Friends of High Salvington Windmill

NEWSLETTER

ISSUE No. 10 - Autumn 2007

MAINTENANCE:

In the early part of the year the recurring chores of winter were once again attended to, the tuns were dismantled, cleaned, and re-assembled. The forward runner stone was lifted to a vertical position and together with the bed stone thoroughly cleaned, ready to grind the summer season flour.

Due to fractional movement within the timber structure of the mill it was noted that one of the sails was occasionally touching the roundhouse roof when revolving. To remedy this defect before serious damage occurred the maintenance team dismantled part of the sail and made the necessary alterations to resolve the problem. Other maintenance work during this year has so far cost £ 1.048.

ACQUISITION AND RECONSTRUCTION:

As many of you will be aware, in the early part of the year, we acquired the partially reconstructed remains of a wind pump. This pump was originally constructed to provide a source of water to the Glynde quarry. By the 1980’s little remained of the structure and the remnants were acquired from Lord Hampden by Andrew Norman in February 1988. In 2006 Mr Norman arranged to move to the Midlands, and the Sussex Industrial Archaeological Society felt the pump should remain in Sussex and their chairman suggested that members of the High Salvington Mill group had the skills to undertake and complete the restoration.

In January 2007 the partially restored kit of parts was transported to High Salvington. During the late winter, spring, and summer the post has been restored, located in position, and erected on new concrete foundations ready for completion of the Buck which we hope will be by the summer of 2008.

The height of the windpump will be approx 15 feet (4:5 M) excluding sails. A point of interest for railway buffs is that the legs or quarter bars are reportedly formed out of early GWR flat bottomed rails. With the help of a retired agricultural engineer from Seaford, who has made a new gear wheel for us, we have now re aligned the wind shaft and rebuilt the back frame to the Buck to correspond with some old photographs when the pump was on its original site.

IMPROVEMENTS:

Permanent lighting and power supply cables have now been provided to the granary.

New shelters have been constructed for our wooden tables and trestles, which we use for the fete, and let out to other organisations.

BUDGET FOR 2008

Next year the mill is due for external re-decoration, the last time this was done the cost was in excess of £2500

The lodge gate is to be converted to a "visitors centre" to house artefacts, and display photographic records. Details are being prepared so that the cost can be estimated.

ACTIVITIES:

This year over 1,800 paying adults, including private parties, visited the mill. However we do not keep a record of our member’s free visits. During the year Sept 2006 to Sept 2007 school parties from local schools visited the site bringing a total of 381 children to study various aspects of the mill applicable to their school work. Subjects included the operation of gears and levers, how wind power operates the mill, the production of flour from corn, and the various types of grain that were milled. Very importantly they hear about the miller and his work and his position in the social structure of the agricultural community.

The annual fete made a profit of £3,158, and the barn dance brought another £96 to our coffers.

During August the Sussex Mills Group hosted a visit of millers from Holland who had expressed an interest in visiting some of the mills in West Sussex, one of which was High Salvington. On a fine week end the group were given a guided tour of our mill. Their complimentary opinions were much appreciated especially as they were all Certified Windmillers” under the Dutch Government Millers Qualification Scheme

DEPARTURES:

One of the unsung groups of people who help to make your mill available to the public are our guides who assemble at pre-arranged dates during the summer months to show visitors around the mill. During the past few years the responsibility for making sure the guides were available on their scheduled Sundays, and were briefed to provide information to our visitors, has rested with Jacky Day. Her year usually started with a March meeting on site with guides to provide information regarding legislation, particularly Health and Safety, and any other issues that arise when dealing with the public. 2007 was Jacky’s last year as guide co-ordinator and we thank her for all her efforts during past summers.

Our thanks go also to Jean Davis who left us at the end of the summer season after organising and managing the kitchen and its supplies operation for a number of years, another one of those tasks that we take for granted!

Two changes that have recently taken place: John Tripcony has relinquished the post of Company Secretary whilst remaining a Board Member, and has been succeeded by Jeff Best.

Please remember with these departures we need some "arrivals"! If you have an hour or two to give to any of the tasks that keep your Mill in order and paying it’s way please contact :- Peter Casebow 01903 264045 or John Tripconv 01903 262443 or Bob Potts 01903 260218.

Remember the Family Carol night on Friday 21st December at 7.15 pm, don’t forget your lanterns. Collection for St. Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House.

The Editor
High Salvington Mill News Letter,
52 Offington Avenue, Worthing, BN14 9PJ.