Welcome to Great Chishill Windmill Trust Ltd
A not-for-profit organisation and registered charity dedicated to saving our windmill
The windmill at Chishill is one of only seven open trestle postmills in the UK. In 2011 it was in urgent need of restoration to save it from collapse and preserve it for future generations.
Great Chishill Windmill Trust now has this in hand.
We are indebted to Historic England for a very significant grant and to SPAB, South Cambs Community Chest and the Great and Little Chishill Parish Council for their notable contributions. The local community and Friends of the mill made key contributions to all our initiatives, including Recipe Book Sales, Dance Classes and the massive support for our Sponsor a Board Campaign.
By the end of 2017, all structural timbers had been trimmed to solid material and re-faced with new oak, the structure stabilised with discrete addition of steel reinforcement, the rear porch fully restored and new weatherboarding fitted.
In May 2018, we completed the buck with extra covering for the roof to ensure long-term water-tightness and Listed Building Consent had been applied for to cover a further phase of work on the tailfan assembly and sails.
Spring 2019, Work has been ongoing over the winter to repair, preserve and repaint the tail and sails of the windmill. One of the sail stocks was found to be rotten and a replacement is being made. All of these parts will be refitted to the windmill in time for the grand re-opening.Work has also been progressing at the windmill site and in particular the track has been laid around the windmill to take the fantail wheel.
Work accelerated in May 2019 with the grand re-opening date of 8th June proving an incentive! The new sail stock was fitted and the newly painted sails placed back in position. The rotten steps were replaced and the fan tail (repainted) fixed in position.
LATEST - June 2019
The grand re-opening of the windmill took place on Saturday 8th June. The weather started off fairly grim but brightened in time for the afternoon's events. The windmill looked magnificent in the afternoon sun. A stiff breeze caused the bunting, fixed to the ends of the sails, to form a circle as if the sails were turning. A shuttle bus brought people from the Village Hall and drinks were served to the 200+ attendees. Short speeches were given by Hazel Hayden, chairperson of the Windmill Trust, Trudi Hughes of English Heritage who announced that the windmill had now been taken off the Heritage at Risk Register and by David McKeown who project managed the restoration and gave further details of the restoration and thanked Historic England, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. MillBill millwright services and all of the volunteers who had helped restore the windmill. He invited the Brearley family to unveil a bench in memory of Jim Brearley who together with Jeff Gill had formed the Windmill Trust in 2012. He then introduced the Special Guest, Sam Smith the singer, who moved to the Village in 1995. Sam gave a short speech saying that he was delighted to be back in Chishill, the village where he grew up and that he had many fond memories of his time as a kid running through the fields around the windmill. He then cut the ribbon to officially re-open the restored windmill.
The crowd then made their way back to the village hall where a sumptuous tea was provided. For more information and photographs click here.
By the end of 2017, all structural timbers had been trimmed to solid material and re-faced with new oak, the structure stabilised with discrete addition of steel reinforcement, the rear porch fully restored and new weatherboarding fitted.
In May 2018, we completed the buck with extra covering for the roof to ensure long-term water-tightness and Listed Building Consent had been applied for to cover a further phase of work on the tailfan assembly and sails.
Spring 2019, Work has been ongoing over the winter to repair, preserve and repaint the tail and sails of the windmill. One of the sail stocks was found to be rotten and a replacement is being made. All of these parts will be refitted to the windmill in time for the grand re-opening.Work has also been progressing at the windmill site and in particular the track has been laid around the windmill to take the fantail wheel.
Work accelerated in May 2019 with the grand re-opening date of 8th June proving an incentive! The new sail stock was fitted and the newly painted sails placed back in position. The rotten steps were replaced and the fan tail (repainted) fixed in position.
LATEST - June 2019
The grand re-opening of the windmill took place on Saturday 8th June. The weather started off fairly grim but brightened in time for the afternoon's events. The windmill looked magnificent in the afternoon sun. A stiff breeze caused the bunting, fixed to the ends of the sails, to form a circle as if the sails were turning. A shuttle bus brought people from the Village Hall and drinks were served to the 200+ attendees. Short speeches were given by Hazel Hayden, chairperson of the Windmill Trust, Trudi Hughes of English Heritage who announced that the windmill had now been taken off the Heritage at Risk Register and by David McKeown who project managed the restoration and gave further details of the restoration and thanked Historic England, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. MillBill millwright services and all of the volunteers who had helped restore the windmill. He invited the Brearley family to unveil a bench in memory of Jim Brearley who together with Jeff Gill had formed the Windmill Trust in 2012. He then introduced the Special Guest, Sam Smith the singer, who moved to the Village in 1995. Sam gave a short speech saying that he was delighted to be back in Chishill, the village where he grew up and that he had many fond memories of his time as a kid running through the fields around the windmill. He then cut the ribbon to officially re-open the restored windmill.
The crowd then made their way back to the village hall where a sumptuous tea was provided. For more information and photographs click here.
Check our News page for more details of our work.
