Alderholt  Mill: Make this one of the mills you visit over the National Mills Weekend; along with the mill tour you can have a delicious cream tea – if you can’t fit it in (date or waist-wise) then you will find it open every weekend, milling and serving teas.  It is also a popular b&b with self-catering  accommodation too. Website:  www.alderholtmill.co.uk/

Bere Mill: Listed by SPAB as opening for National Mills Weekend but not confirmed to HMG so check before going; the gardens will also be open for NGS days in June and September.   On June 16 Bere Mill’s newly re-landscaped gardens, plus those of the  Fulling Mill will be two of several open for a special day to celebrate the hitherto intimate corners of Whitchurch.  It is organised by Graham Burgess, whose own garden and plant nursery -  Nine Springs -  will be open too.  See various websites for more information.

Bursledon Windmill: Our only surviving intact windmill with working machinery will be the venue for our Summer Evening Meeting on June 16^th – more details will be given at the Spring Meeting on March 14th.  www3.hants.gov.uk/windmill.htm.   

Cams Mill: beside Fareham Creek is depicted in a fine painting which hangs in the Westbury Manor Museum having been purchased with the assistance of the V&A Purchase Grant Fund.  The artist was Valentine Garland (1884-1903) and it’s thought to date circa1900.  The Mill was situated near the present day A27 just before the railway viaduct at the Delmé roundabout. The exact position is marked by a memorial stone which records the demolition of the mill in 1919. David Plunkett has been consulted by Fullers Brewery at the former mill site where they hope to build a pub type restaurant.

Chewton Mill: aka Walkford Mill. Grade II mill & millhouse in Chewton Glen nr Highcliffe, is up for sale.  Read about this mill’s history on page 50 of The Mills and Millers of Hampshire Volume 2.

City  Mill, Winchester: is running its popular baking workshops thoughout the year. Check out all events on www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill/

Crux Easton Wind Engine: This 20ft Simplex wind engine is mounted on a 35ft tower alongside a small building which encloses a well. Used in the past for corn milling and pumping water. Built in 1891-2 by John Wallis Titt of Warminster. Restored in 2003.  Open on Sunday 12th May for National Mills Weekend.

Eling Tide Mill: Repairs are at last to be rectified.  David Plunkett reports that contractors are to concrete the inlet and millwright Malcolm Cooper will install the new pit wheel.  HMG volunteers will not be called upon.  The Mill’s owners, New Forest District Council and Totton and Eling Town Council, have received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards their future bid for the Eling Tide Mill and Learning Centre project. Development interim funding has been awarded to help develop proposals for improvements to the mill, and the creation of a learning centre. The aim is to allow more visitors, particularly young people and local community organisations, to access the Grade II* listed building and take part in hands-on learning. The Southampton Daily Echo carried a nice article with photographs. Two e-newspaper reports on the mill carry the above article and one about the proposed turbine - the attendant blogsite makes for amusing reading on a cold, wet afternoon in winter.

Whilst Eling  Tide Mill is inoperable, Richard Harte has allowed Eling’s new miller, James Lucas, to mill Eling’s New Forest-grown wheat at Alderholt Mill near Fordingbridge, in order to meet the needs of Totton and Eling consumers, which include a commercial bakery, a farm shop and the various southern Hampshire farmers’ markets.  City Mill has also helped out in the past and it’s good to know of the helpful and understanding attitude between our mills.  Eling Tide Mill’s flour brands carry the coveted New Forest Marque so have very good reason to maintain supply to the many local outlets. Meanwhile, for a completely different aspect of mill awareness try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teWK2nOv0TU for Hampshire Ghost Club’s apparent recording at Eling Tide Mill of a child speaking.  You are invited to leave (polite) comments.  Manager Helen Robinson advises that the mill will be open to public view over the National Mills Weekend.  Keep abreast of the Eling Experience on:  www.elingexperience.co.uk/.

Greywell Mill: Listed Grade II mill & millhouse is being offered for rental.  Sited on a delightful spot on the River Whitewater, this lovely building was used in a 1950s film starring the nationally known singing star Max Bygraves. Sadly, both Max and the majority of the mill’s machinery are no longer to be seen; the exception is the wooden waterwheel which presumably has never been turned since HMG/SUIAG’s Heavy Gang renovated it in the 1960s: fully on view to passers by on the river’s footpath, it is quietly rotting away in its housing.

Headley Mill: hopes to open for National Mills Weekend on Sunday afternoon 12th May.

Hockley  Mill:  The 3 bed house adapted from the brick barns adjoining the Listed Grade II mill is for sale .  HMG volunteers braved the cold to once again open the mill to the public on New Year’s Day and had the waterwheel turning; however, the sluice was leaking badly and the water level was very high.   The clicking noise made by the waterwheel (remember Kipling’s poem?) was to be investigated within the following couple of weeks.

Laverstoke Mill:  Once it made paper for Indian banknotes and will be keeping its Indian connection with Bombay Sapphire® Gin Company’s distillery and visitor centre.  Reconfiguration and restoration of the buildings at Laverstoke Mill is well underway with completion projected for autumn this year. The atrium to house the growing herbs and spices used in the gin making process consists of two curved greenhouses providing both a humid environment for spices that originate from the tropics, as well as a dry temperate zone for Mediterranean plants . The designer is Thomas Heatherwick who was responsible for much of the celebrated Olympic cauldron and other items which contributed to the opening sequence of the Olympic Games. See Link. 

Shears Mill:  Work to the turbine housing is now completed; the official unveiling date is eagerly awaited.

Whitchurch Silk Mill: has received a grant to help with repairs to the waterwheel.   Mick Edgeworth has offered to help and will manage the organisation of HMG volunteers if needed.   Mick has given the Silk Mill’s new manager, Sue Tapliss, a list of millwrights.  Special public events have been planned for every month this year: January and March events were a demonstration of machine embroidery and two well attended days when old stocks of silks were for sale; future dates cover exhibitions plus wine tasting and a garden picnic.  Check out the internet for up to date news and full details of courses and events on: www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/.