HERNE WINDMILL RESTORATION

• Herne Windmill

Available material:

Summary of the recent restoration work, 2002 - Peter Cobley

The HLF grant application identified this mill as the top priority due to the imminent danger of structural failure. This was therefore the first mill to be repaired, although the HLF only contributed a small amount due the emergency help of an English Heritage grant of £20,000 and £2,000 from Canterbury City Council.

The opportunity was taken to convert the engine house into a Parish Office and add a meeting room, toilets and a volunteers' store. The involvement of the Friends of the Herne Mill throughout was encouraged. I commissioned a member, a local architect, to design and supervise the work. Existing rights of way across the site were removed, the site was landscaped and on site car parking was provided. The mill has been extensively repaired, including replacing the steel stocks with lighter laminated timber, much more suitable for the delicately constructed Kentish smock and cap. The EH-funded work involved the repair and replacement of the failing smock curb and timber cogs. Bretts Waste Management, through the Landfill Tax and Canterbury City Council funded other work and the Parish paid for their Parish Office. The volunteers have organised money-raising events and a keen volunteer gardener has beautifully planted and maintains the site.

Recent widening of Thanet Way (A299), the route to Margate from the west means a wonderful view of the mill has been created when travelling east. The black smock and white painted sweeps [sails are called "sweeps" in Kent], is a sight to remember, even though the mill is surrounded by a housing estate. If the sweeps are turning, this makes a major difference to visitor numbers. As a result of the work and the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the number of visitors has increased and over 1,500, a record, were shown round during the summer weekends in 2002. The provision of toilet accommodation has proved essential for school visits.

The accompanying photograph shows new sweeps being erected in the spring of 2004.

New sweeps were made for the mill early in 2004, and placed in position in time for National Mills Day in May. The photograph shows the third sweep being fitted. The men in the cherry-picker basket are fitting the bolts that secure the sweep frame to the midling. One pair of sweeps were made from solid logs, and the other pair from laminated baulks of timber. This will allow the durability of each form to be compared.