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.
September 2017
Real activity at the mill and in the Trust now!
We discovered the need for significant extra work to repair the structure and found that the estimate for the total project had risen to £118,000 as a result!
Our fundraising campaign to ‘Sponsor a Board’ continues to generate magnificent contributions and we now have around £15,000. Of course, this could not, by itself, cover the shortfall generated by the new cost estimate so we asked our grant funders if they might be able to help.
Historic England was our saviour! The funding committee reconsidered our position and agreed to increase our grant to around 70% of our requirement. Together with the Sponsor a Board money, other grants and contributions, we now have sufficient to complete the structural repairs and make the mill weatherproof once more. This will remove it from Historic England’s 'Heritage at Risk’ listing and return it to its position as a public attraction. We look forward to welcoming visitors once more next year.
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Left: Upright with rot cut away Right: New oak bonded in place
Millwright abseiling to remove sails
Removing the weather beam for repair
5 Sep 2017
The shakes (cracks) in the trestle timbers had been filled with epoxy ready for the application of oil, preservative and Kreidezeit paint. An aluminium cover would also be added to protect the timbers from water ingress long-term.
The millwright had exposed the main structural timbers and the Technical Advisers reported that the side girts were in better condition than expected but that there were major problems elsewhere. Each corner posts required cutting back and ‘plating’ with 50mm thick green oak. At the front, the top rails and weather beam required considerable attention that necessitated the removal of the front gable and the weather beam. The rear porch had been found to be in a very poor state, its timbers not being oak. Also of major concern was the dropping of the floor in the rear left corner that had occurred due to the disconnection of uprights from the underside of the side girt. This would require jacking the mill floor back to position before reconnecting the uprights.
The contractor had offered a quotation for this extra work. As the original job could not be completed until rectification of the issues found, the Trust had agreed to accept this. The Trust recognised that considerably more funding would be required, even after the success of the Sponsor a Board campaign, and had contacted various organisations for help.
Historic England had reviewed its award to the Trust after discovery of the large amount of extra work and had agreed to a significant increase. SPAB had also agreed to release further funds.
The contractor had removed the sails to reduce the weight at the front of the building and these had been stored in a farmyard awaiting repair and painting by volunteers.
The Trust had consulted an expert about the specific conditions of the mill and had been advised that there was no necessity to avoid working through the winter for a Long-eared Brown Bat that had only fed in the mill. Accordingly a revised Bat Method Statement taking account of this latest advice would be produced for the Committee.
The current grass-cutting contractor had agreed a price to keep the site outside the fencing tidy whilst the building work was under way.
The Charities Commission application had been accepted but held awaiting confirmation that the change to our Objects had been published on the Companies House website, This had occurred and the Commission had been informed. Registration was awaited.
An application for Gift Aid status was being prepared.
‘Sponsor a Board’ had raised over £14,500 – a superb achievement. The Trust felt deep gratitude to the Friends and villagers who had supported this campaign. An ‘Honours Board’ would be mounted on an interior wall on which all contributors’ names would appear.
The Music Evening was confirmed for Saturday Sept 23rd and around 40 tickets had been sold.
The ladder access to the mill was considered dangerous being of changing angle. The Trustees undertook to discuss access to the mill in a safe manner yet respecting the historic accuracy of the existing ladder.
The Trustees would discuss a method of logging decisions, reasons, materials choice, etc. in a manner to create a record for posterity.
The shakes (cracks) in the trestle timbers had been filled with epoxy ready for the application of oil, preservative and Kreidezeit paint. An aluminium cover would also be added to protect the timbers from water ingress long-term.
The millwright had exposed the main structural timbers and the Technical Advisers reported that the side girts were in better condition than expected but that there were major problems elsewhere. Each corner posts required cutting back and ‘plating’ with 50mm thick green oak. At the front, the top rails and weather beam required considerable attention that necessitated the removal of the front gable and the weather beam. The rear porch had been found to be in a very poor state, its timbers not being oak. Also of major concern was the dropping of the floor in the rear left corner that had occurred due to the disconnection of uprights from the underside of the side girt. This would require jacking the mill floor back to position before reconnecting the uprights.
The contractor had offered a quotation for this extra work. As the original job could not be completed until rectification of the issues found, the Trust had agreed to accept this. The Trust recognised that considerably more funding would be required, even after the success of the Sponsor a Board campaign, and had contacted various organisations for help.
Historic England had reviewed its award to the Trust after discovery of the large amount of extra work and had agreed to a significant increase. SPAB had also agreed to release further funds.
The contractor had removed the sails to reduce the weight at the front of the building and these had been stored in a farmyard awaiting repair and painting by volunteers.
The Trust had consulted an expert about the specific conditions of the mill and had been advised that there was no necessity to avoid working through the winter for a Long-eared Brown Bat that had only fed in the mill. Accordingly a revised Bat Method Statement taking account of this latest advice would be produced for the Committee.
The current grass-cutting contractor had agreed a price to keep the site outside the fencing tidy whilst the building work was under way.
The Charities Commission application had been accepted but held awaiting confirmation that the change to our Objects had been published on the Companies House website, This had occurred and the Commission had been informed. Registration was awaited.
An application for Gift Aid status was being prepared.
‘Sponsor a Board’ had raised over £14,500 – a superb achievement. The Trust felt deep gratitude to the Friends and villagers who had supported this campaign. An ‘Honours Board’ would be mounted on an interior wall on which all contributors’ names would appear.
The Music Evening was confirmed for Saturday Sept 23rd and around 40 tickets had been sold.
The ladder access to the mill was considered dangerous being of changing angle. The Trustees undertook to discuss access to the mill in a safe manner yet respecting the historic accuracy of the existing ladder.
The Trustees would discuss a method of logging decisions, reasons, materials choice, etc. in a manner to create a record for posterity.
August 2017
We've decided that the first phase of major restoration is something to be celebrated! So we are having a Celebration Supper and Music Evening in Great Chishill Village Hall on Saturday September 23rd. Please click HERE to learn more.
Do join us if you can, our last Music Evening was packed and greatly enjoyed by all!
August 2017
We are well underway with the restoration. Scaffolding has been erected and weatherboarding has been removed to allow the major timbers to be inspected. Whilst the side girts, on which the whole structure is suspended, were better than feared, we were really taken aback by the condition of the main weather beam which sits horizontally across the front taking the weight of the sails and the wind shaft on which they are mounted.
We are well underway with the restoration. Scaffolding has been erected and weatherboarding has been removed to allow the major timbers to be inspected. Whilst the side girts, on which the whole structure is suspended, were better than feared, we were really taken aback by the condition of the main weather beam which sits horizontally across the front taking the weight of the sails and the wind shaft on which they are mounted.
As can be seen, the ends of the beam and its supporting corner posts have significant rot that has allowed the beam to move forward several centimetres. The sail assembly (maybe 5 tonnes) is currently precariously balanced on this arrangement!
Repair will necessitate dismantling the sails and removing the weather beam to give access to the worst of the degradation. This means that, once more, we do not have sufficient funds to complete the weather proofing and re-cladding! We are naturally disappointed to have to report this as our Sponsor a Board initiative has been brilliantly supported and we believed that we had reached our target of funding the essential work with a contingency in hand. This was not to be - the work involved in replacing the weather beam far exceeds our contingency. If you would like to help us please go to the Sponsor a Board page to see how to make a donation and have your name forever inscribed on the mill.
Repair will necessitate dismantling the sails and removing the weather beam to give access to the worst of the degradation. This means that, once more, we do not have sufficient funds to complete the weather proofing and re-cladding! We are naturally disappointed to have to report this as our Sponsor a Board initiative has been brilliantly supported and we believed that we had reached our target of funding the essential work with a contingency in hand. This was not to be - the work involved in replacing the weather beam far exceeds our contingency. If you would like to help us please go to the Sponsor a Board page to see how to make a donation and have your name forever inscribed on the mill.
6 Jul 2017
The trestle timbers had been pressure washed on 8 May and two committee members had applied a first coat of thinned epoxy to most of the timber.
The millwright was intending to start work and a discussion with the Technical Advisors was planned for 17 July to discuss techniques and sequencing.
The Charities Commission application was made on May 9 thus the decision on registering the Trust as a Charity should be imminent. Gift Aid status can then be sought.
The SCDC Community Chest had granted £1000 to the project and this had been earmarked for materials for the trestle repair.
An application for a grant had been made to Historic England. Shortly after the Meeting the Trust heard that it had been awarded £15,729.
SPAB had agreed to release a further £13,800 to the Trust.
The ‘Sponsor a Board’ initiatice was proving to be successful in both attracting the interest of Friends and villagers and in gaining donations.
Jim Brearley’s family wished to not only to sponsor a board but also to commission a bench for the site in memory of Jim. The Committee gratefully accepted this offer.
A Music Evening with food was being organised for September 23. The Elderly Brothers had
confirmed their availability. The Meeting wished to invite Simon Brearley to perform.
Insurance from Hiscox for Employers and Public Liability had been negotiated through Came & Co. and a three-year contract entered into.
The trestle timbers had been pressure washed on 8 May and two committee members had applied a first coat of thinned epoxy to most of the timber.
The millwright was intending to start work and a discussion with the Technical Advisors was planned for 17 July to discuss techniques and sequencing.
The Charities Commission application was made on May 9 thus the decision on registering the Trust as a Charity should be imminent. Gift Aid status can then be sought.
The SCDC Community Chest had granted £1000 to the project and this had been earmarked for materials for the trestle repair.
An application for a grant had been made to Historic England. Shortly after the Meeting the Trust heard that it had been awarded £15,729.
SPAB had agreed to release a further £13,800 to the Trust.
The ‘Sponsor a Board’ initiatice was proving to be successful in both attracting the interest of Friends and villagers and in gaining donations.
Jim Brearley’s family wished to not only to sponsor a board but also to commission a bench for the site in memory of Jim. The Committee gratefully accepted this offer.
A Music Evening with food was being organised for September 23. The Elderly Brothers had
confirmed their availability. The Meeting wished to invite Simon Brearley to perform.
Insurance from Hiscox for Employers and Public Liability had been negotiated through Came & Co. and a three-year contract entered into.
20 Apr 2017
The millwright working on Great Gransden mill had fitted our restraining irons. He had also assessed the buck and suggested a roof covering of plywood and aluminium over the existing weatherboarding. Full height scaffolding would be required so, whilst this was available, replacement of weatherboarding to all sides should be carried out. The cost for this and the roof was expected to be around £20,000 including painting the whole structure. This would be covered by the grant earmarked by SPAB for such work.
The Meeting considered that the side girts almost certainly would need steel plates to strengthen them, estimating that this might cost a further £5,000.
The Meeting decided to obtain quotations for scaffolding from three suppliers, but would ask the contracted millwright to place the order.
Cleaning of the trestle wood prior to filling the shakes might be possible by jet washing. Committee members volunteered to test this method
A further new Member was elected.
Information required for a Charities Commission application was to hand so this would be completed.
With the provision of estimates of amounts and costs of epoxy and paint, an application would be made to the Cambridgeshire Community Chest for support to purchase these items.
The Trustees needed to meet separately to consider options for business plans so that an application for an AHF Project Viability Grant could be made.
The millwright working on Great Gransden mill had fitted our restraining irons. He had also assessed the buck and suggested a roof covering of plywood and aluminium over the existing weatherboarding. Full height scaffolding would be required so, whilst this was available, replacement of weatherboarding to all sides should be carried out. The cost for this and the roof was expected to be around £20,000 including painting the whole structure. This would be covered by the grant earmarked by SPAB for such work.
The Meeting considered that the side girts almost certainly would need steel plates to strengthen them, estimating that this might cost a further £5,000.
The Meeting decided to obtain quotations for scaffolding from three suppliers, but would ask the contracted millwright to place the order.
Cleaning of the trestle wood prior to filling the shakes might be possible by jet washing. Committee members volunteered to test this method
A further new Member was elected.
Information required for a Charities Commission application was to hand so this would be completed.
With the provision of estimates of amounts and costs of epoxy and paint, an application would be made to the Cambridgeshire Community Chest for support to purchase these items.
The Trustees needed to meet separately to consider options for business plans so that an application for an AHF Project Viability Grant could be made.
2017 Annual General Meeting
Comments from the Chair
It is with great sadness that The Trust notes the passing earlier this year of our Chairman JB who, with other founder members, was instrumental in setting up The Trust. He will be greatly missed but The Trust members will endeavour to continue with the work he initiated to preserve Great Chishill Windmill and to further his vision for its future.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association of The Trust have been amended with Companies House to reflect the ongoing status of the Company and to facilitate registration with the Charities Commission which is currently being pursued. The Objects of the Trust now read:
“The advancement of education by developing Great Chishill Windmill as an historic asset for the public benefit, in particular but not exclusively by all or any of the following means:
There are sufficient funds available to commence work on the Mill but ongoing means of funding will need to be sought to complete a full restoration.
Various activities and functions have taken place including a very successful Music Night which was a joint fund raiser with St. Swithun’s Church. The Trust thanks the organiser for arranging two craft fairs with proceeds again split between the windmill and the church. The Windmill Dance Group organised by DM continues to flourish and provides welcome funds for the Trust. The Windmill Cookery Book was well supported with villagers and friends providing recipes to be included and all 200 copies were sold. Other events and ongoing initiatives are planned.
The Trust thanks everyone who helped to give free publicity to the Trust through various newsletters and also for the continued support of Great Chishill Parish Council.
The Trust is pleased to note that Listed Building Consent was received from Cambridgeshire County Council on the 14th December 2016. A Bat Survey was also commissioned and all permissions for commencing work on the Mill are now in place.
Audited accounts for the year ended 31 May 2016 were presented showing an excess of income over expenditure of £1092 resulting in a total retained excess carried forward of £19,845.
Comments from the Chair
It is with great sadness that The Trust notes the passing earlier this year of our Chairman JB who, with other founder members, was instrumental in setting up The Trust. He will be greatly missed but The Trust members will endeavour to continue with the work he initiated to preserve Great Chishill Windmill and to further his vision for its future.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association of The Trust have been amended with Companies House to reflect the ongoing status of the Company and to facilitate registration with the Charities Commission which is currently being pursued. The Objects of the Trust now read:
“The advancement of education by developing Great Chishill Windmill as an historic asset for the public benefit, in particular but not exclusively by all or any of the following means:
- repairing, refurbishing and restoring the windmill to sound condition and working order.
- conserving and maintaining the restored mill as a museum open to the public.
- developing the site to allow the construction and maintenance of an educational centre and visitor facilities so as to attract visitors and develop their awareness and understanding of the heritage asset, including the provision of access for all people.
- collaborating with other organisations which are engaged in the restoration or promotion of other heritage assets or are planning to become so engaged; thereby providing or receiving assistance or advice relating to the conservation of such assets, enhancing their educational value or developing public awareness.”
There are sufficient funds available to commence work on the Mill but ongoing means of funding will need to be sought to complete a full restoration.
Various activities and functions have taken place including a very successful Music Night which was a joint fund raiser with St. Swithun’s Church. The Trust thanks the organiser for arranging two craft fairs with proceeds again split between the windmill and the church. The Windmill Dance Group organised by DM continues to flourish and provides welcome funds for the Trust. The Windmill Cookery Book was well supported with villagers and friends providing recipes to be included and all 200 copies were sold. Other events and ongoing initiatives are planned.
The Trust thanks everyone who helped to give free publicity to the Trust through various newsletters and also for the continued support of Great Chishill Parish Council.
The Trust is pleased to note that Listed Building Consent was received from Cambridgeshire County Council on the 14th December 2016. A Bat Survey was also commissioned and all permissions for commencing work on the Mill are now in place.
Audited accounts for the year ended 31 May 2016 were presented showing an excess of income over expenditure of £1092 resulting in a total retained excess carried forward of £19,845.
February 2017
The real work begins!. On the afternoon of the 22nd, millwrights Bill Griffiths and Martin Davies fitted restraining straps to hold the quarter bars tightly to the crosstree. These straps were designed by Dave Pearce of Cambridgeshire Windmills Consultancy and fabricated by Richard Seago of South Walsham. The timing could not have been better; the following morning storm Doris arrived with a vengeance!
The real work begins!. On the afternoon of the 22nd, millwrights Bill Griffiths and Martin Davies fitted restraining straps to hold the quarter bars tightly to the crosstree. These straps were designed by Dave Pearce of Cambridgeshire Windmills Consultancy and fabricated by Richard Seago of South Walsham. The timing could not have been better; the following morning storm Doris arrived with a vengeance!
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10 Feb 2017
Having paid Cambridgeshire County Council for insurance, the bank balance now stood at £18,712.
Kreideseit paint system should not be applied in cold weather so the Meeting decided to wait until March to place an order.The restraining irons have been undercoated and would be fitted on 22 Feb.
The millwright would be asked also to assess and quote for the work involved in inspecting the side girts and repairing the roof with like-for-like replacement.
A new Committee Member was elected and a further volunteer was to be invited to attend the next Meeting.
The Memorandum and Articles lodged with Companies House had been modified to reflect the current Objects of the Trust. Preparation was being made to register with the Charities Commission so that the Trust’s status was favourable to funders. Discussion centred on HLF Resilient Heritage and AHF Project Viability grants.
Dancing classes were continuing with enthusiasm so more contributions could be expected.
Seeking sponsorship of weatherboards, shutters, etc.was thought to be worth exploring.
Having paid Cambridgeshire County Council for insurance, the bank balance now stood at £18,712.
Kreideseit paint system should not be applied in cold weather so the Meeting decided to wait until March to place an order.The restraining irons have been undercoated and would be fitted on 22 Feb.
The millwright would be asked also to assess and quote for the work involved in inspecting the side girts and repairing the roof with like-for-like replacement.
A new Committee Member was elected and a further volunteer was to be invited to attend the next Meeting.
The Memorandum and Articles lodged with Companies House had been modified to reflect the current Objects of the Trust. Preparation was being made to register with the Charities Commission so that the Trust’s status was favourable to funders. Discussion centred on HLF Resilient Heritage and AHF Project Viability grants.
Dancing classes were continuing with enthusiasm so more contributions could be expected.
Seeking sponsorship of weatherboards, shutters, etc.was thought to be worth exploring.
January 2017
It is with great sadness that we inform you all of the death of our Chairman and Co-founder, Jim Brearley. It was Jim's drive and infectious enthusiasm that saw the establishment of the Trust dedicated to saving this iconic structure. Work will continue with the aim of realising his dream of restoring the mill to working order.
It is with great sadness that we inform you all of the death of our Chairman and Co-founder, Jim Brearley. It was Jim's drive and infectious enthusiasm that saw the establishment of the Trust dedicated to saving this iconic structure. Work will continue with the aim of realising his dream of restoring the mill to working order.