Volunteer Recruitment Day: This Saturday (15th June) 11am – 1pm

On Saturday around 120 guests welcomed Lord Burlington to Heage
Windmill for the Official Opening of the mill following extensive repairs
to the 227-year-old building.

Having driven down to the windmill on a resplendent 1947 Fordson tractor (owned by Mr John Allsop), Lord Burlington thanked the many individuals and organisations who have supported the work carried out and the volunteers who maintain and operate the only functioning windmill in Derbyshire.

 

Having cut the ribbon and been presented with a special bag of stone ground flour milled at Heage, Lord Burlington (who was accompanied by his son James) then took a tour of the windmill whilst guests were entertained by the Amber Band and the Makeney Morris dance group.

Roger Hatcher
Chair – The Friends of Heage Windmill

 

Completed in 1797, Heage Windmill is the last stone tower six sailed windmill in Britain and the only working windmill in Derbyshire.
Preserved, maintained and operated by volunteers, the windmill opens to the public every weekend and Bank Holiday Monday from the beginning of April to the end of October.
There is no charge for parking or access to the site – donations are welcomed.
A guided tour of the windmill is offered as are a range of traditionally stone ground flour milled on site (subject to availability).

We’re looking for new volunteers to join us, if you’re interested pop along on these days:

Saturday 20th April (11am – 1pm)
Sunday 5th May (11am – 1pm)

The Hairy Bikers came and spent a day at Heage Windmill, talking to Tim and Anthony (Millers) and Lynn about the many aspects of volunteering at Heage Windmill, including of course the milling process. Both Dave and Si were encouraging and calming, and so the filming and commentary were a success.

Their professionalism and experience did not prevent them from being helpful and understanding, two true gentlemen. Later, when all of us at the mill saw the Heage Windmill excerpt in the programme, we were impressed at how Dave and Si had captured the essence of Heage Windmill, and there was the bonus footage of them using Heage Windmill flour to make oat cakes. Today, years later, the Hairy Bikers are still mentioned in the Visitor Book.

That Dave has passed away has saddened us all. To have known him for that
one day was a privilege. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends. Dave will be remembered at Heage Windmill.

Anthony Sharp (Miller at Heage Windmill)

Shortly after 9.00am we arrive to find strong winds have blown over the two marquees.

 

 

 

A seemingly hopeless situation, but not so to the volunteers now arriving and within an hour they have achieved the impossible, one serviceable marquee from the original two.

 

 

 

Right on time, 11.00am, Santa is seen coming down the access
road.

 

 

After greeting the children and their families he makes his way
into his magical grotto with his two helpers, ready to welcome
the children and give them presents.

 

 

 

 

 

Outside it begins to rain but the mill provides umbrellas and
spirits remain merry. Timed tickets are being used and this
keeps queuing to a minimum. The rain soon stops.

Elsewhere there are children’s activities, raffles and stalls, including Mulled Wine.

Children’s Activities Hamper Raffle Mulled Wine – Mince Pies – Soft Drinks

 

 

 

Cards & Preserves  – Bric a Brac – Guess the Bear’s Name – Bran Tub  – Tombolas – Derwent Valley Mills Book & Calendar Sales (Ashley Franklin)

https://www.derwentvalleyimages.co.uk/

And at the end of a busy but delightful day Santa drew out the A Grand Day Out & Hamper Raffle winning tickets.

Thank you so
much to The Great British Car Journey, The Midland Railway,
Denby Pottery, The White Peak Distillery and Heage Windmill
itself for these generous prizes.

SANTA DAY AT
HEAGE WINDMILL

A Great Christmas Event
For All The Family

Sunday 10th December
11.00am to 2.00pm

(Santa arrives at 11.00)

Meet Santa in the grotto inside the windmill

Children’s games & activities
Mulled Wine, Tombolas,
Raffles, Bran Tub, Christmas
Cards and other stalls
Refreshments available

Price: £7 per child including a gift

Tickets & Booking
Tickets can be purchased on the day from the
Visitor Centre at the windmill. Tickets are allocated
a 20 minute time slot. Tickets can be pre-booked
at the windmill between 11am & 1pm on Saturday
9th December to reserve a slot. Telephone &
online booking is not available.

HEAGE WINDMILL SOCIETY
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1065980
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE UPKEEP OF THE WINDMILL

DUE TO THE DIFFICULT WEATHER CONDITIONS, WITH REGRET, TODAY’S SANTA DAY IS CANCELLED.

We hope to reorganise Santa Day for next Sunday 10th December
Details will be announced

PLEASE SHARE THIS NOTICE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE

Shortly after dawn Operation Sail-lift got underway.

The first of the six newly refurbished sails was lifted from the ground and transported to the mill cap

…where Steve of Beighton’s Construction started the process of clamping it into place.

Every sail in turn was lifted up to the mill and secured with four clamps and a massive bolt.

Each sail weighs about three quarters of a ton.

We were lucky with the weather and wind speed did not cause a problem.

Occasional light rain did not hamper the project at all.

During the day the site was visited by a number of interested people, all of whom were delighted to see the mill returning to her full glory.

The next morning the villagers in Nether Heage were able to enjoy the sight of the mill with her full complement of six sails.

Eventually the crane from Shires Crane Hire of Chesterfield had finished its part of the project and was able to leave, only just in time actually because sunset was imminent.

Dusk came and we had to use lighting to finish the project and so when we left shortly after 5.00pm we could hardly see the mill in her new glory.

Anthony Sharp

COME AND ADMIRE THE MILL ON

(I would like to add here that although the sails are back on and the mill is functioning again, there are still internal checks and adjustments to be made, meaning that milling and the sale of flour will not happen in the immediate future.)