Cawsand’s Old Ship Is £11,000 From a Watertight Roof

A month after the appeal launched, the crowdfunder to replace the leaking roof on Cawsand’s Old Ship has reached £9,000. The community that rescued the building has around 45 days left to find the rest.

£9,000 from 60 backers

The Peninsula Trust says its campaign to put a permanent roof on The Old Ship Inn has now raised £9,000 from 60 backers, against a £20,000 target. When CornishStuff first reported on the appeal in early May, it stood at £1,555 from 14 supporters.

The temporary roof, fitted when the building’s first phase of restoration was completed, has deteriorated and now leaks in several places. The trust says the building is also cold and the electrics need upgrading.

“We have been absolutely blown away by the incredible wave of generosity from our community,” said Tanis Hogan, The Peninsula Trust’s Development Manager. “Reaching £9,000 shows just how much The Old Ship means to everyone here. However, the sad truth remains that our temporary roof is severely deteriorated and leaking in numerous places. Every pound closer to £20,000 ensures we can get a permanent, insulated roof over our heads before the winter weather threatens our ability to open at all.”

What the money pays for

The full schedule of work comes to around £20,000. The crowdfunder would cover:

• Removing and replacing the roof
• Insulating the roof and installing a false ceiling
• Installing new down lighting
• Connecting a three-phase electrical system
• Fitting wall-mounted radiators
• Refurbishing the windows and back door
• Improving ventilation in the kitchen

Why it matters

The Old Ship has become a fixture of Cawsand’s social calendar since the community took it into ownership in 2018. The volunteer-led community café now opens three times a week and logged more than 2,500 visits in 2025, and the trust has supported 448 young people through after-school clubs and cooking classes and created jobs for three local people. Its latest Annual Impact Report records more than 5,100 volunteer hours over the past year, with people benefiting from its activities more than 8,500 times.

The trust has been blunt about the risk. If the roof fails before the money is raised, The Old Ship may not be able to open, leaving overheads unpaid and the building’s future uncertain.

The crowdfunder is set up on a keep-what-you-raise basis and closes at 12:57pm on 26 July. Any money raised beyond the roof work will go towards new tables, chairs, a shed and garden improvements, and the long-term running of the trust’s wider community projects. Donations can be made through the campaign page at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/a-new-roof-for-the-old-ship, with the option to add Gift Aid. More about The Peninsula Trust is at thepeninsulatrust.org.uk.