Waltham Windmill Preservation Society

Now the bad news... The Preservation Society has had to cancel the annual bonfire and fireworks display planned for Saturday, 3rd November. This was cancelled for reasons entirely outside of our control - a great shame because the Society has been holding this annual event on the windmill site for the past 20 years.

The other piece of bad news is the resignation of our Secretary for business reasons. Her duties were not too onerous: they involved sending out the agenda and taking the minutes for the Society's monthly meeting. We are looking for a replacement, please! Volunteers to contact the Miller on the number below:
01472 822425 (John Liles)

The Windmill is now officially closed for the winter break. This does not mean that nothing is going on in the Mill. The autumn winds are blowing, and the Miller is delighted with his newly-restored Mill, and is now busy grinding this season's wheat. Freshly ground flour is still available throughout the winter and can be bought from Stephen Penney's Herb Garden, which is situated at the rear of the Mill.

As can be seen from the 2002 programme our first event is on March 2nd at Ross Hall, Waltham - our annual auction sale. Please come along and bid if you are in the area. The sale starts at 2.00 p.m. The professional auctioneer, Derek Arliss, of Jackson, Green and Preston, gives his services free. All proceeds, of course, go to the never-ending cost of maintaining Waltham Windmill!
We have had a very successful season this year, having spent some Ł80,000 on restoration work to the Mill. A Lottery grant of Ł60,000 was of considerable help towards this expenditure.
Our main restoration work was replacement of the cap frame (like the chassis of an old motor car). The old one now lies on the ground to the right of the Mill. Please come and examine this - it is accessible at all times. Other work consisted of replacing one sail, renovating and replacing many of the shades, plus applying two coats of white paint on the fantail, cap and sails. The tower also had a fresh coat of tar. All in all the Mill now looks spectacular, and when the sails are turning draws visitors from far away.
The mill now works like a sewing-machine (to quote the Miller), and produces flour which makes delicious bread and scones. It is most rewarding that this giant of industrial archaeology can produce something which is so palatable.
Particular thanks go to the Preservation Society committee members who have worked so hard throughout the season, making our fundraising events such a success. Thanks also to the Museum Committee and site tenants, who have helped with these events e.g. Car Boot Sales, Vintage Car Rallies, Tractor Day etc.
Please return to our website, as we will be reporting on our events regularly during 2002.

Our last open day was on Saturday, October 13th when the local branch of the Osteoporosis Association visited the Mill and Rural Museum. There was some freshly-baked bread made from our own stoneground wholemeal flour on sale. This was very soon sold out. The weather was kind to us and a good afternoon was had by all.