Holgate Windmill, York

Discussion 11 posts |  Only members can post. Join?

About Holgate Windmill, York

This group is for photos of Holgate Windmill, York (UK), a tower mill dating from the 1770s. It was in operation until 1933, then gradually became derelict until in 2001 the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society (HWPS) was formed with the aim of restoring it.

Restoration began in 2005 and is now (August 2011) nearing completion, with the internal machinery and equipment installed, and the restored cap refitted on the mill tower in late 2009. The restored fantail was fitted in July 2011. The sails are being reconstructed and it is hoped to install them in autumn 2011, with the eventual aim to start grinding corn and producing flour by windpower for the first time for 80 years.

Meanwhile we have installed an electric motor(*) to drive one pair of millstones so that we can demonstrate the milling process to visitors on open days.
(*) This is historically correct as electric power (and before that steam power) was used to drive a pair of stones during the mill's working life in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when there was not enough wind to drive the sails.

The mill is about 1 mile (2km) west of York city centre, between Acomb Road and Poppleton Road, and is open to visitors at some weekends and occasionally at other times.

Photos of the mill taken by HWPS members are posted in a set in nican45's photostream: www.flickr.com/photos/nican45/sets/72157604251324867/

A separate (smaller) set has photos of the cap in November 2009 - the final stages of its restoration, and the operation to lift it on to the mill tower: www.flickr.com/photos/nican45/sets/72157622769984327/

And there are three recent sets:
A series of photos of the restored fantail and the operation to raise and install it in June-July 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/nican45/sets/72157627076437430/
Photos and videos of the test operation on 5 October 2011 to drive a pair of millstones using the electric motor: www.flickr.com/photos/nican45/sets/72157627706986355/
[Work in progress!] Photos of the operation to install the restored sails on 19-20 December 2011, and of the mill with the sails fitted:
www.flickr.com/photos/nican45/sets/72157628513571633/

For details of open weekends and other current events at the mill, plus lots of other information, go to the HWPS website at www.holgatewindmill.org



Free counters