Restoration project for old Staffordshire windmill

Councillor David Clifft is hoping to raise £100,000 to renovate the old flour mill in Bognop Road to its former glory.

The mill was originally built in 1681, but fell into a state of disrepair during the Second World War.

The main wooden superstructure was destroyed by arsonists in 1959, and today, only the brick base and the remnants of its internal workings have survived.

Councillor Clifft is now hoping to form a group which will work to rebuild the mill, recreating the sails and wooden superstructure.

He said he would be looking into the possibility of securing lottery funding for the scheme.

The mill is on Windmill Farm, and Councillor Clifft said he was hoping to speak to members of the Simkin family, which owns the land, about his proposals.

"The mill is an important part of Essington's history," he said.

"It was a landmark for quite some distance, you could see it from Bushbury.

"Windmills, by definition have to be fairly high up."

Councillor Clifft said it would be quite a big project, and would require locating a number of skilled craftsmen.

"We are only really looking at restoring the shell and putting the sales back on, although it may be necessary to get it working again, because the sails will need to rotate," he said.

"I understand that if they are fixed they are liable to be damaged by the wind.

"I don't know what wood it was made of.

"I imagine it would have been oak, so it would also be a matter of finding the right craftsmen locally to recreate that."

The windmill was originally built by Henry Vernon, and was rebuilt with a brick roundhouse in the late 18th century. It was in operation until the 1880s.

Adrian Simkin of Windmill Farm said he was not aware of Councillor Clifft's idea, and could not comment until he had the full information.

There has been a renewed interest in windmills in recent decades, which in pre-industrial times played a major role in food production.

The 18th century Broad Eye windmill in Stafford was granted listed building status in 1951, and 15 years later the Friends of Broad Eye Windmill was formed with the intention of returning it to its former glory.

The seven-story building is now an important visitor attraction in the town, with the renovated ground floor open to the public on special open days.

The Ruiton Windmill in the Upper Gornal area of Dudley is now used as a community centre, and reopened following a £40,000 revamp in 2009.

The mill, which is tucked behind a row of houses, is home to numerous scout groups, Dudley Caving Club and other community groups including astronomers and abseiling groups.

The Ruiton Windmill Trust was able to carry out the work after securing a grant from the Waste Recycling Environment Network, which allocates grants from money generated through landfill charges.