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Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society are once again Co-ordinating the Mills on the air. The S.P.A.B. (Society for the protection of ancient building) run the mills event every year on or around the second weekend in May, amateur radio is another part of many attractions taking place. Certificates this year 2002 will continue as usual. Work 10 stations or more on 1 or both day's, send copy of your log plus £3-00 or more payable to DDARS.
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What does the SPAB Mills Section do? Protects hundreds of traditional Windmills and Watermills from proposals to demolish or damage them each year. Campaigns for the sympathetic repair of mills, and works to return buildings and machinery to working order. Circulates its newsletter "Mill News" to members four times per year. Helps to find new owners for mills at risk by issuing a list of old mills which are for sale. Arranges a programme of lectures, meetings and visits to mills. Works to raise public awareness of the need to save and conserve the country's dwindling number of wind and watermills by generating press interest. Co-ordinates and publicises National Mills Weekend on the second weekend in May each year. Supports the work of traditional millwrights across the UK. Liaises with independent groups of international and UK Molinologists. Encourages the survival of the traditional miller and his or her craft. Is an autonomous section of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB).
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National Mills Weekend is an annual event organised by the Mills Section of the SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings), the national society for protecting our historic windmills and watermills. Since the Mills Section began persuading millers and mill-owners to open their doors over a decade ago, a growing number of mills has become available to visitors. This year it is anticipated that over 350 mills will be open to the public, from the north of Scotland to the south coast, from Wales and Cornwall in the west to East Anglia. It is not only in the countryside that mills are still to be found. In the past many were built to serve towns and urban areas and a number survive, including some that will open for the first time this year. New Hall Mill, Sutton Coldfield (West Midlands) and the Town Mill, Lyme Regis (Dorset) are two recently-restored working watermills that will be welcoming visitors over National Mills Weekend. Windmills are often more striking landmarks than watermills, particularly when at work. The magnificent five-sailed Maud Foster Mill, in Boston (Lincolnshire) is one such impressive example. There are a number of windmills with five, six and even eight sails in eastern England and the six-sailed tower mill at Nether Heage, near Belper (Derbyshire) will be open following its restoration to full working order which has only recently been completed. There are still a number of millwrights who are actively working on the repair and re-commissioning of mills, keeping some specialised traditional craft skills very much alive. National Mills Weekend provides a great opportunity for visitors to see some of the results of their labour and the dedication that goes into maintaining machinery and buildings. Local enthusiasts and volunteers undertake much of the work of looking after and opening mills to the public and several parts of the country have their own mill groups. Some mills are run as small businesses, producing stoneground flour in the traditional way, using natural, renewable sources of power. As well as corn mills, there is a wide range of other processes which may be explored by visiting some of the mills open to view, including cloth production, timber sawing, gunpowder manufacture and water pumping. For a guide to Mills Open and for details of the windmills and watermills that are open around the country over National Mills Weekend, please contact Heather, at the Mills Section, telephone 020 7456 0909
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