Report to GLCPC of the Activities of the Windmill Trust
May 2022
The Windmill Trust remains in good shape and has a carefully managed fund to address the ongoing routine maintenance and future expenditure.
In 2021, the restoration of the self-winding tail assembly was completed. It was proposed to let the mill begin automatic turning into wind on July 4[th] 2021 with a celebratory gathering that was dubbed ‘Windependence Day’. As Covid restrictions on the allowed size of gatherings were still in place, this was postponed until August 15[th] . This was a most uplifting village event attended by young and old who were entertained by live music and supplied with a picnic to enjoy in the sun. Visitors could take guided tours of the inside of the mill and the highlight of the afternoon was the release of the fantail that drove the mill gently into wind. It has continued to do so ever since, and the intention is to keep it maintained so that this is its permanent state.
Since then, the small number of finishing touches and alterations required to complete the restoration to a sustainable level have been only slowly approached and some still remain, though we are promised that this month will see their conclusion.
Our current main objective is to keep the mill in good order both mechanically and in appearance. To this end, we have contracts with a gardener (Peter Johnson) and our millwright (Bill Griffiths) that has them attending site on a regular basis. We are also planning regular cleaning and repainting and are building our maintenance fund accordingly. The grant from the Parish Council is greatly appreciated as contributing significantly to this fund and we all thank you very much for your support.
We are also slowly building a ‘sinking fund’ to provide financial cover for the inevitable large repairs that will occur and are having discussions on future possible projects, including potentially working sails and stones and even an expansion of the site to accommodate toilet and refreshment facilities.
We love to show our windmill to visitors, in fact it was a condition of the Historic England grant that we should. We have a small visits team and have set up a series of open days, but we do need more volunteer guides. The windmill is also frequently photographed, and we are collecting a fine gallery of images, many of which are shown on our website. We completed a history of the restoration, including numerous work-in-progress photos and have lodged this with National Mills Archive where it is available for study and research.
On a personal note, I should like to thank my fellow Trustees, Jeff Gill, Bob Hatt, Hazel Hayden and John Wahlich, our regular and occasional committee members and all other villagers who have helped in our project over the past eight years. I am about to move to new horizons but will never forget that of the windmill on a hill!
GREAT CHISHILL WINDMILL TRUST CIO NO. 1174572 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2022 Income Donations Received Sale of Merchandise Grants Barley Parish Council Great Chishill Parish Council Gift Aid Received 5588 506 250 5000 990 Totsl Incom• 12334 £12334 Less: Expenses Restoration Costs Minor Repairs and Maintenance Insurance Purchases 6084 1396 787 Total Expenses (8267) £{ 8267) Net Income for the Year £ 4067