CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating an early Christmas present after securing £1.1million in conservation cash to build a museum at West House dedicated to former village resident and beloved artist William Heath Robinson.

In a major boon for tourism in the borough, The West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust, and the William Heath Robinson Trust, learned last week of their successful application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for funds the creation of a purpose-built home for the display of the illustrator’s work at the locally listed West House in Pinner Memorial Park, off West End Lane in Pinner.

Martin Verden, chairman of The West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust, said: “We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has rewarded the trustees’ 15 years of hard work to turn West House into a community asset.

“There is a real public hunger to see Heath Robinson’s work and learn more about his life. When you see his pictures he makes you chuckle – they are fun, and people come away feeling happy.

“We still need to raise £200,000 to build the museum. People from all over the world have been very generous in supporting our Kickstarter [crowd-funded] campaign and appeal, and we hope that more donors will give the project the best possible Christmas present, so that we can reach

our target and open at the end of 2015.”

Royal Academy Schools-educated Heath Robinson, who lived in Moss Lane, Pinner, from 1908 until his death in 1944, is best known for his humorous drawings of contrived contraptions for completing simple tasks, and in 1992 his son-in-law donated more than 500 pieces for future public display.

Harrow Council granted planning permission in October 2013 for the construction of a William Heath Robinson Museum - a standalone building with a corridor connecting to West House - on part of the existing West House car park.

The museum will house a permanent gallery in which the original works by the cartoonist can brought out of storage at Harrow Museum and Heritage Centre in Pinner View, Harrow, and put on show.

Visitors will get to see his illustrations and paintings as well browse books, photographs, film and digital media helping to explain his career.

There will be a temporary exhibitions space where works by other artists and illustrators of importance, as well as more of Heath Robinson’s pieces, can be shown; an activity room for lectures, workshops, storytelling and other educational and fun purposes; a museum shop, and secure storage for the Heath Robinson collection.

The £1.13 million HLF grant was given on the understanding the trusts’ fundraising appeal generates £430,000 towards the cost, of which half, as Mr Verden said, has been raised.

Sue Bowers, head of Heritage Lottery Fund London, said: “Although his name has become synonymous with mechanical complexity or a ‘make do and mend’ mentality, many people today are unaware of the wry and affectionate humour of Heath Robinson’s cartoons.

“This project will introduce him, and the breadth of his talent, to new audiences while conserving a large collection of his work.”