Bexhill & District Probus Club - June 6

Starting with the mill's building in 1815 as a single storey roundhouse type, Bee outlined the history of the mill until it was bought by husband Paul and herself in 1993. By then, having ceased working around 1913, it was in a serious state of disrepair.

The Windmill Trust was set up in 1996 by Bee and Paul to secure the future of the building. The land on which it stands being leased by them to the trust.

After extensive surveys a figure of 770,000 was put as the cost of restoration. In 2001 the Heritage Lottery Fund granted the trust 577,000 towards these costs. Work started in 2003, the firm responsible being IJP Building Conservation Ltd of Henley-on-Thames. Effectively, the work consisted of carefully dismantling the structure in sections then taking each section to the company's workshops at Henley for the restoration and conservation works to be carried out.

All that remained at Windmill Hill was the roundhouse and post surrounded by scaffolding. After one year the sections were returned and reassembly started. Finally the work was completed during 2006 with the fitting of the sweeps(sails) and the installation of a computerised automatic turning device to enable the mill to always face the prevailing wind. Whilst the restoration works were continuing local volunteers were clearing, cleaning, pointing and painting the brick constructed roundhouse.

The trust encourages visitors and a interpretation centre was set up within the roundhouse designed to educate and inform visitors and school parties.

Bee's talk was well illustrated the slides showing early photographs of the mill through the dismantling and restoration works to the finished building.

At our next meeting on June 26 the Driving Standards Agency will present "Arrive Alive Classic", a programme specifically addressing the concerns relating to older drivers.

New members are always welcome, 10am fourth Thursday of each month at the Bexhill Conservative Club in Amherst Road.