These notes are not intended as Minutes and do not report on each Meeting held. The aim is to give an observer's view of significant points as progress is made.
October 2018
Progress on the track around the windmill has been good (thanks to Tony Andrews). More hardcore will be required when the tail has been removed to fill in the gap.
Work on the cladding for the trestle has been started and will continue, most probably in the spring.
The millwright has confirmed that he will be coming to deconstruct the tail structure and take the carriage away. The super structure bits can then be stored in the dry ready for stripping and painting and a schedule for the work will then be drawn up so that volunteer help can be enlisted.
It was confirmed that the agreed plan with the millwright is to remove the tail carriage leaving us to repaint the superstructure; the carriage refit will be done in the first week of February and then the sail and tail fan will be fitted together with sorting out the handrail and steps. This means the work is expected to be finished in May.
Possible future landscaping of the site was discussed as and when funds allow but in the meantime some basic levelling of the earth would be beneficial and the cutting back of the hedge on the right and the neighbours’ trees. Again, a schedule will be required to enlist volunteer help.
The Craft Fair will take place on Saturday 8th December in the Village Hall. The Windmill Trust will have a stand and various items will be on sale as ‘fundraisers’.
The Grand Re-opening date has been set for Saturday 8th June 2019 and a sub-committee was appointed to lead the plans for this event.
The mill has been featured in the last three issues of the Mill News Magazine along with photographs and updates continue to be sent to The Listing magazine and the Village Web as well as keeping the Windmill website up to date.
Progress on the track around the windmill has been good (thanks to Tony Andrews). More hardcore will be required when the tail has been removed to fill in the gap.
Work on the cladding for the trestle has been started and will continue, most probably in the spring.
The millwright has confirmed that he will be coming to deconstruct the tail structure and take the carriage away. The super structure bits can then be stored in the dry ready for stripping and painting and a schedule for the work will then be drawn up so that volunteer help can be enlisted.
It was confirmed that the agreed plan with the millwright is to remove the tail carriage leaving us to repaint the superstructure; the carriage refit will be done in the first week of February and then the sail and tail fan will be fitted together with sorting out the handrail and steps. This means the work is expected to be finished in May.
Possible future landscaping of the site was discussed as and when funds allow but in the meantime some basic levelling of the earth would be beneficial and the cutting back of the hedge on the right and the neighbours’ trees. Again, a schedule will be required to enlist volunteer help.
The Craft Fair will take place on Saturday 8th December in the Village Hall. The Windmill Trust will have a stand and various items will be on sale as ‘fundraisers’.
The Grand Re-opening date has been set for Saturday 8th June 2019 and a sub-committee was appointed to lead the plans for this event.
The mill has been featured in the last three issues of the Mill News Magazine along with photographs and updates continue to be sent to The Listing magazine and the Village Web as well as keeping the Windmill website up to date.
August 2018
The GDPR privacy policy has now been completed and there are 140 Email Friends.
Finances are on target including satisfying the Historic England grant requirements.
Consideration is being given to setting up a Chishill Windmill Blog. Can anyone help with this?
Repair of the sails has almost been completed and these will be stored until they can be re-fitted. A contract has been signed, following a tendering process, to cover work on the tail and its fan. A preliminary examination suggest that most of the material is re-usable. The carriage will be rebuilt in December / January and re-fitted early in the New Year to meet Historic England's deadline of spending their grant money by end of March. It is hoped that the planned work is sufficient to remove the windmill from the Heritage at Risk list.
The track on which the tail of the windmill runs is approximately half complete. A request has been made for more hardcore (old bricks and other fracturable materials).
Consideration is being given to landscaping the windmill area once restoration work has progressed.
Fund raising events are planned including the sale of Windmill themed items at the Village Craft Fair (Saturday 8th December).
The GDPR privacy policy has now been completed and there are 140 Email Friends.
Finances are on target including satisfying the Historic England grant requirements.
Consideration is being given to setting up a Chishill Windmill Blog. Can anyone help with this?
Repair of the sails has almost been completed and these will be stored until they can be re-fitted. A contract has been signed, following a tendering process, to cover work on the tail and its fan. A preliminary examination suggest that most of the material is re-usable. The carriage will be rebuilt in December / January and re-fitted early in the New Year to meet Historic England's deadline of spending their grant money by end of March. It is hoped that the planned work is sufficient to remove the windmill from the Heritage at Risk list.
The track on which the tail of the windmill runs is approximately half complete. A request has been made for more hardcore (old bricks and other fracturable materials).
Consideration is being given to landscaping the windmill area once restoration work has progressed.
Fund raising events are planned including the sale of Windmill themed items at the Village Craft Fair (Saturday 8th December).
May 2018
The Parish Council liaison member had been elected Chair of the PC but he reassured the group that he would continue to be a committee member of the Trust and the PC and that the PC would honour the undertaking to fund the restoration of the access stairway as agreed by the last PC.
Aluminium for covering the trestle timbers was being stored in the mill until the scaffolding was removed – hopefully by early June.
Scaffolding was not required to complete the planned further work on the sails. After repair of the damaged stock, backstays and sailboards would be fitted to the sails so that they could turn once the mill was able to face to wind.
An application for Listed Building Consent to cover work on the tailfan and stairs was registered with SCDC and due to be decided before 21 June.
A meeting with HE established that the required work on the tail assembly and stairs could be regarded as eligible work for the HE grant. This would replace work to produce fully fitted sails as was originally proposed.
An experienced builder mark out and oversight was considered necessary to mark out the track before volunteer labour could be used. A picnic bench had been sited in the line of the track but it was considered that a small mechanical digger would be able to remove it.
Three new Members were welcomed to the Committee though two were not able to attend this Meeting.
The Trust was at the minimum allowed number of Directors/Trustees and discussion ensued on who might be approachable to take such a position.
The Trust had registered for Gift Aid and a claim would be made after the Trust’s financial year-end (31 May 2018).
Ideas for future events were discussed.
One Trustee had decided to join the SPAB Mills Section to improve communication with the wider mills society. A visit from the Owen family, from whom the SPAB grant had originated, had been arranged for the forthcoming weekend.
The requirements of GDPR were being addressed.
The Parish Council liaison member had been elected Chair of the PC but he reassured the group that he would continue to be a committee member of the Trust and the PC and that the PC would honour the undertaking to fund the restoration of the access stairway as agreed by the last PC.
Aluminium for covering the trestle timbers was being stored in the mill until the scaffolding was removed – hopefully by early June.
Scaffolding was not required to complete the planned further work on the sails. After repair of the damaged stock, backstays and sailboards would be fitted to the sails so that they could turn once the mill was able to face to wind.
An application for Listed Building Consent to cover work on the tailfan and stairs was registered with SCDC and due to be decided before 21 June.
A meeting with HE established that the required work on the tail assembly and stairs could be regarded as eligible work for the HE grant. This would replace work to produce fully fitted sails as was originally proposed.
An experienced builder mark out and oversight was considered necessary to mark out the track before volunteer labour could be used. A picnic bench had been sited in the line of the track but it was considered that a small mechanical digger would be able to remove it.
Three new Members were welcomed to the Committee though two were not able to attend this Meeting.
The Trust was at the minimum allowed number of Directors/Trustees and discussion ensued on who might be approachable to take such a position.
The Trust had registered for Gift Aid and a claim would be made after the Trust’s financial year-end (31 May 2018).
Ideas for future events were discussed.
One Trustee had decided to join the SPAB Mills Section to improve communication with the wider mills society. A visit from the Owen family, from whom the SPAB grant had originated, had been arranged for the forthcoming weekend.
The requirements of GDPR were being addressed.
2018 Annual General Meeting
Comments from the Chair
General
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for their valued contributions during the past year.
Two new Members of the Trust joined during the year who have since given a lot of time to work on the trestle and sails.
Charitable Status was approved on the 18th October 2017 and the Trust registered with HMRC for Gift Aid status.
Fundraising
Historic England awarded a significant grant which was subsequently increased when additional work that came to light after the old boards were removed. SPAB agreed to release a further sum to the Trust. The Trust is extremely grateful to both organisations for their Grants.
The Trust was awarded a grant from the South Cambs District Council Community Chest to repair and paint the trestle of Great Chishill Windmill. Great and Little Chishill Parish Council has also been generous in its support.
There are sufficient funds available to complete the current restoration work and plans are in place to finance work on the tail and access ladder to make the windmill safe for public visiting. An on-going means of finance will need to be sought to progress the mill to working order.
A successful Music Night was held in September 2017 which filled the Village Hall to capacity. Thanks were given to the Elderly Brothers and Simon Brearley for their amazing musical contributions, freely given, which helped to make this a memorable evening. The Trust thanked the organiser of a Craft Fair in December 2017 with proceeds split between the Windmill and the Church. The Windmill Dance Group again had a successful season and of fundraising. A ‘Sponsor a Board’ Campaign was launched during the past year which has raised a magnificent sum that fully covered the cost of buying the boards. Other donations were received from a villager, who made light pulls from windmill wood off-cuts, and a local farmer donated the fee from East Coast Searchers who organised metal detecting on his land.
The Trust thanks everyone who helped to give free publicity to the Trust through various newsletters and organisations in the village and beyond.
Restoration
DL and AA carried out preparation work on the trestle and applied epoxy resin to fill the shakes, followed by painting. Restraining irons were fitted to the trestle, which was timely as it was just before the arrival of Hurricane Doris.
Millbill Millwrights was commissioned to undertake the restoration work on the mill. The old boards needed replacing and 10” wide Red Cedar Boards were purchased. When the old boards were removed major problems of rotted support timbers were discovered. All corner posts required cutting back and plating with green oak. At the front, the top rails and weather beam required considerable attention which necessitated the removal of the front gable and the weather beam which has now been strengthened and replaced. It had been necessary to remove the sails to reduce the weight at the front of the building before this work could be completed. The sails were moved to a barn where volunteers are working on them. Repairs to the porch and entrance floor have been carried out and re-boarding of the mill and repairs to the roof are almost complete. The next step is to renovate the tail assembly and the steps leading to the windmill door so that visitors may enter safely. The mill will be painted with a top coat when the weather is more clement as the paint can only be applied over a certain temperature.
Message from Chair
The last 12 months have shown real progress both in fund raising and the restoration work and thanks must go to the Committee for all the time and hard work it has taken to get to this point. I am confident that the future looks bright for this iconic landmark which is being preserved for the local and wider community to enjoy.
Comments from the Chair
General
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for their valued contributions during the past year.
Two new Members of the Trust joined during the year who have since given a lot of time to work on the trestle and sails.
Charitable Status was approved on the 18th October 2017 and the Trust registered with HMRC for Gift Aid status.
Fundraising
Historic England awarded a significant grant which was subsequently increased when additional work that came to light after the old boards were removed. SPAB agreed to release a further sum to the Trust. The Trust is extremely grateful to both organisations for their Grants.
The Trust was awarded a grant from the South Cambs District Council Community Chest to repair and paint the trestle of Great Chishill Windmill. Great and Little Chishill Parish Council has also been generous in its support.
There are sufficient funds available to complete the current restoration work and plans are in place to finance work on the tail and access ladder to make the windmill safe for public visiting. An on-going means of finance will need to be sought to progress the mill to working order.
A successful Music Night was held in September 2017 which filled the Village Hall to capacity. Thanks were given to the Elderly Brothers and Simon Brearley for their amazing musical contributions, freely given, which helped to make this a memorable evening. The Trust thanked the organiser of a Craft Fair in December 2017 with proceeds split between the Windmill and the Church. The Windmill Dance Group again had a successful season and of fundraising. A ‘Sponsor a Board’ Campaign was launched during the past year which has raised a magnificent sum that fully covered the cost of buying the boards. Other donations were received from a villager, who made light pulls from windmill wood off-cuts, and a local farmer donated the fee from East Coast Searchers who organised metal detecting on his land.
The Trust thanks everyone who helped to give free publicity to the Trust through various newsletters and organisations in the village and beyond.
Restoration
DL and AA carried out preparation work on the trestle and applied epoxy resin to fill the shakes, followed by painting. Restraining irons were fitted to the trestle, which was timely as it was just before the arrival of Hurricane Doris.
Millbill Millwrights was commissioned to undertake the restoration work on the mill. The old boards needed replacing and 10” wide Red Cedar Boards were purchased. When the old boards were removed major problems of rotted support timbers were discovered. All corner posts required cutting back and plating with green oak. At the front, the top rails and weather beam required considerable attention which necessitated the removal of the front gable and the weather beam which has now been strengthened and replaced. It had been necessary to remove the sails to reduce the weight at the front of the building before this work could be completed. The sails were moved to a barn where volunteers are working on them. Repairs to the porch and entrance floor have been carried out and re-boarding of the mill and repairs to the roof are almost complete. The next step is to renovate the tail assembly and the steps leading to the windmill door so that visitors may enter safely. The mill will be painted with a top coat when the weather is more clement as the paint can only be applied over a certain temperature.
Message from Chair
The last 12 months have shown real progress both in fund raising and the restoration work and thanks must go to the Committee for all the time and hard work it has taken to get to this point. I am confident that the future looks bright for this iconic landmark which is being preserved for the local and wider community to enjoy.
March 2018
Trestle timbers had been filled with epoxy and given a coat of paint. Aluminium covering for the timbers had been purchased but the removal of the scaffolding was required before fitting occurred.
The sail frames had been renovated but one awaited work by the millwright to repair a whip.
Final painting awaited suitable air temperature.
The technical advisers had been surprised at how badly rotted the corner posts were but thought that the millwright’s work of cutting back to sound wood and plating with new oak was a first rate repair technique. The buck was now considered to be in a structurally sound state.
The striking rod, which passes through the hollow wind shaft and connects the control gear at the rear to the spider mechanism at the front that opens and closes the shutters, was missing. Only 2 or 3 feet at the front and rear remain. The Trust had received a verbal quote from the millwirght for fitting a replacement and had authorised him to go ahead.
All recognised that the access stairway and the tail assembly needed to be safe for public access. A detailed survey had been made, a specification been drawn up and quotation for necessary remedial work sought.
The Trust was in discussion with HE to demonstrate the appropriate use of its grant and to achieve release of the final stage payment.
Committee members with support from villagers, had achieved excellent progress on trestle and sails.
The local group of Explorer Scouts would like to help with the restoration. All agreed that to involve the younger generation was ideal but recognised that care was needed to select a safe task. The Meeting decided that perhaps digging the footing for the track under supervision of someone with experience of marking out might be appropriate.
The method statement on care of bats had been revised after discussion with an ecologist such that work did not need to stop in winter as there was no evidence that the mill had ever been used as a hibernation roost.
A bat box had been fitted to a nearby tree as recommended by the ecologist for Long-eared Brown Bat. Unfortunately, a recent storm had broken the tree but arrangements had been made to have it refitted.
The Trust had achieved the dual status of company and a charity. HMRC had agreed gift aid tax status.
Two further villagers had agreed to join the Committee.
Sponsor a Board had been an outstanding success that not only financed purchase of the boards but also showing grant funders how committed the community was to saving the mill. Gift Aid would further boost this figure.
A villager had made light pulls from waste wood from the mill and donated the proceeds to the Trust.
The Chair was working on a book that chronicled the history of the restoration, both as a record of contributors and as a book for sale.
One supporter had set up a standing order to benefit the Trust. This principle was considered worthy of promotion as a method of encouraging assistance in funding routine maintenance costs.
The Meeting concluded that the mill could not be opened for Mills Weekend in May 2018 but was keen to organise an opening when mill entry was safe.
Trestle timbers had been filled with epoxy and given a coat of paint. Aluminium covering for the timbers had been purchased but the removal of the scaffolding was required before fitting occurred.
The sail frames had been renovated but one awaited work by the millwright to repair a whip.
Final painting awaited suitable air temperature.
The technical advisers had been surprised at how badly rotted the corner posts were but thought that the millwright’s work of cutting back to sound wood and plating with new oak was a first rate repair technique. The buck was now considered to be in a structurally sound state.
The striking rod, which passes through the hollow wind shaft and connects the control gear at the rear to the spider mechanism at the front that opens and closes the shutters, was missing. Only 2 or 3 feet at the front and rear remain. The Trust had received a verbal quote from the millwirght for fitting a replacement and had authorised him to go ahead.
All recognised that the access stairway and the tail assembly needed to be safe for public access. A detailed survey had been made, a specification been drawn up and quotation for necessary remedial work sought.
The Trust was in discussion with HE to demonstrate the appropriate use of its grant and to achieve release of the final stage payment.
Committee members with support from villagers, had achieved excellent progress on trestle and sails.
The local group of Explorer Scouts would like to help with the restoration. All agreed that to involve the younger generation was ideal but recognised that care was needed to select a safe task. The Meeting decided that perhaps digging the footing for the track under supervision of someone with experience of marking out might be appropriate.
The method statement on care of bats had been revised after discussion with an ecologist such that work did not need to stop in winter as there was no evidence that the mill had ever been used as a hibernation roost.
A bat box had been fitted to a nearby tree as recommended by the ecologist for Long-eared Brown Bat. Unfortunately, a recent storm had broken the tree but arrangements had been made to have it refitted.
The Trust had achieved the dual status of company and a charity. HMRC had agreed gift aid tax status.
Two further villagers had agreed to join the Committee.
Sponsor a Board had been an outstanding success that not only financed purchase of the boards but also showing grant funders how committed the community was to saving the mill. Gift Aid would further boost this figure.
A villager had made light pulls from waste wood from the mill and donated the proceeds to the Trust.
The Chair was working on a book that chronicled the history of the restoration, both as a record of contributors and as a book for sale.
One supporter had set up a standing order to benefit the Trust. This principle was considered worthy of promotion as a method of encouraging assistance in funding routine maintenance costs.
The Meeting concluded that the mill could not be opened for Mills Weekend in May 2018 but was keen to organise an opening when mill entry was safe.
