Double celebration as Broads mill cap goes on
The cap was lowered onto a historic drainage mill yesterday (Wednesday 6th October) marking the restoration of an iconic Broads landmark and the culmination of a highly successful and innovative scheme which has injected new heritage skills into the Broads.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded the Broads Authority £714,000 to train ten reed and sedge cutters and five millwrights over a four year period to reverse the decline in these trades, which were traditionally passed down from father to son.
The millwrights’ flagship task was to restore the 200 year old, Grade II listed Stubb Mill on Hickling National Nature Reserve, which is owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
The cap was craned on to the restored mill tower, watched by Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb and some 40 guests including the millwrights who crafted it.
Also watching the historic occasion was 69 year old Harry Nudd, fourth generation of the family who lived in the mill and its outbuildings and looked after the mill for all of its 200 years. Harry, who was born and brought up there, is still the mill’s pump attendant working for the Internal Drainage Board.
The mill is of architectural importance because it is one of only a handful in Broadland to survive with evidence of living accommodation within the mill. Its scoop wheel is said to be the largest in the Broads with a diameter of 17ft and paddles 16 ins across. Norfolk Wildlife Trust had been unable to restore it because of the high cost.
But a partnership was formed with the Broads Authority and the mill became the training ground for the apprentice millwrights in their third and final year.
Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "Today's celebration marks the successful conclusion of a scheme which has provided vital training in the local area for the reed and sedge cutting and millwrighting industries. The Heritage Lottery Fund's wider £10million Training Bursary Programme, of which this Broads Authority project is a part, has created 700 places for people from all walks of life to develop much-needed traditional heritage skills."
Stephen Johnson, chairman of the Broads Authority, said “I am delighted by the success of the scheme and the boost it has given to traditional crafts. This is just the sort of joined up approach which makes best use of money from the National Lottery. As well as benefitting the trainee millwrights and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the project has given a new lease of life to an important piece of our Broads heritage.”
Brendan Joyce, Director of Norfolk Wildlife Trust said: “Norfolk Wildlife Trust is proud of this historic mill being returned to some of its former glory. These Grade II listed buildings now compliment NWT Hickling Broad NNR, with its open water, vast reed and sedge beds and wealth of Broadland wildlife.”
The work on Stubb Mill included repointing and stitching brickwork while abseiling from ropes, removing the temporary roof and building the new cap, treating internal woodwork and limewashing walls. A windshaft has been installed so should money become available the sails can be put back on, making it fully functional again.
07/10/10
