into the tightest and furthest regions, crawling along bedding
planes, climbing waterfalls and traversing rushing streams.”
The 15 strong group of spel?ologists, all highly experienced
in single rope techniques, enjoyed their trip immensely. “We’re
definitely going back this summer” said Robin.
Geevor
Tin Mine is visited by an increasing number of groups. Last
year more than 60 educational groups from Britain and the continent
toured the mine site, Museum and the Oral History Exhibition.
Staff at Geevor are keen to expand the use of the site for educational
purposes and the second year of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
grant will enable the Oral History Project and Education Programme
to continue.
The
Society can be contacted at www.issa.org.uk or at Albany House
Cliff St Cheddar BS27 3PT.
Lottery
grant spent at Geevor
25th
February 2004
Trustees
of Pendeen Community Heritage, the charity that manages Geevor
Tin Mine Museum and Heritage Centre, announced at their recent
Annual General Meeting that the £43,500 grant from Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded in April last year has now been fully
invested in a series of improvements at the site.
The
HLF award has helped to accelerate the process of ongoing development
and upgrading at Geevor by funding specific improvements designed
to give better access for visitors and enhance the presentation
of information on the site. Geevor staff have worked closely
with Gendall Design of Falmouth on the informative content and
design of new signs which have been positioned throughout the
site. The grant has also funded improvements to the Museum,
remodeling the reception area, giving improved wheelchair access
and creating two points of sale for tickets and rearranging
the Museum, creating an initial
'Orientation Room' which will set the Geevor scene in context
for visitors.
"The
lottery award has been really important for us" said Bill
Lakin, Chair of PCH. "It?s meant that we've been able to
spend money on a series of specific developments on the site,
whilst continuing with an ongoing programme of maintenance and
refurbishment funded from our own resources. This work"
continued Bill "has also included the creation of a major
new exhibition, opening in the Spring, telling the story of
Holman Engineering of St Just and Penzance and that company's
close links with the local mining industry. Much to the appreciation
of visitors, we've installed sound effects underground and will
soon make further improvements to the underground lighting system
too."
At
the AGM it was announced that 50% of the significantly increased
membership of PCH lives beyond Penwith and it was therefore
agreed that the next AGM would be held on a Saturday, giving
members from up-country the opportunity to attend.
Geevor
joins campaign against tax changes
19th
January 2004
Pendeen
Community Heritage, the local charity that manages Geevor Tin
Mine Museum and Heritage Centre, has joined a number of organisations,
including The National Trust, English Heritage and The Eden
Project, in campaigning against tax changes to be introduced
by the Government that will hit West Country small museums,
heritage and wild life charities hard.
The Chancellor, in his Pre-Budget Statement in December 2003,
announced that he would put a stop to the practice adopted by
many charities operating small museums, heritage centres and
wildlife organisations of granting free day admission in return
for a donation that attracts Gift Aid. The news came as shock
to many local charities as Gift Aid donations constitute a lifeline
to some and valuable extra income to others - a £10.00 donation
is worth £12.80 with Gift Aid. There are fears that some smaller
visitor attractions may face closure.
The
Chancellor's statement that "The Government is determined to
maintain the integrity of the Gift Aid scheme and intends to
take steps to close this loophole in the legislation in Finance
Bill 2004" has surprised many charity leaders. Sheila Russell,
Company Secretary of Pendeen Community Heritage, said "I do
not believe that this is a 'loophole' as the Chancellor claims.
I consider it well thought through legislation and would point
out that if this source of funding is removed many small museums
will be hard-hit and that some may even have to close. Those
that survive" she continues "will probably do so by accessing
other public funds, either through grants or local authority
funding. The Chancellor proposes to alter the changes he made
in 2000 and remove the choice about charitable giving from the
individual, placing elements of our heritage under threat."
The
original Gift Aid Scheme was introduced in 1990. It enabled
United Kingdom resident individuals and companies to give single
gifts of money to charity tax-effectively, but it required a
minimum amount of £250 to be given. Changes to the Gift Aid
scheme were announced by the Chancellor in 2000 and included
the abolition of the £250 minimum limit, so that the scheme
would apply to any donation, whether large or small, regular
or one-off. The measures were intended to give a £400 million
boost to charities and raise the profile of charitable giving.
Chris Smith, Minister of the Department of Culture, Media and
Sport at the time, wrote "There is an existing concession from
the benefit rules for the benefit of free or reduced price admission
to properties owned by heritage preservation charities. This
will remain: as before, it will not stop donations qualifying
for tax relief."
The
Inland Revenue subsequently echoed Mr Smith's words by making
it clear that a free or reduced-price right of admission to
property should not be considered a benefit if:
it is to view property, the preservation of which is the charity's
sole or main aim, or
it is to view wildlife, the conservation of which is the charity's
sole or main aim, and
it is restricted to the donor and members of his or her family,
and
it is available to any member of the public who makes a similar
donation.
Ministers have now chosen to ignore Mr Smith's words, consider
the Inland Revenue to be at fault in issuing this advice and
are adamant that the "loophole" they themselves created must
be closed.
Treasury
officials have not analysed the financial impact of this measure,
nor considered which organisations will be most affected. However,
they "guesstimate" that the annual amount saved by the Treasury
will be in the region of £10 million.
Sheila
Russell says "About 7% of our income comes from the Gift Aid
element of donations made by our members and visitors who want
to support our work. We have a committed group of trustees who
will work very hard to find other sources of income if this
source is affected by the proposed Budget changes. But we would
ask the Chancellor to take a long hard look at his proposals.
When people really want to support a charitable cause it seems
illogical to remove the opportunity from them."
The
trustees of Pendeen Community Heritage have found that visitors
to Geevor Tin Mine genuinely want to support the charity, many
making donations over and above the admission costs. Rhonda
Judd, the head receptionist, says "People fill in the Gift Aid
form with a smile and say they wish us well in our efforts to
keep Cornish history alive. Even our overseas visitors want
to make donations, though we tell them they can't use the Gift
Aid scheme". Geevor Mine shut down mining operations in 1990
and is now a museum and visitor centre where people can see
the whole history of tin mining and processing - from underground
workings to the mill where tin concentrate was extracted from
the ore.
For
additional information please contact Sheila Russell at Geevor
Tin Mine Museum & Heritage Centre telephone: 01736 788662 pch@geevor.com
www.geevor.com For comment contact Mary Godwin of Porthcurno
Telegraph Museum 01736 810966.
The
lobby group includes the following organisations; Charities
Tax Reform Group, Association of Independent Museums, AIM Bulletin,
Historic Houses Association, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, Charity
Finance Directors Group, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Federation
of Zoos, National Trust, English Heritage, Cathedral Administrators'
Finance Association, Historic Royal Palaces, Church of England,
Eden Project and Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.
Gift
Aid changes will reduce income at Geevor Tin Mine Museum & Heritage
Centre
15th January 2004
The changes to the Gift Aid scheme announced by the Chancellor
in 2000 included the abolition of the £250 minimum limit for
Gift Aid donations established in 1990, so that the scheme would,
with effect from 6 April 2000, apply to any donation, whether
large or small, regular or one-off.
Large organisations, such as the National Trust, had argued
that payments in respect of membership should properly be considered
as a donation. The counter-argument from the Inland Revenue
was that members received a benefit in return for this payment,
so it was a fee, not a donation and thus not eligible for Gift
Aid. The National Trust, and others, held that the "benefit"
was in fact simply an opportunity to view and inspect the heritage
whose preservation the donor wished to support. In the Budget
of 2000 the donor-benefit rule was relaxed in order to ensure
that people who wished specifically to support heritage preservation
could do so, and claim gift aid tax relief on the money they
gave.
The changes benefited many small museums, heritage centres and
wildlife organizations. The Inland Revenue made it clear that
a free or reduced-price right of admission to property should
not be considered a benefit if: it is to view property, the
preservation of which is the charity's sole or main aim, or
it is to view wildlife, the conservation of which is the charity's
sole or main aim, and it is restricted to the donor and members
of his or her family, and it is available to any member of the
public who makes a similar donation.
By extension of this principle many properties and gardens now
offer a similar opportunity to day visitors - to make a donation,
and to be admitted to view the heritage they wish to protect.
However, in his Pre-Budget Statement in December 2003 the Chancellor
said "Improvements to the Gift Aid scheme introduced in Budget
2000 have had the unintended effect of widening the impact of
the special statutory exemption available to some heritage and
conservation charities. As a result, these charities have introduced
schemes that grant free day admission in return for a donation
that attracts Gift Aid. The Government is determined to maintain
the integrity of the Gift Aid scheme and intends to take steps
to close this loophole in the legislation in Finance Bill 2004."
Sheila Russell, Company Secretary of Pendeen Community Heritage,
the local charity that manages Geevor Tin Mine Museum and Heritage
Centre in the far west of Cornwall, does not believe that this
is a "loophole" as the Chancellor stated. "I consider it well
thought through legislation and would point out that if this
source of funding is removed many small museums will be hard-hit
and that some may even have to close. Those that survive" she
continues "will probably do so by accessing other public funds,
either through grants or local authority funding. The Chancellor
proposes to alter the changes he made in 2000 and remove the
choice about charitable giving from the individual, placing
elements of our heritage under threat."
The trustees of Pendeen Community Heritage have found that visitors
to Geevor Tin Mine genuinely want to support the charity, many
making donations over and above the admission costs. Rhonda
Judd, the head receptionist, says "People fill in the Gift Aid
form with a smile and say they wish us well in our efforts to
keep Cornish history alive. Even our overseas visitors want
to make donations, though we tell them they can't use the Gift
Aid scheme". Geevor Mine shut down mining operations in 1990
and is now a museum and visitor centre where people can see
the whole history of tin mining and processing - from underground
workings to the mill where tin concentrate was extracted from
the ore.
Sheila Russell says "About 7% of our income comes from the Gift
Aid element of donations made by our members and visitors who
want to support our work. We have a committed group of trustees
who will work very hard to find other sources of income if this
source is affected by the proposed Budget changes. But we would
ask the Chancellor to take a long hard look at his proposals.
When people really want to support a charitable cause it seems
illogical to remove the opportunity from them."
