News from the Mills Archive » Friends' services
Friends’ services
Help us to save the memories
By becoming a Friend, you can participate in many areas of interest as well as playing a vital part in securing the Archive’s future.
You will help to preserve our milling heritage for present and future generations. You will ensure that, even though most of our mills have disappeared, their stories and those of the people involved in them continue to be told.
By helping to maintain records of milling history, you will be helping our Archive to flourish and make some friends along the way. In return, we offer you an extensive range of benefits.
Following requests from a number of mills, we have now created a new category of Friends membership with benefits specifically relevant to the mill and its supporters. Details of both categories of membership are given below.
Benefits of personal membership
Benefits of mill membership
Internet shop
Our Internet shop offers books and other material that have been donated to the Mills Archive to raise funds. You can search the site, make purchases and create a wants list. There is also a special section of “suitable presents”. In the future we shall also offer large mounted prints and postcards of some of the better images in the Mills Archive catalogue.
To make purchases you will need to register on the site, giving your name, address and a valid email address and telephone number. You select your own user name and password. We prefer payments to be made via Paypal, the most popular and simple method for you to pay by credit card. It offers a secure confidential service and we do not see your card details.
As a Friend with personal membership, you will hear at least two weeks before the general public of additions to the shop. In addition you will automatically receive a 10% discount on all purchases above £30 made in our shop.
To be able to claim the discount you will need to join the Friends and wait until we email you confirming that the server now recognises your change in status.
Visit the shop now and see for yourself!
Friends events
Each year we shall send personal members two invitations and mill members five invitations to our exclusive exhibition and garden party, to be held in the grounds of Watlington House. This will give you the opportunity of meeting other Friends, the volunteers and trustees and get a feel for the work of the Archive.
The annual exhibition will be on a different theme each time and make maximum use of the depth and breadth of the records held at the Mills Archive. The achievements and future plans for the Archive will be displayed and discussed during the day.
Announcements and details of events will be given in Mill memories.
Mill memories
Personal members receive one copy and mill members up to five copies of the Friends’ newsletter, Mill memories. More information.
Free high-resolution images by email
Friends are entitled to 10 free high-resolution images per year. (For mill members the images must be of the mill concerned.) There is a charge for images on CD or in print. More information.
Free research
Friends with personal membership are entitled to one hour's free research per year with additional research charged at £25 per hour. Others must pay a minimum of £200. More information.
Copyright privileges
Depending on the potential use envisaged, Friends qualify for waived or much reduced copyright fees. More information.
Mill Writing blog
Mills with Friends membership may use our thriving Mill writing blog to publicise events and appeals relating to the mill. More information.
Featured mill page
Each mill with Friends membership will be given a dedicated feature page on this site. More information.
Friends' trading post
Friends may post a list of items for sale on the trading post, free of charge. Any member of the public may contact the vendor and all arrangements must be settled between the vendor and the purchaser. More information.
New benefits
The Friends are working on a series of projects, many of which will result in new facilities for the Friends to enjoy. Such new benefits will be announced here and in Mill memories.