For over 20 years the Mills Section of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings has organised National Mills Weekend (formerly "National Mills Day"), a celebration of Britain's milling heritage.

Wind and water are sustainable power sources, used for hundreds of years in Britain in the production of natural food.

There are currently more than 100 working mills capable of producing natural, stoneground flour and 100 of these will be open to the public during National Mills Weekend. In addition, over the weekend, a further 300 mills throughout the country will be welcoming visitors.

SPAB's Windmill Committee was formed in 1931 in response to an alarming decline in the numbers of the country's windmills. Later it included watermills within its interests, and it "encouraged the art of country milling". Still active today the SPAB is the only national amenity society dedicated to the protection of our milling heritage.

Some working mills are more than 300 years old yet still efficiently doing the job in the 21st century that they were built and designed for.

National Mills Weekend 2010 was held on
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th May.

Some mills work as commercial businesses, while others are run by enthusiastic volunteers. Fifty years ago, the windmills and watermills of this country were thought to be in terminal decline, but now there has been a renaissance in these wonderful reminders of our past.

In Sussex, windmills and watermills have not only produced meal flour, but have made gunpowder as those at Battle, or pumped water like the Coultershaw Beam Pump that once pumped water into Petworth. Many watermills in Sussex produced a variety of products such as linseed oil, cattle cake, oil dressed leather and drove fulling stocks for fulling wool. Today in Sussex, most of those that have survived are those that produced meal flour.

Ken Upton reports that despite overcast skies about 300 people visited West Blatchington Windmill on Sunday 9th May 2010 to celebrate National Mills Weekend. Attractions included two traction engines : a Burrell Gold Medal Tractor No. 3768 Tiger of 1918 and a Garrett superheated traction engine of 1911. Music was provided by a delightful 62 key Dutch street organ.
Visitors could also see a display of a variety of working stationary engines and model steam locomotives from The Brighton & Hove Society of Miniature Locomotive Engineers. Various models were also displayed including a Mamod live steam traction engine. The radio operators had a very good selection of contacts across Europe and the Morse Code practice was popular with children. Home-made cakes and refreshments were enjoyed in the North Barn. And there were also several stalls.

Morris dancers at Windmill Hill Windmill   Open Day at Nutley Windmill : Photo by Nick Linazasoro

A number of amateur radio clubs are on the air on National Mills Weekend, broadcasting from mills across the country. Denby Dale Radio Club compile a list of participating radio clubs.

Details of Sussex Mills that were open to visitors on National Mills Weekend 2010 are listed below. Mill owners are invited to contact us with details of their mill.
MILL	DAY	OPENING TIMES	SPECIAL EVENTS COMMENTS
Park Mill, Batemans	SAT	11 am to 5 pm	Admission included with entry to Batemans As a special feature there will be mill tours Milling from 2 pm (water permitting)
Halnaker Windmill	SAT	All Day
Jill Windmill	SAT	11 am to 5 pm	Refreshments in Roundhouse Free entry and free parking
Michelham Priory Watermill	SAT	2 pm to 5 pm
Oldland Windmill	SAT	2 pm to 5 pm	Sweeps turning, wind permitting
Stone Cross Windmill	SAT	10 am to 4 pm
Windmill Hill Windmill	SAT	2.30 pm to 5 pm	Classic cars on the green Free parking at the Horseshoe Inn Fencing for children, face painting, plants, tombola, amateur radio station, teas and other attractions Entry to the mill by donation
Park Mill, Batemans	SUN	11 am to 5 pm	Admission included with entry to Batemans As a special feature there were mill tours Milling from 2 pm (water permitting)
Cobbs Mill, Sayers Common	SUN	10 am to 4 pm	We hope to have the mill's 1908 30HP Tangye Gas Engine running periodically. The Sussex Engine and Associated Machinery Society will have a display of engines running vintage machinery The waterwheel will be driving some of the mill machinery There will be a small £2 charge per adult (children free, car parking free) to cover the running cost of the Tangye Gas Engine
Halnaker Windmill	SUN	All Day
High Salvington Windmill	SUN	2.30 pm to 5 pm	Amateur Radio Station GB0HSM
Jill Windmill	SUN	11 am to 5 pm	Refreshments in Roundhouse Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society Free entry and free parking Exclusive access inside Jack Windmill for members of Jack And Jill Windmills Society
Michelham Priory Watermill	SUN	2 pm to 5 pm
Oldland Windmill	SUN	2 pm to 5 pm	Sweeps turning, wind permitting
Polegate Windmill	SUN	11 am to 5 pm
Stone Cross Windmill	SUN	10 am to 4 pm	It is hoped that Long Man Morris will entertain
West Blatchington Windmill	SUN	11 am to 5 pm	Burrell Gold Metal Steam Tractor Garrett Superheated Traction Engine 62 key Dutch Street Organ Secondhand book stall Fun stall Model Loco Club exhibit Tours of the mill Refreshments and Homemade cakes
Windmill Hill Windmill	SUN	2.30 pm to 5 pm	Classic cars on the green Free parking at the Horseshoe Inn Long Man Morris Men at 3.30pm Fencing for children, face painting, plants, tombola, amateur radio station, teas and other attractions Entry to the mill by donation

The website of G4CDD Denby Dale Radio Club has details of Amateur Radio Stations broadcasting from Mills on National Mills weekend. Please try this temporary alternative link if the above link fails.

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For further information, please visit the SPAB Mills Section website.