On the evening of Friday 22nd June 2012
members of HMG arrived at Whitchurch Silk Mill.
Those who arrived early enough had time to look
around the mill before the meeting started at 7.30
p.m.
Mick Edgeworth began the meeting by congratulating
Ron Cookson who has been awarded the MBE for
Heritage Services.
The second book on ”The Mills and Millers of
Hampshire” is at the printers and should be ready in
about a fortnight. It will sell at the same price
as the first book.
The repairs to the wheel at Longbridge Mill are now
progressing, the work has been approved, the timber
is due to arrive and work will start. Mick hopes
that it will not be long before milling can start
again although everything will need a good clean
before the public is allowed in.
The Newsletter can now be sent by e-mail to members
who would like to receive it this way. Sheila had
sent 43 experimentally, 38 acknowledged safe
receipt, a few others found they could not receive
it this way and 5 did not acknowledge either way.
Peter Mobbs congratulated Sheila on an excellent
magazine.
News of mills:-
Dave Plunkett said that at Eling Tide Mill
the sea-gates had been inspected and serviced and a
quote will be given… they are usually made of
stainless steel these days. He has also asked for a
quote for the waterwheel control gate as it is
leaking. Volunteers were needed to help with the
forthcoming exhibition “Tide Mills of Western
Europe” being held there.
Tony Yoward said that the tide gates for Slipper
Mill Pond have been renewed – costing £10,000 -
using green oak. Adjustments are needed and will be
done in October.
Headley Mill is up and running; the crown
wheel was making a noise but Richard Ellis has
repaired it.
Laverstoke Mill. The production of Bombay
Gin will take place at Laverstoke Mill. The
heritage buildings will be repaired and the mill
will be open to the public in due course.
Beaulieu Tide Mill. Dave Plunkett has
visited the mill; the roof has been lined and it
looks very good; the scaffolding has been taken
down. A lot of work has been done and he will keep
HMG informed.
John Silman mentioned that only the axle of the
waterwheel remains – it was compass-armed and very
rare.
The very recent news that Whitchurch Silk Mill
has stopped production came as a surprise to all.
No decision has yet been made as to its future.
Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust are owners of
the mill.
Andy Fish said that the application to put a turbine
in Alresford Town Mill was in – he had
details of it on his computer for members to see.
At Bishopstoke things have come to a
standstill; the fish ladder was acting as a bypass,
but this idea is now not going ahead. The turbine
and its housing were part of the mill but the
concrete footpath was nothing to do with it.
The meeting closed at 8.15 and members were then
given an excellent talk by Mildred Cookson.
Mildred was the miller at Mapledurham Mill on the
River Thames near Reading for many years, and she
showed us pictures of the mill in the past and, now,
the installation of a (very large) reverse
Archimides screw at the mill, for generating
electricity. The very complex building work
involved in installing the reverse archimides screw
whilst stabilising the ancient mill was fascinating.
Members were very grateful to Mildred for coming so
far and giving us such a very interesting talk.
