http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/ Mill Writing Blog en admin@millsarchivetrust.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-03T16:38:21+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/mill_named_brewery_of_the_year/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/mill_named_brewery_of_the_year/#When:15:38:21Z Donnington Brewery in the Cotswolds has been named the UK's Brewery of the Year by the Good Pub Guide.According to the guide's editors, Alisdair Aird and Fiona Stapley, the 145-year old brewery near Stow on the Wold merits  special praise. "... based at a picturesque ancient watermill, which operates in Gloucestershire". The brewery, hidden away in a Cotswold valley, is still powered by the original millwheel which drives the pumps and machinery. The full story and comments by brewery owner, James Arkell may be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/gloucestershire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8522000/8522226.stm Watermills 2010-03-03T15:38:21+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/knockando_watermill_survives/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/knockando_watermill_survives/#When:13:08:35Z William Hill's recent list of Internet links to mill news includes an uplifiting article in Saga Magazine. In 2004 the mill lost out in the BBC's Restoration programme.Five years on, the Trust has finally raised enough to start restoration. Its aim, says chairman Jana Hutt, is to repair the leaking buildings and set it up both as a working mill and a visitor centre. The full story and details of the mill mnay be found at http://www.saga.co.uk/saga-Magazine/january-2010/knockando.asp Watermills 2010-02-03T13:08:35+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/goole_mill_to_be_revamped/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/goole_mill_to_be_revamped/#When:16:03:52Z Looking at this sorry photo, hard to disagree,... http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1642454The report http://www.goolecourier.co.uk/news/Windmill-revamped-by-Morrisons.5956876.jp from the Goole Courier says that Morrisons have applied for planning permission as part of big new supermarket development and wish to  use the base as a store. The Grade II listed building looks in need of much work. News of Mills, Windmills 2010-01-24T16:03:52+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/hand_mills_anyone/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/hand_mills_anyone/#When:08:00:31Z I am a archaeology student at the university of Ghent (in Belgium) and I'm a bit stuck on the situation of the first rotating hand mills in EnglandI specialise in industrial archaeology and am now working on my thesis. The subject I'm working on is millstones throughout the centuries. At this point I just finished the part about the Iron Age but I'm a bit stuck on the situation of the first rotating hand mills in England. According to my research the rotating hand mills were first developed around the late 6th century BC in North-East Spain. From there this principle spread to the Mediterranean sea the North of Europe. By the 2nd century BC the were more or less common in most parts of Western Europe. However, according to Martin Watts in 'the archaeology of mills and milling' (2002) the first known rotating millstone appeared in England around the 5th century BC in Danebury. An other author, David Peacock, mentions around the same period (or a bit later) a stone quarry in Lodsworth, West-Sussex (article from 1987) where hand mills were produced. This is, in comparison to the rest of Europe an very early introduction of the rotating hand mill and non of the articles I found mentions anything about how and from where exactly these hand mills were introduced in England. Does anyone know if there is any information on this subject available or someone who might be able to help me with my question? Muscle Powered Mills, Research 2010-01-21T08:00:31+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/lytham_windmills_gets_a_new_website/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/lytham_windmills_gets_a_new_website/#When:06:46:53Z I have created a new website for Lytham Windmill. I keep adding bits now and then!The website at www.lythamwindmill.co.uk gives details about Lytham's best known landmark, the Windmill. The mill contains a seasonal museum with a series of exhibits focussed on the "History of Mills and Milling" and the "Heritage of Lytham St Annes and the Fylde Area". The Museum, which annually attracts an average of 20,000 visitors from all parts of the world, was established in 1989 by Lytham Heritage Group. It is run voluntarily by The Group's members and houses exhibitions and displays spread over 4 floors, including explanations of the milling processes and a history of the Grade II listed building. The basement shows a tableau of life in Victorian Lytham. Fylde Borough Council also have a Tourist Information Point within the Windmill during the season. www.visitlythamstannes.co.uk. Windmills 2010-01-11T06:46:53+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/unknown_windmil/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/unknown_windmil/#When:12:27:05Z Can you advise on how to find out about this windmill or can anyone identify this?My parents were about to throw it away!!! I found 3 old paintings. Im hoping to find out more about this painting of a windmill and why my grandparents and probably great or even great great grand parents kept it.  I dont know much about windmills but wonder if any one recognises this place or the style of mill?  Its possible it may have been meaningful to my distant relatives as they worked on big rural estates. The attachment's not the best.  I noticed a lack of trees and the flat landscape. The picture frames probably solid oak.  I hope to take it to a restorers to find out how to clean it as it looks v dirty and shows signs of bright colors under the frame.  For the complete story:  One other painting is of a horse race that used to hang in a pub anddates to 1841, they owned in Kingston upon Thames. It has an air rifle hole in which my great uncle shot around 1930.  One picture is of a highway man and is probably older. (another likely pub painting?) My known family connections are Northamptonshire (farm bailiffs) / Middlesex (urban) and Surrey (farm bailiffs).   Many thanks Andrew Harris Windmills 2010-01-01T12:27:05+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/bill_howell_rip/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/bill_howell_rip/#When:21:35:22Z I have just heard from Willem van Bergen that Bill died earlier this year. The brother of Charlie, who died some years ago, he will be sadly missedWillem wrote: Dear all, sad news .....  I have to inform you that William Howell passed away on 1 November 2009. Most of us have known him as a very quiet and nice person. I have attached a photo taken during the symposium in Holland. Kind regards Willem Mill People & Family History, TIMS 2009-12-27T21:35:22+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/speldhurst_mill_planning_application/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/speldhurst_mill_planning_application/#When:16:01:34Z I recently went down to Bradleys Mill, Speldhurst, near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, and was alarmed to find it fenced off, as if ready for redevelopment or conversion.The mill itself is a good example of a West Kent/Sussex village corn mill, and remains internally complete, although the waterwheel has deteriorated markedly since it ceased work just over thirty years ago.  The structure itself is in good condition.A recent enquiry to Speldhurst Parish Council, has revealed that in 2008, the mill was subjected to two planning applications, the first of which was for conversion into a house, retaining the basic machinery.  This was allowed without too much fuss.  The first application was clearly a dummy run, as a month later a second application was entered, which wanted to convert the mill as above, and provide seven new homes.  This was rejected, on environmental grounds, and also that the new development would have been a hazard for bus routes turning in from the main road.I've just been alerted to a third application, which is a revised application of the second one, and includes a comprehensive traffic study.  This was submitted on the 16th December, and can be objected to at this website :- http://pa.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/dcapplication/application_searchform.aspxYou need to submit application reference 09/4000/1527 into the top box.I have been alerted to this by concerned villagers and/or the parish council, who are keenish to see a different use for the mill.  Perhaps even preservation. With the Kent Mills Society in its infancy,I've recently been looking at a few sites in Kent, and one thing that has become apparent is the shocking amount of conversion and development that has been allowed in the last twenty years.Please take a moment to object to this if you can.  The application is up for review I think on the 2nd January.Rob Cumming Mill Groups, News of Mills, Watermills 2009-12-20T16:01:34+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/threat_to_mill_groups/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/threat_to_mill_groups/#When:09:15:01Z Mill Groups and other small organisations will not be able to receive donations by cheque from 2018The Payments Council ( a body run by the banks) has announced that banks will stop clearing cheques by 2018. This has major implications for older people, small businesses and charities. The argument is that payment by cheque is expensive and "increasingly unpopular" and we now have perfectly acceptable plastic and Internet payment options. Age Concern has raised the issue (and been ignored) that many old people do not have, want or trust these ways of making payments. We need to take action now to prevent this initiative from becoming a fait accompli. Like the Mills Archive, mill groups and many similar organisations get a lot of their subscription money by cheque. Even though a standing order is ultimately less hassle for us, most donors prefer to control their expenditure and write a cheque. If cheques are phased out what will we do to get the money in? No-one will want to send money through the post and it is expensive to use plastic. Paypal charges 5-10% on small transactions and most of us cannot afford to set up credit card "merchant accounts" to accept plastic payments directly. The reason cheques are "unpopular" is that the big boys - Tesco, petrol companies etc, prefer plastic and now refuse to accpet cheques. Most small businesses and charities rely on them! When you consider the age profile of many of our supporters, it becomes clear that the loss of cheques is a major threat. Why not write to your MP (and local paper) to ask them to campaign against this unreasonable restriction on our members? Mill Groups, News of Mills 2009-12-18T09:15:01+00:00 http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/online_petition/ http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php/blogs/more/online_petition/#When:19:07:40Z The Traditional Cornmillers Guild has logged an e-petition with No10 Downing Street to raise our concerns regarding the impact of the proposed fortification of flour with folic acid on traditional milling in the UK.&l This has now been approved and can be accessed using the linkhttp://petitions.number10.gov.uk/folic-acid-mills/ .Please do your utmost to get customers / suppliers / interested parties tosign it! Just follow the link.A press release will go out to all media outlets raising further awareness t;br />giving contact points at local TCMG mills across the UK.For more information about the issues, please go tohttp://www.fostersmill.co.uk/page7.htmThank you for all the support so far - we have a long way to go if we aregoing to secure the opt out we wish for.Best wishes,Jonathan Cook News of Mills, Watermills, Windmills 2009-12-02T19:07:40+00:00