Brill Windmill closed for restoration (Contributed)

LAST Sunday, September 28, Brill Windmill closed its doors to the public in readiness for restoration work.
Over the coming months, works will take place to ensure that this rare Grade II, listed mill is secured for the benefit of future generations, and a grand opening for the newly-restored windmill is already being planned.

Proposals for the landmark, with timbers dating back as far as 1680, will see the structure?s appearance restored to that of the early 1900s when, in the capable hands of the mill?s last miller Albert Nixey, it was coming to the end of its long working life.

As well ensuring the mill?s structural integrity, it is hoped that the programme of works will allow sails to be repaired, back doors and rear access steps to be re-instated, and weather boards to be replaced. It is anticipated that the inside of the mill will also get its fair share of attention when nationally renowned specialists carefully remove, record and finally re-instate the mill?s ancient working mechanism.

Thanks to funding provided by Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN), Buckinghamshire County Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council, future visitors should be able to see the mill preserved to how it looked when last in operation.

Next year, visitors will get a much better understanding of how these wonderful machines operated and give them a taste of the hard working conditions of millers like Albert Nixey.

Photo: Brill windmill (copyright L.Price)