David McKeown writes
It feels very strange to be writing an update as this world-wide pandemic still has many of us confined to our homes. Nonetheless, things are happening with the Trust and the windmill, perhaps not at the speed we would wish, but still in the right direction.
The restoration itself has a little way to go yet – we wish to see the automatic tail system operating, bringing the mill into wind, and edge boards fitted to the sails so that they can turn once more in a demonstration. We also need some repairs to the upper floors to make them safer for visitors. Our millwright, Bill Griffiths, has all of the above on his ‘to do’ list but, until he can purchase appropriate supplies, progress is limited.
That doesn’t mean that the Trust has ‘ground to a halt’. We formed a team of guides and started training just before the lockdown so will be ready to show visitors round once guidance on visiting enclosed spaces is defined and announced.
You can’t fail to notice our windmill as you approach the village from Barley and it is certainly looking splendid in the sun. So, why not stop by, or better still, take a walk on the footpath that runs around the fields at the back and picture the old beauty close up? Chris Shaw from Huntingdon took this cracking photo of the mill at sunset.
There are also a few paintings of the mill that you may have seen. So here’s a little challenge to all looking for light relief in these days of lockdown – visit the windmill, let your creative juices flow and send us a picture, be that drawn, painted or photographed, that sums up this 200 year-old wonder. We will publish them on our website (provided you give permission) and the best will go to the archive to be preserved for future generations. Please send your images to dm@greatchishillwindmilltrust.com before June 30 and they’ll be kept for posterity!