Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Fri, May 01, 2009

Local or regional groups are a good idea when they reflect the needs of the relevant user group. Which can be researchers, mill owners and academics for example.
I am very interested in the social and economic history of mills, and of miller's wives and families and their roles in the trade.
The nuts and bolts of mills is important, and also the tricky question of dating structures and equipment and their possible previous existence/locations.
If a new group in Kent is to be established, (and in order to address others' comments) there should be a clear mandate for the group, funding and peer-reviewed information, articles and images available to all. Plus suitable archiving as well as a wider remit to include people who might not get involved - women and young people - essential if the recording, repair and interest in mills is to be perpetuated.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Fri, May 01, 2009

I agree with Carole. The Mills Archive would certainly make all its Kent images and other information available free of charge to members of a new Kent group. We would also be very keen to support any social history initiatives.

Obviously, if the Group wanted, we could help with any archiving and web-based activities.

Geoff Holman on another thread - see http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/should_you_belong_to_a_mills_group has commented
"I only got involved with the East Kent Mills group towards the end of its existence, my involvement was to produce a final newsletter and to chase people up to ensure that residual funds went to worthwhile places! I was keen for it to carry on, but there was just not enough young blood with the enthusiasm needed for it to survive. Perhaps such people are now around. I would be happy to give what support I could (old blood type) so keep me informed of progress"

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sun, May 03, 2009

As a family historian who has found herself drawn in to some research into the history of mills, I don't think I know enough to say whether a revived Kent group would be a good idea. However I am clear that documentary and physical work should both be regarded as important. I was interested in Carole's comments, especially about social and economic history, which is really what drives my own research.

Two other thoughts. If you asked, through family or local history societies, for researchers to look out for and pass on any information they found about mills or milling, you would tap into a substantial resource. And I agree with Rob that the internet is key; especially for publication of articles, etc.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Mon, May 04, 2009

A key issue in seting up a new group will be the support or interest shown by not only local mill owners, but also the biggest of the lot - Kent County Council.

We fond them very supportive when the Mills Archive set up the Kent Millers' Tales project see http://www.millsarchive.com/kent/

Reflecting Carole's point, supported by Rob, on the importance of young people, they gave us permission to place their education pack on our "Knowledge Base" see http://www.millsarchive.com/Kent/knowledge_base.html

Kent County Council Educational Packs for primary school children by Ian Coulson

Part 1 - Introduction to the Mills of Kent
Part 2 - A Teacher's Guide to Kent's Mill Heritage
Part 3 - Activity Sheets relating to the KCC-owned windmills

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Fri, May 08, 2009

Fred Atkins emailed:
Hi Ron,

I was one of the original group’s interested but largely inactive members. Lack of time past and present meant that I was/am interested but didn’t/couldn’t contribute much to its activities.

I hope that the group is reformed and I would certainly become a member, but my involvement with the Windmill Study Unit is the most I can deal with mill-wiseand time-wise without causing domestic disharmony!

Anyway, good luck to any new venture.

Best Wishes,

Fred

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sun, May 17, 2009

Although I now live in Herefordshire, I have happy memories of visiting and recording mills in Kent over 50 years ago, and of talking to elderly people about what had already gone. I welcome the formation of a fresh Mills Group in Kent, particularly one which is actively engaged in trying to save those few complete watermills which remain. I would be one of the first to join, and it would be a pleasure to share the information, photographs and memories from all those years ago. The Mills Archive has done a great job in concentrating resources on records of mills in Kent over the last couple of years. However, this has emphasised the desperate need for a Mills Group in the county, where so much has been lost and so little of what remains has any security.
Please keep me informed.
Best wishes
Alan

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Thu, May 21, 2009

Alan's comments throw up two important issues:

1 Even though he now lives miles away from Kent, he would join the group. There must be many such remote potential members who could be kept on board with a newsletter and an Internet presence, perhaps with a few local events.

2 The group has to work to locally, "actively engaged in trying to save those few complete watermills which remain". This means there must be a significant local presence to get things done.

How big is the potential membership? My understanding of the previous group's demise was that it centred around the lack of volunteers to run the group. Is that correct? If so how many old members were there and is there a list somewhere so they could be contacted again?

Alan's offer to share his work is a big boost - I am sure he could be persuaded to give a lecture or two if we set something up!

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sat, May 30, 2009

John Mew wrote some time ago to me, having seen the thread saying:

"What an excellent idea. I am very supportive – I’m even willing to put some financial support in, but have very little time to spare."

There seems a core of support out there - but as Vincent says, the impetus (and presumably the officers) have to come from Kent itself.

Posted by Ray Harlow

Wed, June 03, 2009

The managers of the windmills in Kent that are open to the public, both private and KCC, meet regularly as Kent Windmills for mutual support and joint advertising. They organise an Annual Mill Managers' Meeting in the Autumn which features a talk on a subject related to the host mill. I will make sure at the September meeting that they are aware of the renewed interest in a new Kent Mills Group.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Thu, June 04, 2009

I am very interested to hear more about the Kent mill owners group. This seems to be a good starting point to discover the extent of active supporters (and those willing to put time in) for a new Kent Mills Group. Plus of course all those already expressed a willingness to be involved, especially those with records, information and skills.

The group could become am organisation to be consulted and maybe do some active protection and education to all in Kent.

Should this be a voluntary sector group, with it's own identity and governance, I could assist with fundraising. However, it would not want too much in funds otherwise would have to register as a charity.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Tue, June 09, 2009

During the Kent Millers' Tales project, which was launched in September 2007, we set up a new, dedicated website (www.millsarchive.com/kent).

The main purpose of the site was to showcase several thousand additional archival items that we digitised and/or catalogued as part of the project. The Millers' Tales website makes use of our unique Mills Index and is based on the existing Mills Archive catalogue that covers the whole of the UK and beyond.

In view of the comments posted above, it would clearly be of great benefit if the Millers' Tales site could publish results of current research on Kent mills and other news of what is happening to the mills of the county.

The website has great potential, with a significant amount of high quality content and several 'themed' pages that cover different aspects of the subject. We hope, in time, to be able to develop the site but current commitments to our latest project (Frank Gregory Online) mean that work to the Kent site has had to take a back seat.

We would welcome any offers of help with the development of the Millers' Tales site and would be very keen to work with someone who has the enthusiasm and ideas to improve and expand it. This would ensure that the output of the site remains relevant to the current situation and that the quality of the information it provides continues to be updated and improved upon.

Working on the website is very rewarding, particularly as the results of your labours are immediately visible! If you are interested in becoming involved, please send an email or post a comment below.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sat, July 11, 2009

Posted by Joshua Bartel Sat, July 11, 2009

I live in Kent & I would very much like to see a new Kent mills group established. currently I belong to Hampshire Mills Group, who I feel are a shining example of what a mills group can be. Sadly due to the distance I have not been able to get so involved In the projects H.M.G. run.
I would like be part of a pro-active Kent mills group, doing surveying & restoration work & raising the profile of Kent's much neglected watermills putting them in the public eye.

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Wed, November 23, 2011

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