Nutley Windmill. East Sussex, England
Nutley Windmills commercial life ceased in 1908 and, soon afterwards, some wooden props were placed under the already precarious structure. The placing of these supports prevented the mill from being turned on its post for about 60 years, over which period it stood pointing permanently southwest, until restoration freed it in 1972. Fortunately, the owners Lord and Lady Castle Stewart had made every effort to keep the mill weatherproof and intact. In 1968 the Uckfield & District Preservation Society was formed with the object of restoring the mill to working order. Many additional props were put in place in 1968 to prevent the mill from collapsing. In 1969 volunteers commenced restoration work and slowly but surely, the mill returned from the brink of collapse, to producing a small amount of meal in the autumn of 1972. Then 1973 saw the fitting of two shuttered sails.
The project was considered favourably in European Architectural Heritage Year 1975, for which we were awarded a certificate for a job well done. In 1984 during filming of Chocky's Children by Thames Television, one of the stocks broke, but with generous help from the television company a new stock was in place within a week, allowing the film to be completed without too much delay.
In 1987 the Hurricane struck, which caused £6000 worth of damage to the Mill. During the summer we had already replaced the common sails, fitted originally in 1957 and had our new mill book printed. Following a grant by British Telecom in 1994, work on new rear steps and tail pole was started, electricity provided and extensive improvements made to the Barn. This work was completed on 14 May 1995 in time for the presentation of the ownership of the Mill, Barn and Field to the Society by the family of the late Countess Castle Stewart.
During 1997 a shelter was constructed in the field to make a small museum of items replaced over the years. A sample of the old steps, tail pole and a sweeps can be seen there. In the trestle that was replaced in 1968, there was found some decay this was repaired in 1998. Also in 1998 some work was carried out on the brake wheel and this enabled us to turn the French mill stones for the first time, possibly since 1908.
Winter 1998/99 the Spring shutters sweeps, first fitted in 1973, were taken off and cleaned, repaired and treated with preservative and then refitted by may 1999.