CAMPAIGNERS fighting to retain County Durham’s last mining headframe urgently need to raise £18,000 to save it from demolition.

Mounting concerns over the future of Groverake mine near Rookhope, County Durham, came to a head earlier this month when a demolition order was served on the iconic headgear.

Saddened by the news, the preservation group, The Friends of Groverake, organised a protest at the site and urged the landowner’s agent, GSC Grays, to resume negotiations.

The request was granted and on Friday group members, including nearby residents and mining enthusiasts, were offered a 25-year lease to conserve the headgear in situ.

But before they can accept the offer, the Friends must raise £18,000 to cover the bond and fees, and they have weeks if not days to do so.

As the Friends of Groverake is not a registered charity, The Friends of Killhope, a charity connected to Killhope Lead Mining Museum near Cowshill, is running the appeal.

A website to accept donations has been set up and more than £2,500 has been pledged already.

Chairwoman Margaret Manchester said: “We can’t pursue the normal funding avenues because the process can take months and we just don’t have the time. We are still hopeful the money can be raised. We only launched the appeal a few days ago and already have £2,500, which is a good start.”

The fluorspar headgear at Groverake is the last of its kind in County Durham and is regarded by many as a “fixed symbol of a vanished industry.”

Fears for its future arose when the mine owner Sherburn Stone’s lease came to an end, meaning it was duty-bound to clear the site. The company said it would donate the headgear to a preservation group, prompting the newly founded Friends of Groverake to submit a business plan to the landowner.

Earlier this month, the campaigners hopes were dashed when they were told the demolition had to go ahead as the Coal Authority planned to construct a water treatment scheme on the site. However, when contacted, the Authority said the scheme was at such an early stage it “should not override any archaeological or cultural considerations” relating to the mine.

It was this statement that allowed the negotiations to resume last week.

Mrs Manchester said the campaigners had fought so tirelessly as they cared deeply about Groverake’s fate.

“It means so much to so many people,” she said. “I was brought up in Rookhope. My dad worked at Groverake and his uncle and my granddad. It’s part of our identity.”

If the appeal is unsuccessful all of the money will be returned to the donors. To donate, visit groverake.com