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.
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 now has a display board showing artefacts discovered during the restoration of the windmill between 1996 and 2002.
When the site at Heage was cleared, many artefacts – mainly made of iron – were found buried in and around the mill. In addition there were numerous pieces removed from the mill as they were either broken or worn out (see photo). These were collected together and in due course moved into covered store where they have been conserved but not displayed.
As they represented something of the mill’s past, a number of the mill maintenance team felt ‘something should be done’ with them on a more permanent basis. The various items were therefore carefully identified and the concept of a display was born. There is no spare space inside the building so a large board, mounted on posts, was conceived and the various piece mounted onto it.
All the pieces have been treated with preservative and the board itself can be demounted for internal storage during the closed season. Our guides have all been briefed and are able to explain in more detail than the small labels on the board can offer and what they represent.
The result is the current display board and our thanks are extended to the volunteers who assembled and presented this collection of our mill’s heritage.
Photo shows a collection of roller tie bars, as removed from the mill during restoration in 2002.
Special weekend events at Heage Windmill in 2015:
Sat/Sun 9th /10th May – Nunsfield Amateur Radio group from Derby
Sat/Sun 27th/28th June – Flower Festival.
Sunday 5th July – Classic Bikes.
Saturday 31st October – Giant Cobweb. Close for season.
Sunday 6th Dec – Santa Day.
Sunday July 27th saw Classic Motor Bikes on show at the Windmill.
The Classic Motor Bikes club, led by Colin Clements, brought almost 30 old restored motor bikes and put them on display.
In almost perfect weather conditions, the bikes simply gleamed in the bright sunlight.
Congratulations to Sue Colclough from Clowne for winning this year’s Heage Windmill Art Challenge, now renamed the Margaret Bonsall Art Challenge in honour of the long-time past organiser of the event..
Under largely bright clear blue skies, the competing artists were invited to produce an image of the windmill, in the media of their choice, in just under four hours.
Sue Colclough, a painter with the Barlborough & Clowne Art Group, produced an appealing acrylic representation on canvas.
Certificates and monetary prizes were given out by the two Judges -Bryan Bonsall and Doreen Andrews, both artists from Matlock Artists Society.
Bryan, the husband of the late Margaret, presented her with the new trophy, a Dartington crystal rose bowl, which will be held for one year by the winner.
Second place went to Steven Ullyatt of Derby. Third was Mandy Ahlfors of Heage.
There was also a competition, for juniors under 16, which was won by 7 year old Amy Womble, who lives in nearby Harthill, for her acrylic on canvas.
The event was kindly sponsored by Alan Wilde Coaches of Heage in memory of Albert Wilde.
Want to see who’s involved with running the windmill? And read all about them?
You can now view specially taken portraits of the Trustees and Friends and find out what they do – and why they do it!
Over the last few months, Trustee and professional photographer Ashley Franklin has been taking portraits at the mill of all the people who effectively keep the sails turning.
These include: the Trustees, the ‘guardians’ of the windmill who ensure that it is properly financed and operated; and the Friends, the volunteers who manage and maintain the mill – these include the millers, guides, event organisers and visitor centre 
staff.
More profiles will be added right up to the season opening on April 5.
Click here to Meet the Trustees
Click here to Meet the Friends
Thanks to Dave Tindall for sending us some amazing aerial photos of Heage Windmill. Look at the black and white one and you can see the curvature of the Earth – very dramatic! Below is another one…
Sadly, we had to announce that the Heage Windmill Photographic Competition had to be cancelled. The competition was due to be judged and the prizes presented on Sunday, September 22nd. Due to the small number of entries, it was decided it was best to cancel. However, the photographers who who DID enter will have their images displayed at the mill over the next two weekends – as well as on this website – and they will be given free entry into a future contest.
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 |
 |
14°C few clouds |
|
Wind
7 mph, E
Humidity
60%
Pressure
1.01 bar
|
||
| Day | Cond. | Temp. | Wind | Humidity | PressurePres. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sun apr 20 | |
13/10°C | 7 mph, E | 60% | 1.01 bar |
| mon apr 21 |  |
11/7°C | 5 mph, ENE | 89% | 1.01 bar |
| tue apr 22 | |
14/5°C | 3 mph, WSW | 91% | 1.02 bar |
| wed apr 23 |  |
14/5°C | 2 mph, ENE | 90% | 1.02 bar |
| thu apr 24 | |
14/6°C | 7 mph, NNE | 93% | 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
