Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, visited an exhibition held by Nutley Windmill volunteers at the Bridge Cottage on Uckfield’s High Street, to help raise funds for the windmill’s urgent repairs.
Nutley Windmill is the oldest and last working open-trestle post mill in Sussex, and only one of five left in the country. Its centre post came from a tree felled during the reign of King Henry VII, so at least one part of the mill is nearly 500 years old.
In November last year, one of the windmill’s sails collapsed causing serious damage. For safety reasons, the other three sails have also had to be removed. New, English oak timber has been obtained and it is hoped that the restored sails will be erected on 21st June, which will see the windmill return to its previous condition.
The windmill is maintained by a fantastic team of volunteers and funded through donations from the public. Over £10,000 to fund the extensive repair works have already been secured via crowd funder, but a further £5,000 is needed.
If you can help, please do get in touch by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01435 873367 to find out more.
Nutley Windmill holds open days on the last Sunday of every month, between 2:30-5:30pm. Admission is free but donations are welcome.
Nusrat Ghani said: “We are incredibly lucky that Wealden is the home of so many unique and treasured historical assets. Nutley Windmill a fine example of the oldest design of windmill known in this country since the 12th century and I’m grateful to Brian and Robert Pike and all the wonderful volunteers who carry out a huge amount of restoration work to keep it the best-preserved windmill in the country and ensure that it continues to thrive. I was pleased to support the recent exhibition in Uckfield and I hope that despite this unpredictable accident, the mill can start working and possibly grinding grain again in June.”
