A £495,000 grant has been awarded to the Coldharbour Mill near Uffculme to improve people's access to art and support local economic growth through culture.

The historic mill turned museum is one of 70 cultural organisations to win a share of a £200 million fund designed to regenerate communities, upgrade infrastructure and promote economic growth.

The Mill will be using the money to tackle a backlog of urgent maintenance issues, including the replacement of the main fire escape - part of which had been condemned for over 30 years.

Martin Halse, Chief Executive of Coldharbour Mill Trust says “This funding could not have come at a better time. Dealing with our significant maintenance backlogs will lead to huge change for the Mill and tackles the 30-year old problem of our dilapidated fire escape which renders a large portion of our Estate unusable.”

Coldharbour Mill say the funding will allow them to move forward with their ten year vision for the site.

A mill at Coldharbour was first mentioned at the time of the Domesday book - with the current building having been in continuous production since 1797. Today the mill is a charity which showcases the rich history of the trade.

English Heritage described Coldharbour Mill as "Probably one of the best-preserved textile mill complexes in the country."

It was at first owned by the Fox Brothers, whose name is to this day leant to a textile mill in Wellington. That heritage lives on at the Coldharbour Mill where visitors can see for themselves crafts men and women carrying out the traditional work of knitting and weaving.