Some 40 international experts on wind and water mills visited the windmill on Thursday, Sept 8th and were very impressed with Derbyshire’s unique, 220-year-old, six sail wind mill, mounted atop her squat stone tower.
All were members of TIMS (The International Molinological Society) with representatives present from 11 countries, some coming from as far away as Japan and the USA. The visit was part of a week-long tour of some 30 mills, mostly in central England, displaying the wide variety to be found in the area.
The International Molinological Society (TIMS) is the only Society which fosters worldwide interest and understanding of wind, water and animal-driven mills.
The sails were turning when they arrived, to be welcomed by John Boucher (himself a member of TIMS) who was a leading light in the restoration of the mill in 2000. He gave a short talk on how the mill had been restored and then the delegates were free to roam the mill to examine the mechanisms for themselves, with a mill guide on each floor to answer any specific questions.
The society members were very impressed and one delegate commented that ours was a ‘most unusual’ windmill, situated in a ‘beautiful location.’
At the conclusion of the visit Lynn Allen, who had organised the arrangement for this visit, was presented with a ‘TIMS’ mug to add to the mill collection. They also bought numerous books about the Mill plus various souvenirs of their visit – so the name ‘Heage’ will be spread around the world!
