James Clark, who is a grandson of Stuart George, maintenance volunteer at the mill, took these outstanding aerial shots of Heage Windmill during our last Tractor Day.
Aerial Photos of Tractor Day
Category: events
Tractor Day Great Success
On a pleasant, some time sunny day, with a steady wind to turn the sails, Heage Windmill entertained a multifarious collection of 39 tractors.
They were supported by a restored 1920s steam traction engine* which itself was backed up by two (3” to a foot) working scale models of steam tractors – both of which were giving rides to children – old and young.
A surprise visitor was a wartime restored 1942 25lb Howitzer Gun, towed by a 1943 Morris C8. We have never had such a large weapon on site before!
We also had about a dozen portable steam engines on site, all in working order. These, together with tractors, helped to replace horses on farms over the last 100 years.
There were a very large number of visitors to the site who enjoyed the veteran machines, with many taking on the mill tours where our guides explained the history of the mill and how it worked. They also took full advantage of our bric a brac stall and came away with bargains galore.
All in all – a great day for everyone.
*The Garratt Traction Engine, owned by David Bosworth from Smalley, was built in 1920. She is called ‘Queen Mary’, as named when built, and was first used for moving goods, mainly timber, along public roads. Powered by coal and water, she would travel up to 15 miles before she needed more water, even though she could hold up to 250 gallons.
Windmill receives Best Volunteer Project award
Heage Windmill has won Best Volunteer Project in the Derbyshire Heritage Awards for its Trouble at Mill Appeal (TAMA).
The award honours the magnificent efforts made by volunteers at Heage to get the windmill quickly back in action after wet rot was discovered in the cap structure.
The event was attended by Angela Ward, Chair of the Friends of the windmill, Lynn Allen representing the fundraising team and Alan Clark, who was one of operations team, both teams being set up to deal with the emergency following the discovery of wet rot in August 2015.
As Angela reports: ‘It was quite nail biting as I think we were in the most contested category and I believe there may have been 6 or 7 worthy contenders. When Andy Potter (Radio Derby) announced the winners as Heage Windmill, I felt so privileged to represent the Friends & Volunteers of the Mill, such an excellent team of hardworking, committed and enthusiastic people who give their time freely to ensure that the ‘Old Lady’ keeps turning for everyone to enjoy. The award was just the icing on the cake after a demanding time getting her better!’
The award plaque will be on permanent display as soon as this can be organised.
Santa Day – Great Success
It was probably the brightest, sunniest, but maybe coolest, time that Santa has visited the windmill on Sunday.
A small crowd of admirers were waiting when he arrived on the Belper Rotary club motorised sledge.
They queued patiently to meet him inside the mill, which had been converted into a sparkling grotto.
Just over 100 children of all ages saw him and told him their needs – the youngest was only 2 weeks old- a record for the mill!
Whilst waiting their turn, the guardians and children had a variety of activities to enjoy, including ‘hug a husky’ , a huge bric a brac stall and lots of good things to eat and drink.
Angela Ward (Chair of Friends of the windmill) said: ‘It’s been a great day and everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves’ . She went on to particularly thank the many mill volunteers who had turned out to operate the various events and to look after Santa.
National Mills Weekend – May 13/14
The weekend of May 13/14 is National Mills weekend, organised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), when our windmill will be one of the hundreds of wind and water mills throughout the country which will open its doors to visitors, many of which are not normally accessible to the public.
The theme this year is ‘Engineers and Engineering’ and so, apart from the marvellous old machinery to behold in our 220 year old windmill, we will be welcoming dozens of vintage cars – old power in plenty indeed!
The cars, which are taking part in a rally, will be of assorted makes and models displaying the early motoring technology which led to the well engineered and reliable vehicles most people drive today.
There will be a steady stream of them arriving throughout the day, starting from 9-00am and continuing until 4-00 pm, although a core of them will be on site all day.
It will be something like a lucky dip as to what will be there at any particular time, depending how long one stays on site.
Throughout the weekend radio clubs from all over the UK will be based at windmills and water mills, seeking to make contact with other mills in this country and across the world. Over the entire weekend we will once again be hosting the Nunsfield Amateur radio Club, based in Derby, who will set up a temporary transmission station and will try to carry the name ‘Heage Windmill’ to the far corners of the world.
The windmill, of course, will be open for tours on both days , from 11-00 until 4-00 pm, with the last tour starting at 3-30 pm.
Cobweb Day
In what has now become a tradition, Heage Windmill was once again put to rest for the winter by the spinning of a spider’s web.
Volunteers turned up to assist in the spinning of the web, working under the instructions of our ‘Queen Spider’ (Lynn Allen).
It’s always amazing to see the strands of 
knicker elastic grow rapidly and eventually emerge as a complex web, large enough to ensure the mill will be well protected through the cold winter months.
Tractor Day – A Great Success
Tractor day at Heage Windmill on Sunday September 4th was a roaring success, and even the sun came out later in the day.
Some two dozen carefully restored tractors – of a variety of well known makes – were lined up in the paddock area and visitors were able to examine, discuss and in some cases sit on them!
We were also pleased to be able to fly, for the first time, the 2016 Flag of Excellence , provided by Trip Advisor, marking our second year in that category as a tourism site.
The Nunsfield House radio club were in attendance and were making contact with other amateur radio stations round the world.
They had some special news to impart: one of their members who was on site, Stephan Latimer, was the winner of a prize draw made at the mill, at noon. His prize, a week in a holiday cottage in Belper, had been donated by local man, Barry Lewis, and all proceeds have gone into the mill repair fund TAMA (Trouble at the Mill).
Also on the day, we were presented with a scale model of the windmill, made by Mr Michael Nunns, which took 8 months to make and used approximately 5,500 match sticks.
This excellent model will be on regular display at the mill.
The ever popular bric a brac stall was particularly busy and, again, proceeds went to the mill repair funds. Keeping a 220 year old Grade 2* listed machine in working order needs a lot of money!
The Sails Turn in Celebration
On a perfect, blue sky, breezy Sunday, Heage Windmill Society held a memorable event to celebrate the completion of mill repairs.
For the first time ever the mill was closed to the general public for just the afternoon in order that the Trustees could properly thank all those who had contributed to the repairs being accomplished after severe wet rot was discovered nine months ago.
Unfortunately, as many donors had not given contact details, the Trustees were not able to invite everyone but still wished to offer a huge thank you for their vital contributions.
Chairman of the Heage Windmill Society Piers Bostock welcomed the invited group of over 120 people attending the event.
They largely consisted of groups and individuals who had helped in any way – by donations, effort or time – in the concentrated fundraising period.
The donations came from all over the country – including a few fellow mills – along with some international help.
Piers especially thanked the local businesses who had contributed by either providing facilities or work space.
He thanked Neil Medcalf from Traditional Millwrights, who carried out the major repairs but he particularly full of the praise for the mill volunteers who put in hundreds of hours of work over the last eight months, fund raising or working on the repairs.
It was their efforts, he said, that meant the repair had been completed in less than nine months and for which the costs were largely covered.
Other Speakers included: Robert Kirkland, representing Bowmer and Kirkland; Cllr Steve Freeborn (Chair of Derbyshire County Council) as the mill owner; plus local MP Nigel Mills.
All of them praised the mill volunteers for their concerted efforts to bring this now famous Derbyshire landmark back to life again.
During Piers’ speech, Founder Trustee Alan Gifford ceremoniously cut the fund raising wristbands worn by both Piers and volunteer Lynn Allen to symbolise the end of the fundraising period.
The windmill was decorated with bunting, strung between the sails, which turned slowly in the gentle breeze.
A full hog roast, and other refreshments, including two huge iced fruit cakes – one of which was decorated with the image of the windmill – was then enjoyed by all.
The Derventio Choir sang their hearts out in the background, providing lovely entertainment, enjoyed by all.
A truly memorable day.
Tractor Day – This Sunday April 30th
Tractor Days are always popular and we are again pleased to welcome the ever popular collection of Vintage and Veteran Tractors to Heage Windmill this Sunday, April 30th from 11-00 am until 4-00pm.
These old pieces of farming equipment complement the 220 year old windmill and helped change the farm industry for ever , making horses almost redundant.
They include 60 year old Ford and Massey Fergusons and have mostly been restored to pristine condition.
There are many photo opportunities and even the chance of sitting on board one! Tours of the mill and light refreshments will, of course, be available.
Forthcoming Events
Sunday October 23rd – Cobweb day.
Sunday October 30th – Last day of opening for the season.
Santa Day – Sunday December 4th.
