The 200 members of The Friends of the Norris Museum have pledged the money to build a new home for an 18th century fire engine donated to the museum more than 70 years ago.

The specially designed building will be used to display the engine, which was built in Earith in 1750, after it was returned to their possession following a 15-year display at Ely Fire Station.

Chairman of the Friends of the Norris Museum Peggy Seamark explained that originally the group was going to donate £25,000 and St Ives Town Council, which runs the museum, was going to pay the remaining £5,000.

She said: "As the town council is obviously strapped for cash and we do have money, for me it seemed the right thing to do on this occasion.

"We have been very successful in our fundraising recently. We looked at our treasurer's report and we just thought, let's go for it."

The new building was designed by St Ives architect David Pitts, who had the difficult task of meeting the high standards of environmental controls and security needed to preserve the exhibit, while creating a building which fitted with the historic museum building.

With the engine currently being stored in a shed, Mayor of St Ives Cllr Ian Dobson explained it is vital it is moved to its new home as soon as possible.
He added: "The fire engine is a great exhibit for the museum.

"It's important that exhibits are provided for the public and kept in a safe and secure manner, rather than letting them rot away in some garage somewhere.

"The town council has got some very challenging projects and timescales and, in all credit to the friends, they recognise this and have been happy to take the project on fully."