Amber Valley-based BelCanto Chorus will be performing an evening of contemporary music in aid of Heage Windmill’s Trouble at Mill Appeal at St Luke’s Church, Heage on Friday, April 15th at 7.30 pm.
Tickets are £5, available at the windmill from March 26th or by calling 0750 535 5620.
It was a suitably dreary, damp day at 8-00 am on Thursday,26th November when the crane arrived at the windmill to play its part in the removal of the sails – the first stage in repair of the mill following the discovery of wet rot in some key structural components.
Fortunately the wind was negligible, a critical requirement when handling large components designed to catch the wind!
A local contractor, Dave Nicholls and his mate worked hard to release the eleven huge bolts on the first sail which fasten the sails to the iron cross – the largest was about 14” long and 1 ¼” diameter.
The crane supported the sail whilst this was done and by 9-30 the first one was being guided to its initial resting place, laying flat on wooden pallets.
The volunteer team then removed the wooden leader boards from the sails and made the control rod for the shutters secure.
Meanwhile the millwrights started to remove the next sail and the whole process was repeated six times.
All the sails were then repositioned to stand vertically ready for the next stage – transport to a dry workshop where they will be carefully checked and any repairs carried before painting – again by the mill volunteers.
By 1-00 pm all the sails were off and stacked and the workers gathered round to celebrate the successful completion of this phase of the work.
The mill however looked strangely bare without her sails… But the sails WILL turn again.
Here is a gallery of the day the sails were transported from the windmill to the workshop.
Heage Windmill Christmas Quiz Answers 2015
It could not have been a better day for Steve Holden, of Rocester in Staffs, who was Miller for the Day recently. On a warm day the sun shone brightly and there was a steady 20 mph wind, which made flour milling operations imperative for the qualified millers Brian Naylor and Alan Eccleston. They acted as Steve’s mentors through the day, teaching him, amongst many things, how to open up the mill, stop and start the sails and how to control their speed.
Above all he was able to assist in the actual milling of grain, and during the day they milled over 175 Kg of flour! As Steve said: ‘I had a great time. Many thanks to everyone for making me so welcome. It was one of the best things I’ve done in ages and would love to come back and spend another day milling.’
He was presented with a certificate to mark his day and left the mill quite delighted. We, of course, would be happy to welcome him back!
Details of how to become a ‘Miller for the Day’ can be found here
Heage Windmill had a hugely successful Classic Motor Bike Day on the first Sunday in July.
Exceeding all expectations, we had a massive turnout of British, Italian and Japanese Road and Racing motor bikes.
The apron area in front of the mill was full of bikes, and included a great assortment of bikes carefully restored to their original gleaming condition by their owners.
It was estimated that at one time there were between 300 and 400 bikes on show included a BSA Rocket, a Kawasaki 750 Dragster, Suzuki T20 , dating from 1967, along with more well known models such as Matchless, Royal Enfield and Triumph.
The bikes were supported by various stalls and food outlets and the decent weather was enjoyed by all.
Lynn Allen, who organised the event, assisted by Simon Bartlett representing the various bike clubs, said: ‘ Today was easily the most successful bike event we have run at the mill. There were so many people on site that we actually ran out of visitor badges.’
It goes without saying that we look forward to welcoming the bikes back again next season!
The final weekend in June once again saw magnificent flower displays inside the windmill to celebrate the Flower Festival in Heage. These displays were all made up by Friends of Heage Windmill volunteers.
Below is a gallery of photos.
Controlling and operating a 200 year old machine is not a task for the faint hearted. Apart from learning how to using the various controls for the sails and other machinery, they have to learn to observe the weather, especially the wind, as its direction and force are essential factors to the safe operations of the mill.
Everyone who ‘drives’ Heage Windmill undergoes a lengthy training period and then has to pass a practical ‘exam’ before he or she is permitted to be in sole control of the windmill. However those millers who seek to produce the renowned Heage flours, using the traditional mill stones, still has to continue to gain more experience. The miller is now producing a ‘foodstuff’ so, apart from learning how to operate the mill stones and the feed and processing gear, he/she now has to ensure compliance to numerous regulations, something which the old-time miller never even knew about.
Retired Rolls-Royce engineer Alan Eccleston, who lives in nearby Lower Hartshay, has just met all these exacting requirement and over the weekend was awarded his ‘Flour Miller Certificate’ by Piers Bostock, Chairman of Heage Windmill Society. In making the award Piers said ‘He was delighted to welcome Alan as a fully qualified person who could mill grain into flour –there are not many of them.’ Alan on his part said: ‘Ever since becoming a volunteer at the mill I have aspired to be able to mill and I am now delighted to join the elite group of qualified windmillers here at Heage’.
Don’t forget: Flour is normally on sale every weekend at the windmill, although sometimes lack of wind deems otherwise!
Heage Windmill’s visitors have recognised the windmill’s wonderful customer experience, gaining us a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award.
Now in its fifth year, the award celebrates excellence in hospitality and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve great reviews on TripAdvisor.
When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor takes into account the quality, quantity and current nature of reviews and opinions submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. To qualify, an attraction must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five over a 12-month period.
Piers Bostock, Chairman of Heage Windmill Society said: ‘There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one’s visitors. We always have tried to offer a great experience but this is the crust on our loaf when our visitors themselves declare how well we perform. I congratulate all of our team of volunteers for their tremendous and consistent efforts.’
Coinciding with National Mills Weekend, we hosted the Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group who were taking part in ‘Mills On The Air’, when amateur radio groups set up radio stations at mill sites all over Britain and the world. This year the Nunsfield House group brought a mighty mobile aerial mast, which must have been 60 feet tall.
Over the two days they broadcasted to and received messages from other mill sites.
A very successful weekend and thank you to them for letting the country and Europe know about the wonderful mill at Heage.
Members of ‘Mad Mog’ (Mansfield and District Minor Owners Group) and the East Midlands Morris Minor Owners Club dropped in at Heage Windmill on the last Sunday in April.
Around 15 cars arrived, dating from the 1950s onwards. Many types were represented, including the old split windscreen, four door, two door travellers with wooden framing, etc.
There was also a good selection of traditional Morris Minor colours including the well-known Clarendon Grey and others such as Almond Green, Bedouin, Almond and Empire Green.
Heage Windmill is open every Saturday and Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from April to the end of October, 11am to 4pm. For Admission Prices, Details of Group and School Visits and Where to Find us, click here >
In the early 19th century, Britain had 10,000 windmills. Heage Windmill experienced fluctuating fortunes until the Heage Windmill Society was formed in 1995. To discover Heage Windmill's history and how it was restored to working order, click here >
All our flour is stoneground at the windmill from wheat grown in this country and can normally be bought at the mill during visiting times, and at Bakewell Farmers' Markets every month. For more about our flour, click here >
Heage Windmill cannot operate without volunteers, so why not join us? To read more about the different ways you can help - as a miller, guide, working in the shop or helping out at the farmers' markets, click here >
| Belper, GB |
 |
9°C few clouds |
|
Wind
7 mph, ENE
Humidity
84%
Pressure
1.01 bar
|
||
| Day | Cond. | Temp. | Wind | Humidity | PressurePres. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mon apr 21 |  |
10/6°C | 4 mph, ENE | 96% | 1.01 bar |
| tue apr 22 |  |
14/5°C | 4 mph, W | 91% | 1.02 bar |
| wed apr 23 | |
14/5°C | 3 mph, NE | 91% | 1.02 bar |
| thu apr 24 |  |
14/5°C | 6 mph, NNE | 96% | 1.02 bar |
| fri apr 25 | |
15/4°C | 4 mph, ENE | 94% | 1.02 bar |
Please note the wind speed. If it is more than 5 or 6 mph, then normally the sails will be turning.
Heage Windmill is owned by Derbyshire CC but is controlled and operated by Heage Windmill Society, a charitable organisation (Reg Charity No 1065980), to whom all profits from running the windmill are donated by the Friends to help ensure its continued preservation
