Warburg grant secures final funding for Cosmati restoration
Thursday, 27th August 2009
As the Cosmati pavement enters its final phase of conservation, a charitable foundation has awarded the project a surprise grant of £215,000 which has secured the final funding for the restoration process. The donation was the gift of 'Sir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary Settlement'.
Westminster Abbey Foundation Director, Valerie Humphrey, said:
When applying for the grant several months ago, we had hoped for a modest contribution but never this amount.
One of the trustees called me to say that there was a lovely coincidence of timing. The trustees met on the same day that the Dean of Westminster was on Radio 4’s 'Today' programme talking about the vision for the Abbey. Having heard and seen all the press coverage, they wanted to help us “wipe the slate clean” regarding Cosmati funding so that we could begin afresh seeking funding for the upcoming triforium galleries, new café and education centre.
Sir Siegmund Warburg, who died in 1982, was born in Germany and was the founder of SG Warburg. He played a prominent role in the development of the merchant banking sector and his foundation has given away millions of pounds over the years to science, education, the arts and much more.
Valerie Humphrey said:
We are tremendously grateful to the trustees for this generous support.
The BBC2 arts programme, The Culture Show, included an in-depth feature on the Cosmati pavement, in an episode which was broadcast on 5th August 2009.
