This summer sees your newsletter sent
as an electronic version as well as on paper thus
resulting in a significant reduction in costs. The
committee are at pains to assure those not wishing
to lose their paper copy that they are not at risk
of such action. It must be said that the
‘e-newsletter’ gives excellent and more detailed
reproduction of photographs and images, some of
which can be seen in the abridged versions which
appear a couple of months after the issue date on
the HMG website, which for those without computers,
can be viewed free of charge at your local
‘connected’ library. However, anyone experiencing
difficulty or is dissatisfied with receiving it
electronically should simply advise myself and
Alison Stott so that we can redress the situation.
See the Tail Race on the back page for
details. Meanwhile, the tide is turning: more
news and more evidence on tide mills in Hampshire
and beyond is making waves and creating more
interest in the wider public domain as the knowledge
comes to light and is shared. Tide Mills certainly
rule the waves in this newsletter issue! I hope you
enjoy the pictures of Ashlett Tim Woodcock shares
with us and that this summer’s coverage encourages
you to go along to the exhibition put on by David
Plunkett at Eling. Enjoy your summer and if you
come across mills on holiday, do pass along the info
on them to me so that we can share it with all
readers of the newsletter – in whatever from!
Cheers, Sheila.
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Ashlett Mill
proved an interesting and popular venue for our last
general meeting. Now serving as the meeting and
clubhouse of the Waterside Sports and Social Club
and the Ashlett Sailing Club, it has had a long
history of milling. Although the present mill house
bears the date 1816, it is known that there has
been a mill on this site since the 13th century.
Joining our meeting was Tim Woodcock who lives in
the flat on the top floor of the mill and works as a
professional photographer for the Beaulieu Estates
and the RNLI. Tim is researching the history of the
mill and the area around it and has allowed us to
share some of his collected images to print in this
newsletter (pages 6 & 7) which, along with an aerial
view taken by Angela Smith in 1993 and a photograph
taken this year, show distinctive changes over the
last century, leaving one to wonder what it looked
like in medieval times. Tim has recently learned,
from a meeting with the National Park archaeologist,
Frank Green and David Plunkett, that timbers in the
attic suggest that there were two flour lifts and
the lower ceiling shows where corresponding hatches
would have been. Tim is due to visit in 90 year old
lady who used to live in the end cottage and has
promised to supply us with updates on any new items
relating to the mill. He would like to hear from
anyone who may have information on the mill or
knowledge of the history of the area by email:
ashlettmill200@gmail.com
. Alternatively, contact David Plunkett
or Sheila who will pass on your message.
Bursledon Windmill attracted wide media coverage
when the sails were removed; see page 12 for a
report and photographs recording the event. Eling
Tide Mill Work has been carried out by Bob Sharp
and Dave Plunkett to the grain delivery shaft from
the hopper in the grain loft to the Eureka cleaner.
Lymington Tide Mill Ongoing investigation of
this site by Bob Sharp who reports that: As the
mill ceased to exist over 100 years ago and there
has been development and re-development on the site,
I doubt I shall ever identify anything more. The
stones on the foreshore are probably post-war. They
are held in place by steel wire mesh. It is all a
bit slippery! A recent comment in the Lymington
Times bewails the fact that no cheap ‘mud’ moorings
are or will be available in the area. All moorings
these days are at expensive boatyards and marinas!
National Mills Weekend was quieter than
usual in Hampshire possibly due to reduced/late
S.P.A.B. advertising . Opening for the first time
to the public was Bere Mill; the photographic
opportunity was not lost on your editor as you will
see throughout this issue. Laverstoke Mill
is now undergoing its approved site changes with
much visible vigorous activity i.e. demolition.
Let’s hope that the plans which do not affect the
integrity of the main mill buildings, seen on
display last July, continue smoothly and we can
look forward to enjoy seeing the revived mill
buildings, turbine, Visitors’ and interpretation
centre, as well as the Bombay Gin, as promised in
the fullness of time.