from David McKeown
In February 1956, a severe winter freeze followed by storm winds damaged the tail of the windmill to such an extent that it could no longer be used to turn the windmill into the wind. Now, almost 65 years later, the mechanism and tail structure has been repaired so that it can proudly turn itself again.
On Sunday September 27th, Bill Griffiths, our millwright, untied the mill and let a stiff NE wind spin the fantail to turn the mill on its post about 120′. You can see a video of this momentous occasion here. If you drove past in the following week you couldn’t fail to notice the new view the windmill presented.
Then about a week later, Bill set it free in a gentle westerly breeze and the mill dutifully turned gently back to face Barley once more.
The operation of the tail mechanism is a major achievement as Great Chishill Windmill becomes the only open-trestle postmill in the country that will drive itself into wind. It is yet to be decided if this will in future be for demonstration only or if the mill can be allowed to turn automatically as it did for the 60 years before that fateful day in 1956.
The main sails are completely separate from the tail mechanism and will not be turning anytime soon as a further restoration programme is required to put them in working order.