The quarterly meeting was well attended at the Abbey Hotel in Romsey on Saturday, 12^th December, 2009.  Here are some of the topics covered.

 A new HMG publication:

Tony Yoward and Ashok Vaidya have begun the monumental task of producing a new book giving information on all the known and researched mills throughout the HMG remit.  First area to be covered is those on the River Meon. 

 The current publication, Water and Wind Mills in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, was compiled and published in 1978 by Southampton University Industrial Archaeology Group (SUIAG).   However, it is now time for renewal and it is thought that a new edition, particularly if it has some colour photographs, may prove a fruitful recruiting attraction at events as well as being of general interest.

Repair Work Progress:

An update of the current projected work  is as follows:

Bishopstoke Mill:  Great encouragement has been gained from the actions of Eastleigh Borough Council Engineers and Sustainability Department who foresee that work is hoped to start on the turbine sometime in the summer.

Crux Easton Windpump: Without its components to complete the full action of the windpump, Project Engineer, John Christmas, will be installing a new shaft so that a belt and pulley with a countershaft can be connected with machinery on the upper floor.  A CCTV camera has been lowered into the well revealing some 20 - 30 feet of water is at the bottom.  It is understood that some funding may be forthcoming from local council, Basingstoke and Deane but this is yet to be confirmed.

Sussex Mills Group Day Visit to Hampshire in July : We will be hosting our neighbours to a day trip around some of our mills.  The itinerary is being arranged at present.

Proposed visit to  THE TEXTILE MILLS OF THE STROUD VALLEY
on Thursday May 20th 2010

We will leave Southampton early  to arrive at Stroud around 10.30am,  we will then visit St Mary’s Mill a beautiful 1820  mill which houses a large Waterwheel and a powerful Tangye Steam Engine. On to Stanley Mill an early Fire proof mill built in 1812 with an exceptional interior were with luck we will be able to watch a demonstration of wool carding and mule spinning. After lunch we will visit weaving shed at Gigg Mill  which contains a selection of working historic and modern loom’s. Finally we will visit The Dunkirk Mill Centre which houses the largest working watermill in Gloucestershire and drives traditional textile machinery