Sunday October 23rd – Cobweb day.
Sunday October 30th – Last day of opening for the season.
Santa Day – Sunday December 4th.
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Classic Bikes – This Sunday, May 21
This Sunday, classic motor bikes will once again roar into Heage Windmill.
The bikes will be of all types, from tourers to out and out racers, and should include most well known makes, such as BSA , Honda, Royal Enfield and even some very immaculate Harley Davidsons.
Come and see, touch and snap these lovely machines.
All these photos are from previous Classic Bike days.
Vintage Cars and 40s theme at Windmill
Heage Windmill recently enjoyed a visited by 16 cars of pre-1940s vintage.
But more than that: all the occupants were dressed in 1940s style and they came prepared, with picnic tables – some with table cloths – and food to match.
The cars were a variety of makes including Alvis, Austin, Rover and Triumph, and all gleamed in the sun light. They came from all parts of the UK, too
There was a further attraction: one of our visitors produced a wind-up gramophone and proceeded, much to the delight of the other visitors, to perform 1940s type dances.
It was such a success our visitors said they intend to come again as soon as they can arrange it, so expect to see this event billed for 2017.
What made the day even more complete was the fact that the windmill sails turned all day for the first time since last August. Truly a memorable day.
Vintage Car Club Visit
Heage Windmill recently hosted a visit from the Hare and Hounds Classic and Vintage Car Club from Marple in Cheshire.
During the day, about 80 to 100 of these beautiful vehicles and their drivers called at the Mill (now complete with her 6 sails) as they were taking part in a Peaks and Dales Charity Run.
All the cars have been lovingly restored and maintained and it was marvellous to see the two old forms of machinery coming together.
Flowers at the Mill
Once again, Heage windmill supported the local church, St. Luke’s, in their annual flower festival, to celebrate the onset (we hope!) of summer.
The display in St Luke’s on behalf of the Mill were all done by Celia Straw and Ruth Vickerstaff. Thanks to all who contributed – as these photos show, there were wonderful displays everywhere.
Fantail goes back on… Heage Windmill is complete
The day after the freshly painted sails were returned, the fantail was set in place. We now have a fully working windmill. Flour will be on sale soon!
Here are the photos from that day…
Heage Windmill Sails Back On
When wet rot was discovered last August in major structural parts of the windmill and a potential cost of around £100,00 had to be faced, it seemed as though all was lost.
However a site meeting of Trustees and Friends took only a few minutes to decide: ‘We will get her repaired’. Fund raising and volunteer inputs brought the costs down to a more manageable £75,000 and the repair work started in November.
Monday, June 6th saw a major event in the repair programme: the six sails, which had been painted and repaired by mill volunteers, were put back on the Grade 2* listed mill.
Work started at about 9.00 am, our volunteers working with, and under, the direction of our millwright Neil Medcalf.
The final sail was put back on shortly after 3.00 pm.
The fan tail is now to be fitted with some quite detailed work needed to connect with the controls and mill stones.
However all this should be completed by the end of June and flour milling will then recommence.
Piers Bostock , Chairman of Heage Windmill Society said: ‘We are delighted to have the six sails back in place in such a short time and would like to thank everyone who has made this possible.’
Heage Windmill attracts 30 vintage tractors
Heage Windmill celebrated National Mills Weekend, co-ordinated by SPAB (Society for Protection of Ancient buildings), by staging its always popular Tractor Day.
The sun shone all day so it was pleasantly warm for the big crowd of visitors who came to the mill.
On site was a very wide range of some 30 vintage tractors, most of which had been lovingly restored.
There was also a large gathering of stationary engines, some of which were working.
In a tent, the Nunsfield Radio club was hard at work, making contact with numerous other similar groups located at other mills also open over the weekend.
In addition the Friends of Heage Windmill ran a fund raising bric a brac stall which attracted a lot of interest and helped the restoration funds.
Also on display were the refurbished sails, waiting to be fitted, and some of the large rotten timbers which had caused the mill to stop working and producing flour.
Replacements have already been fitted and although some more work still is needed, it is getting closer to the date when the sails will turn again.
Santa Day this Sunday December 6th
Santa Claus is coming to Heage… this Sunday. He will be on site at 12 noon, with the visitor centre open from 11 am.
This year the cost is £5 per child to see Santa. However, there is no need to book.
There will other things available – raffle, tombola, and some activities for children. There will also be hot food on site. No need to book to see Santa.
All these photos are from last year’s successful visit when Santa saw over 160 youngsters. Here’s hoping for another great day!
Win a Holiday for Two in Strutt Cottage
Derwent Mills Cottages are kindly boosting our Trouble at Mill Appeal by offering a 7-night stay for two at Strutt Cottage in Belper, which you can win by buying a raffle ticket for only £2.50.
This early 19th century mill worker’s home, described as ‘a welcoming, cosy cottage with vintage touches and a relaxing feel’ contains a ‘well-equipped kitchen, clean pleasant bathroom with new electric shower, a surprisingly spacious double bedroom and a cosy living room with a convincing but easy to use cast iron real flame gas fire. All linen and towels are supplied and even free WiFi is also available.’
If you win the holiday, you can choose a week inbetween October 1st this year and March 31st of next year.
Tickets are £2.50 and are available at the Windmill or from volunteers.
The raffle will be drawn at Autumn Tractor Day on September 4th at 12 noon.
To read more about Strutt Cottage, click here
