Kidderminster's Museum of Carpet in 'desperate' need of £20k to survive

Vicky Bagnall, chair of trustees at the museum, said that this year will be the "most difficult year of its existence".

The museum, which has been celebrating its tenth anniversary this month, has been hit with difficulty following the Covid pandemic.

And rising gas and electric bills are also causing problems for the museum, which is the only one of its kind in the country.

Former Brintons workers unveil model looms at the Museum of Carpet in 2013. (Image: Jonathan Hipkiss)

"It's quite desperate," Vicky Bagnall said.

"Our energy costs have gone from £4,000 to £16,000 a year.

"We are anticipating that we need to raise an extra £20,000 to see us through".

She is appealing for donations from the public to help reach the target figure, which ideally needs to be raised within the next six months.

She said long-term projects are being planned which aim to generate more income for the museum, but funds are needed in the short term.

The 60-year-old added: "We are the only museum in Kidderminster and we're the only museum in the country dedicated to carpet history.

"It would be an absolute tragedy if it had to close.

"We are hoping we'll be able to raise this money.

"We can't rule out the possibility we might run out of money, and if we run out of money we'll just have to shut the doors".

Staff celebrate the museum becoming fully accredited earlier this year (Image: Museum of Carpet)

The Carpet Museum Trust was founded in 1981 with the aim of establishing a museum for the exhibition of items of local historical and educational interest connected with the manufacture of carpets.

The museum, located at the Stour Vale Mill site in Green Street, also houses the only archive of original copies of The Shuttle newspaper after they were rescued from Dudley Record Office.

People who want to donate can visit the museum, or write a cheque payable to the Carpet Museum Trust.