Broads Authority Millwrights to restore historic mills
The Broads Authority’s five apprentice millwrights are spending their final year’s training restoring a historic drainage mill which was managed by the same family for nearly 200 years.
The restoration of grade II listed Stubb Mill, its cottage and out houses, which are owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on Hickling National Nature Reserve, will be the apprentices’ flagship project to culminate their three year training.
The millwrights were selected from applicants all over the UK to take part in a ground-breaking bursary scheme supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to address the shortage of heritage skills throughout the country.
In the Broads there are 74 drainage mills, iconic landmarks of the area, and until now only one local millwright to repair them. This final project will draw together and develop the broad range of skills they have learnt over the last two years and equip them for careers as millwrights.
This is the first time that Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Broads Authority have worked together on such a project.
Ben Hogg, Head of Cultural Heritage and Design, Broads Authority, said: “The millwrights will be given ownership of the project from inception to completion, including site and contract management. The reality of the project with a client, programme and budget should prove an invaluable experience in terms of preparation for running projects of their own.
“The benefits of working in partnership bring added value for the HLF funding at least four fold. As well as benefitting the trainee millwrights and NWT, the project will conserve an important historic building which will enhance the experience of visitors to the NWT nature reserve and the Broads generally.”
Brendan Joyce, Director of Norfolk Wildlife Trust said: “The Stubb Mill complex with its cottage and outbuildings is recognised as one of the most important within the Broads. It was built in about 1800 and is one of the very few examples where the mill, outbuildings and accommodation are all still there. Although the sails are down, water is still pumped from the site, and it is still attended by the Nudd family; a remarkable 200 years of involvement with the mill.We have wanted to repair the mill and cottage for several years but have been prevented by high costs.
“The bursary scheme offers a wonderful opportunity for a mutually beneficial solution – NWT will pay for the materials and the Broads Authority, through the bursary scheme, will provide the labour.”
Vincent Pargeter, a millwright from Essex, who has been involved in training the millwrights, will help oversee the £50,000 restoration work.
It will include repointing and stitching brickwork while abseiling from ropes, removing the existing temporary roof, and building a new cap and fantail. The internal walls are to be limewashed and woodwork treated with specialist linseed paints.
Stephen Johnson, Chairman of the Broads Authority, was UK Director of Operations of the Heritage Lottery Fund when the bursaries were awarded. He said: “Deploying our millwright trainees on the Stubb Mill project is a brilliant idea. It reinforces our partnerships with Norfolk Wildlife Trust and others, and uses the emerging skills of the trainees on a project which will bring lasting benefits to the Broads. This is just the sort of joined up approach which makes best use of money from the National Lottery.”
Dr Jo Reilly, Head of Participation and Learning at the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "There is a real shortage of skilled craftspeople to look after the UK's historic buildings and landscapes and many are nearing retirement. Our Training Bursaries programme is designed to keep essential skills alive and to excite younger people to think about a career in heritage. I’m delighted to see these bursary holders receiving high quality, on-the-job training and using their skills to work on important sites like Stubb Mill."
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 26,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK. See HLF video of the Broads Authority’s millwrights working: http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/rollingout/video/
Website: www.hlf.org.uk.
29/04/09
