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The Norfolk Windmills Trust - News

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Don’t forget National Mills Weekend May 9th and 10th see windmills for details

NEWS: The Norfolk Windmills Trust needs your help!

As part of our plans to improve visits to Stracey Arms Mill we are asking visitors to complete our on-line survey.

In return you could win a copy of the A-Z of Norfolk Windmills by Mike Page and Alison Yardy.

All participants will be entered for a raffle draw at the end of the summer season 2012.

Mills in the care of the Norfolk Windmills Trust which will be open as part of National Mills weekend 12-13 May 2012

Polkey’s Mill and Reedham Marsh Steam Engine House
The mill and engine house will be open on Sunday 13 May 2012 from 13.00 – 16.00.

The site comprises three mills, a steam engine house and a diesel engine shed and is one of only a few sites on the Broads where all the buildings involved in the drainage of the marshes is represented. Polkey’s Mill has been restored to full working order and weather permitting will be working during the afternoon. Reedham Marsh Steam Engine House has been restored but no longer houses a steam engine. There is an exhibition within the building on the drainage of the marshes.

There is no vehicular access to the site. Park in Reedham Village and access the site via a 45 minute walk along the Wherryman’s Way from behind the Ship Inn. There are moorings available at the site.

Thurne Mill
Sunday 13 May 2012, 14.00 – 16.00

This white painted drainage mill stands at the end of the village staithe and was built about 1820. The mill complete with a turbine has been restored to full working order and wind permitting will be working.

Old Buckenham Mill will be open Sunday 13 May 14.00 – 17.00. Admission £2.00 for adults accompanied children free.

Stracey Arm’s Mill.
Open 9.00 to 20.00 both days. There is a tearoom and shop on site and an exhibition on; Drainage mills on the Broads. Admission £2.00 for adults accompanied children free.

Hardley Mill
Open Saturday and Sunday 10.00 – 16.00.

This mill has been restored by the Friends of Hardley Mill and wind permitting the sails will be turning. There is a visitor centre at the site and light refreshments will be on sale.

No vehicular access to the site. Please park at Hardley Staithe and walk along the Wherryman’s Way to the site. Moorings are provided.

New Publication from Norfolk Windmills Trust - Mills of the Halvergate Marshes: Reedham Marshes & Ashtree Farm

A 38 page colour guide
Price: £2.50 + 50p post and packing

Available from:
Norfolk Windmills Trust, Union House, Gressenhall, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 4DR. Tel: 01362 869394
Email: alison.yardy@norfolk.gov.uk

Norfolk’s Windmills by river, road and rail

A5 size, paperback, illustrated, 74 pages
PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY 2008

PRICE £6.99 + £1.50 P&P

The book describes and illustrates more than 30 corn and drainage windmills, including Norfolk’s tallest, largest, smallest, newest and most unusual examples.

It describes some of the personalities behind the mills – the millers and the millwrights – and also looks at Norfolk’s modern alternatives to the traditional windmill.

Illustrated with 80 colour & sepia photographs, and 16 original maps and line drawings.

More information about the book, and sample pages, can be found at www.bonwick.co.uk

Copies can be ordered online via PayPal at the above web address.

Please direct enquiries to luke@bonwick.co.uk or telephone 07733 108409

News from some of the Mill sites in the care of the NWT Billingford Mill

The sails from the mill were removed from site and inspected by a Millwright. There were significant areas of rot identified and the sails were deemed to be beyond economical repair. An application has been made for Listed Building Consent for new stocks and sails for the mill, the decision whether to grant consent or not is due in late April. Once consent is granted the Trust would like to work with the local community to put together a funding package to raise the necessary funds for the works. Any donations or offers of help to be part of a working party to progress funding applications will be gratefully received please contact the Technical Adviser on 01362 869394.

Old Buckenham Mill

The mill needs new sails. Listed Building Consent has been granted for the new sails and the Old Buckenham Windmill Committee are looking at putting a funding package together to raise the necessary funding needed.

St Olave’s Mill

Works were completed last year on repairing and replacing the cap and sails on the mill which were tail-winded during the gales in January 2007. Works are still required to the outfall waterlane and it is hoped that these works will be completed by a volunteer working on behalf of the Trust.

Stracey Arm’s Mill

The mills sails will be removed shortly and any loose timbers removed from the gallery to make the site safe so that visitors can still access the mill and shop. Work continues on writing the specification and schedule of works to complete phase II of the works, which will be to carry out all the repairs to the cap and sails. The Trust is hoping that they can go out to tender to get prices so that a funding package can be put together. The Trust are conducting a survey about interpretation this summer season, as mentioned above, to ask visitors their views on what they would like to see happen at the site.

Wicklewood Mill

The mill has been without sails for a number of years whilst works to the cap took place. The cap was completely rebuilt using as much timber as possible from the old cap. The new cap was fitted in July 2006 and it is hoped that the sails will be finally fitted this year.

Just before Christmas Mrs Hubbard decided to go into a home in Wymondham ending over 100 years of occupation of the site by the Wade family. Mrs Hubbard will be sadly missed but not forgotten. It is hoped that Mrs Hubbard will be able to attend when the sails go back on the mill.

Old News

The ‘Land of the Windmills Project – Phase 1’

The ’Land of the Windmills’ which was a partnership project between the Norfolk Windmills Trust, Broads Authority and Norfolk County Council is now complete.
The project has received Heritage Lottery Funding as well as grants from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd.) and Broadland District Council. The projects aim was to restore two mills and a steam engine house on the Reedham Marshes and another mill at Ashtree Farm along the Acle Straight.

Polkey’s Mill has been restored to full working order and it will be possible, wind permitting, to demonstrate the mill to the public during publicised open days. Cadge’s Mill has received a new cap. The Steam Engine House which turned out to be a very interesting building has been restored and now houses an exhibition on drainage mills. The Steam Engine House was found to have its original 1880 corrugated iron roof which is quite rare and made from wrought iron rather than steel.

The landscaping works around Polkey’s Mill and the Steam Engine House took place last year and a regular grass cutting regime is now in place.

Ashtree Farm Mill has received a new cap and sails but due to the time constraints of the project at the time and, the workload on the millwright it was impossible to complete the mill to full working order. This summer a contract was let with the millwright to make and fit a complete set of teeth for the headwheel and pitwheel. These works should be complete by October.

Letheringsett Watermill nr. Holt

Friends of Letheringsett Mill.

Friends of Letheringsett Mill is a small but growing group of people interested in helping Mike Thurlow, the miller at Letheringsett watermill, achieve and promote the educational side of this fascinating project. We are still looking for more members with enthusiasm and a passion for mills. As a member you will have the opportunity to contribute in many practical ways using your particular skills, interests or ideas to help to complete various practical projects. Also to join in with or even help to organise fundraising and social events, like walks, talks & barbeques. Membership entitles you to free admission to the mill during usual opening times, which will include tours when available and a regular newsletter to keep you up to date with progress, events and activities.

Further information on the Friends of Letheringsett Mill, visit:
www.letheringsettmillfriends.co.uk

A detailed history of Letheringsett watermill and most of Norfolk’s other watermills, windmills and drainage mills can be found by visiting: www.norfolkmills.co.uk

Information regarding Letheringsett watermill opening times and where Letheringsett products can be purchased, visit: www.letheringsettwatermill.co.uk

The possibility of converting unmanned former wind-pumps to produce electricity with computer control: feasibility study

by: Keith Clayton & Martin Scott (Norwich) and Simon Watson & Murray Thomson (CREST, Loughborough)

Please note: This is a draft preliminary feasibility study, funded through the LEADER+ programme and the views expressed within the report do not necessarily represent the view of the Trustees of the Norfolk Windmills Trust, individually or collectively.