The Mill

Newsletter of the Friends of High Salvington Windmill  -  Winter 2009

Cub scouts gain 'Local Knowledge'
Typical among the many private visits to the High Salvington Mill earlier in the year were the 15 cub scouts of the 2nd Durrington Sea Scouts. Led by Assistant Cub Scout Leader Mandy Skilton the group of boys, aged between 8 and 101/2, spent well over an hour being shown around the Mill. During the visit many purchased souvenirs.
  "The main objective of the visit was to enable the boys to obtain their 'Local Knowledge' badge", Mandy Skilton explained. "The badge is awarded to cub Scouts who visit and report on a local place of interest. All of those who went to the Mill achieved their badges".
  Other groups which visited the Mill during 2009 included pupils from The Vale school, Worthing, and from St. Wilfrids School in Angmering, and members of the 5th Durrington Brownies.

* To arrange a group visit to the High Salvington Mill contact Pamela Jenkins on 01903 267293.

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Management of the Mill - the future
The members of the work-force which maintains the Mill and ensures that it continues to be available to the public on Open Days - especially those of long service - are approaching their sell-by dates!
  If the Mill is to remain open to the public it must be maintained and operated in a safe and practical manner. Yet there are very few skilled volunteers coming forward to replace the existing work-force which works on the Mill and raises funds.
  Since 1977 all of the necessary activities involved with the replacement and repair of worn out and deteriorating parts have been undertaken by individuals, on a voluntary basis, meeting on Thursdays (7.00pm) and on the first and third Sundays of every month (9.30am) throughout the year. This same group also has raised funds for the purchase of all materials required to support their work.
  In the past efforts to recruit new individuals have shown that there are few untapped sources of 'hands-on’ skilled people who have the time to fill the gaps in the Mill’s declining work-force.
  Is it time to think of other ways of managing this listed building?
  The alternative is that the Mill will return to its derelict state - as in 1976 - and become unsafe to weIcome visitors.

* If you can spare some time to help, or have any ideas on ways to keep the Mill working and safe please contact Roy Beynon on 01903 236276.

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Maintenance and repair
The major task of repainting the Mill has been completed during the past few months. (An offer by one of the Mill’s ‘friends’ to repaint the white-work on the Mill was gratefully accepted.) In addition, the body (buck) of the Mill has been cleaned and re-waterproofed by a group of volunteers. At the same time the opportunity was taken to renew the lead covering to the ridge, provide soakers at weatherboard junctions, and repair windows.
  External redecoration of the round house is the next item on the list.
There have also been some developments in connection with the Glynde wind pump - installed in 2008. A newly refurbished pump has been fitted and adapted to counterbalance the weight on the up stroke, a small reservoir has been installed, and a return pipe fitted so that water can be circulated. The acquisition of the Glynde water pump, along with the management of the modifications, has been the work of the long-serving maintenance team building on the original work of Andrew Norman who rescued the derelict Glynde pump.
  The recurring tasks of stone cleaning, adjustments to the running gear, and cleaning of the interior of the Mill have been completed for another year.
  Development of the existing gatehouse into a visitor information centre is the next big project.
  The Mill could not be maintained, let alone be opened for visitors, grind corn, or provide the facilities for events such as the annual fete, the craft fair, the carol service, the book fair, etc., without the help of volunteers. Replacing the time donated by these volunteers with paid employees and/or contractors would cost the Mill many times its current annual income. This continued support is vital to the survival of the Mill.

* If you can help in any way in maintaining and repairing the Mills contact Peter Casebow (01903 264045).

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Attendance
Nearly 3000 people visited the High Salvington Mill in 2009. The final total of 2978 was well in excess of the 2008 figure of 2762.
  The vast majority of this attendance was made up of the paying general public (2804). In addition, there were visits from local schoolchildren (109) and from scouts, brownies, beavers, etc. (37). Private visits for filming and other similar activities accounted for a further 31 visitors.
  A team from BBC Television visited the Mill to film for a section of one of its programmes; a group of artists spent an afternoon making paintings and drawings of the Mill, and, following a visit from a panel of judges from The Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Mill received an award on 29 May.

* The opening days for the Mill in 2010 are:
13 March - Quiz Supper (1900),
21 March - Guide Organiser's Meeting (1000),
4 April - Open Day (1430),
18 April - Open Day (1430),
2 May - Open Day (1430),
9 May - National Mills Weekend Open Day (1430),
16 May - Open Day (1430),
21 May - Annual General Meeting (1930),
6 June - Open Day (1430),
19 June - Barn Dance (1900)*,
20 June - Open Day (1430),
4 July - Open Day (1430),
11 July - Fete (1400),
18 July - Open Day (1430),
1 August - Classic Cars Open Day (1430),
15 August - Open Day,
5 September - Open Day (1430),
12 September- Rural Crafts Fair(1400)*,
19 September - Open Day (1430),
17 December - Carols round the fire (1915).
( *provisional)

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Creation of South Downs National Park confirmed
On 12 November Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, signed an order confirming the designation of the South Downs National Park. The High Salvington Mill stands just outside the southern boundary of the Park which will come into being on 31 March, 2010.

* For more information on the Park contact Jane SchilIer of the South Downs National Park Authority Establishment Team on 01730 817285.

* For details of the Park's boundaries and maps contact 08459 335577.

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Membership
Membership of the High Salvington Mill Trust Ltd stands at 254 - 118 Life members; 136 Annual members.
  The cost of an Annual membership is just £4 (£7 for dual membership).
  The cost of Life membership is £40.

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'The Mill' is edited by Bob Brooks.
Email: bobbrooks@btconnect.com

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