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 Oldland Windmill dressed overall on 3rd May 2009 to celebrate approximately 100 years since she last ground corn |  Oldland Windmill dressed overall in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee | |||
| www.oldlandwindmill.co.uk |
The history of Oldland Windmill |
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News Update - January A Happy New Year to all and particularly our Mill volunteers and supporters ! Volunteers enjoyed a meal at the Thatched Inn at the end of November when Chairman Fred Maillardet presented Colin Walford with an Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his outstanding service over many years. Indeed if it weren't for Colin the project may well have collapsed because it was he who held things together when all looked lost. Colin renewed enthusiasm in the project, pulled the team together and guided them through the financial problems encountered along the way. Whilst now retired as a Trustee, Colin continues to be an enthusiastic volunteer. The Chairman showed those present a pig's ear which had been presented to him in the past. He had decided to make this an annual award and whilst this year it would be awarded anonymously, those present were warned that next year there could be a named recipient !! Restoration and maintenance The Flour Dresser is the large mechanical wind-driven sieve that separates the flour from the bran after the grain has been ground. Now that the dresser frame is nearing completion, work is focusing on restoring the large Meal Bin (to feed the meal in) and the Dresser Hopper (to collect the flour and bran flowing out). The original wooden bin and hopper are being repaired rather than new ones being constructed, a rather different sort of challenge to making new ones from scratch. The dresser is driven by two very long leather belts, and it is hoped to purchase the raw material to construct these shortly. The wooden pulleys have already been constructed and the drive gears are being cogged (i.e. wooden teeth being inserted into the cast iron wheels). Mike Peat has constructed a new Millers Desk to stand on the spout floor. The materials used in this desk are all 'off cuts' from the oak used to reconstruct the main mill frame. Waste not, want not! Work has commenced on improving the service area in the Roundhouse. This will improve hygiene, increase the storage capacity and make serving teas on Open Days much easier. Visitors If you are a Group Organiser planning your programme for 2012, can I remind you that the Trust can offer guided group tours of the mill at any mutually convenient time. Visitors of all ages can be catered for and Guide, Scout, Youth and School groups are welcome (with suitable supervision) as well as more mature groups. We ask only a donation towards the maintenance of this historic Sussex landmark. For more information contact Chairman Fred Maillardet  .
Just a final reminder that visitors are always welcome at the mill any Thursday throughout the year when the volunteers are there to continue the essential maintenance and ongoing restoration and will be pleased to show you round the mill. News Update - December As another year end approaches and with Christmas lights heralding the festive season, I would like, on behalf of the Trustees, to express a very sincere thank you to all Oldland Mill supporters who have helped in one way or another during 2011, particularly the volunteers who have given so much time and achieved so much on the restoration and maintenance side but also those of you who have supported our Event and Open Days, without the income from which the Mill would not be in the splendid condition that she is now. A special thank you to the volunteer painters who made light work of painting two of the sweeps in the summer. Your help and support is very much appreciated. Maintenance and restoration This continues apace, the front of the mill having been repainted and the starboard side washed down as it is usually in the shade and thus prone to algae growth. Work commenced on 'cogging' (i.e. inserting the wooden teeth into the cast iron wheel), the drive wheel for the Dresser. The workbench and power saw have been moved out of the mill into the Round House to begin to prepare for installing the Dresser. The permanent electrical supply is being completed on the upper floors of the mill and the decked area in the Roundhouse being upgraded with storage cupboards. From this you will appreciate that there is plenty of work to keep the volunteers busy during the winter months. Attention Group Organisers The Trust can offer guided group tours of the mill at any mutually convenient time. Numbers have to be restricted for safety reasons but a total of 16 visitors can be accommodated at any one time, split into two sub groups. Visitors of all ages can be catered for and Guide, Scout, Youth and School groups are welcome (with suitable supervision) as well as more mature groups. We ask only a donation towards the maintenance of this historic Sussex landmark. Visitors Just a final reminder that visitors are always welcome at the mill any Thursday throughout the year when the volunteers are there to continue the essential maintenance and ongoing restoration and will be pleased to show you round the mill. With best wishes to all for a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and happy Olympic Year ! News Update - October / November Firstly I would like to thank all those of you who have supported our fundraising efforts this year. These have produced much needed funds for the continuing maintenance and restoration of this wonderful Sussex landmark. The volunteers have enjoyed showing visitors the results of their labours, both inside and outside the mill, and visitors tell us how much they have enjoyed not only the activities and refreshments provided but simply the ambience of the place. Maintenance and restoration Painting continues on the front face of the mill and general maintenance continues on the main steps, gates and gate posts. Our small marquee was blown down and badly damaged in the gale on 6th September but fortunately the mill suffered no damage ! Work is progressing on the flour dresser (mechanical sieve) which is now being assembled in the roundhouse, hopefully getting us closer to producing our own flour. Our Sussex Heritage Trust Award This appears to be giving us good publicity and the Chairman is receiving more requests for visits and talks on the mill. If you are a group organiser, club leader, teacher or anyone who would find a visit to the mill interesting, do contact Fred Maillardet [ ]who will be pleased to make the arrangements. Numbers have to be restricted for safety reasons but a total of 16 visitors can be accommodated at any one time, split into two sub groups. Visitors of all ages can be catered for and Guide, Scout, Youth and School groups are welcome (with suitable supervision) as well as more mature groups. We ask only a donation towards the maintenance of this historic Sussex landmark.
News Update - September Restoration and maintenance The pair of sweeps that were taken down for inspection and repainting were successfully re-hung on 14th July. Many thanks again to the team of volunteer painters organised by Mick Fitter who completed the work more quickly than had been anticipated. The braces that stabilise the sweeps under wind load were all refitted the following week so that the mill is now in a position to be driven by the wind again. We have attracted three new regular volunteers from among those who helped us with the repainting. If any other readers wish to become involved with practical restoration work, please contact Mick Fitter, our Project Manager .
Reminder to Group Organisers The Trust can offer guided group tours of the mill at any mutually convenient time. Numbers have to be restricted for safety reasons but a total of 16 visitors can be accommodated at any one time, split into two sub groups. Visitors of all ages can be catered for and Guide, Scout, Youth and School groups are welcome (with suitable supervision) as well as more mature groups. We ask only a donation towards the maintenance of this historic Sussex landmark. The Thatched Inn The Thatched Inn is kindly continuing with the offer of 20% off all meals purchased there on our Event Days upon production of an Oldland Mill membership card, so why not combine a visit to the mill with a fine dinner out ? News Update - August AGM There was a good turnout at the Trust's AGM on 22nd June, held this year at the Hurstpierpoint Village Centre. The Chairman, Professor Fred Maillardet, expressed his thanks to all Committee members for their work throughout the year but in particular to Colin Walford who was retiring after many years voluntary service. Colin was a key player in the mid-1990s when the project was going through a very difficult period and it was his efforts in pulling together the financial aspects of the project that resulted in the mill progressing to the magnificent structure it is today. Special thanks were also given to Mick Fitter who had done a superb job in planning the maintenance of the sweeps this summer. His detailed preparations, plus the excellent efforts of not only the regular volunteers but those who had responded to the plea for help with painting the sweeps, meant that the job took several weeks less than anticipated. Many thanks to all involved! At the end of formal business Professor Maillardet made a PowerPoint presentation showing the progress made on the restoration of the mill during the last twelve months. Reminder to Group Organisers The Trust can offer guided group tours of the mill at any mutually convenient time. Numbers have to be restricted for safety reasons but a total of 16 visitors can be accommodated at any one time, split into two sub groups. Visitors of all ages can be catered for and Guide, Scout, Youth and School groups are welcome (with suitable supervision) as well as more mature groups. We ask only a donation towards the maintenance of this historic Sussex landmark. Event Day - 3rd July The sun shone so that the day was enjoyed by the visitors who could resist the temptation to watch the Wimbledon men's final - albeit without Murray playing! The traditional ice cream available was very welcome in addition to the usual refreshments. The focus on Country Crafts included spinning and weaving, where many children tried their hand at both activities. The embroidery and patchwork quilt displays were admired as were the wide range of knitted goods on display. An unusual exhibit was two ferrets whose owner explained exactly how they were used traditionally as a working pair. The usual range of mill memorabilia was also available for purchase. The pair of sweeps that have just been repainted were still on the ground, enabling visitors to see close-up exactly how they function. They will be re-hung in a couple of weeks so that 'normal service' can be resumed in the near future. Dates for your diary …. The third and final Event Day of the season will be on Sunday, 4th September when the theme will be Local Produce (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.). If you would like to take a stall or contribute a relevant exhibit, please contact Fred Maillardet . A courtesy bus will be available from the Thatched Inn on Event Days. Future Open Days will be on 7th August and 2nd October (2 p.m. - 5 p.m.). Please support our efforts to raise funds which will as always go towards the cost of essential maintenance and continuing restoration.
The Thatched Inn The Thatched Inn is kindly continuing with the offer of 20% off all meals purchased there on our Event Days upon production of an Oldland Mill membership card, so why not combine a visit to the mill with a fine dinner out? News Update - July Attention Group Organisers ! Are you looking for an unusual and interesting visit for your members ? The Trust can offer guided group tours of the mill at any mutually convenient time. Numbers have to be restricted for safety reasons but a total of 16 visitors can be accommodated at any one time, split into two sub groups. Visitors of all ages can be catered for and Guide, Scout, Youth and School groups are welcome (with suitable supervision) as well as more mature groups. We ask only a donation towards the maintenance of this historic Sussex landmark. Restoration Progress The two sweeps that have been taken down to refurbish are lying on trestles in front of the mill. They will be cleaned and repainted on site while the shutters and control rods, etc, will be taken off and painted under cover in our small marquee. The exceptionally dry weather has meant that we have lost no time due to rain so far, and, in addition, our 17 new painting volunteers have proved to be an excellent team. The net result is that we are well ahead of our planned maintenance schedule! In many ways of greater importance is that we have found no significant deterioration in the state of the sweeps; the care we took in constructing them has clearly paid dividends! It would also indicate that we should be able to extend our 'service period' up to 7 years in future. The second pair of sweeps will be taken down in 2012 for similar treatment and then the body of the mill repainted in 2013. The frame of the flour dresser (a mechanical sieve) has now been completed and the whole machine should be finished this summer. The sack hoist has been tested under load so that we can now use it to lift grain to the bin (top) floor. An 'ark' (a large trough into which the ground flour can flow) has been built by Mike Peat to his usual exacting standards and installed on the spout floor. Roger Broadbent, one of our Trustees, has kindly lent his 'cherry picker' to the Trust for some years. This has avoided the need to erect scaffolding every time we require access to the upper regions of the outside of the mill and has saved us the considerable cost of hiring such a machine. Roger has now generously given this machine to Oldland Mill Trust to keep. The Trustees would like to thank Roger publicly for this generosity. Dates for your diary …. A reminder about our next Event Day on 4th September, theme Local Produce (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.). If you would like to take a stall or contribute a relevant exhibit, please contact Fred Maillardet . A courtesy bus will be available from the Thatched Inn on Event Days. Future Open Days will be on 7th August and 2nd October (2 p.m. - 5 p.m.). Please support our efforts to raise funds which will as always go towards the cost of essential maintenance and continuing restoration.
The Thatched Inn. The Thatched Inn is kindly continuing with the offer of 20% off all meals purchased there on our Event Days upon production of an Oldland Mill membership card, so why not combine a visit to the mill with a fine dinner out ? CPF Electrical Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Sponsorship Oldland Mill Trust is very grateful to CPF Electrical (Hassocks local trader) for agreeing to sponsor the annual Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) that the Mill needs to undertake each year. This testing ensures that electrical items at the Mill are electrically safe for use by the volunteer team involved with the restoration and maintenance of the Mill. The Trust is pleased to report that all items have now been tested by CPF Electrical and have passed. George Rankin
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