THE BIG Lottery Fund has smiled on an Angus heritage group to help it take a big step forward with plans to give a 200-year-old mill a 21st century future.

Plashmill Renewed has landed more than £9000 of Awards for All cash and the grant will allow the Letham group to carry out preliminary work on the crumbling building in The Den.

The works embrace an architectural survey, design sketches, planning application and surveyor costs.

Group chairman Jim McGugan said yesterday, “The Plashmill and its land belongs to each and every resident in Letham, having been given to the villagers by landlord George Dempster in 1805. Needless to say, after 200 years it is mouldering somewhat and a renewal is called for.”

The aim of the group, formed three years ago, is to have a permanent but changing exhibition of working renewable energy appliances contained within a building of outstanding architectural merit.

“This grant will provide us with the start-up funds we need in the long haul towards the aspirations for the old mill,” Mr McGugan said.

“This asset must be renewed and be a source of education and ongoing interest as well as raising the profile of Letham village.”