Mills On The Air 2008 at Cattells Windmill

SPAB

SPAB is the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. It was founded by William Morris in 1877 to counteract the highly destructive 'restoration' of medieval buildings being practised by many Victorian architects.

Today it is the largest, oldest and most technically expert national pressure group fighting to save old buildings from decay, demolition and damage. The Society is a charity, with a small staff, most of the Societies work is carried out by members voluntarily and enthusiastically. Many are experts in their field.

SPAB Mills Section

The SPAB Mills Section is an autonomous section of the Society. It protects traditional Windmills and Watermills from proposals to demolish or damage them. Campaigns for the sympathetic repair of mills, and to return buildings and machinery to working order. SPAB works to raise public awareness of the need to save and conserve the country's dwindling number of wind and watermills. As part of this SPAB co-ordinates and publicises National Mills Weekend on the second weekend in May each year.

National Mills Weekend

More than 300 wind and watermills each year open their doors to the public. As part of this event many radio amateurs take part in Mills On The Air over the weekend.

Mills On The Air

Over this weekend radio amateurs set up stations in windmills and watermills all over the country. This promotes both the site itself, and also amateur radio since members of the public encounter enthusiasts at work.

Co-ordinated by Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society (DDARS) Mills On The Air started some nine years ago, with a proposal of six groups of amateurs at six buildings. As the word spread however this number rocketed to 30 and has increased yearly since then. DDARS has created a certificate to be awarded to any individual or group who has worked ten stations or more over the weekend. A donation of at least £5.00 is required for the certificate. Proceeds go to the SPAB Mills renovation fund.

Cattells Windmill

Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club (CDARC) operate from Cattells Windmill in Willingham over this weekend.

This smock mill was built in 1828 for William Huckle, a stone above the door commemorating this fact. By 1841 ownership had passed to Benjamin How, the mill being let to one of his relatives John Gleaves. Milling continued with this family until the mid 1890’s when Charles Cattell purchased the mill. At this time steam power which had been introduced in the 1880’s was removed, and business thrived until the late 1930’s. At this time Charles Cattell’s son Raymond was running the business which started to decline. the sails coming to a standstill towards the end of the 1940’s. By 1956 the mill was desperately in need of repair and Chris Wilson a local millwright undertook remedial work. Milling started once again in 1958, but the mill was still in need of considerable work. An expert appointed by the County Council to access the possibility of preservation decided the project was not viable due to the poor condition of the timber structure. Chris Wilson carried out further repair work in 1969. Raymond’s son in law Wallis Barton worked to restore the mill from 1979. A grant from South Cambridgeshire District Council was used to restore the weatherboarding and wheels. In 1986 the sails were removed and the fantail lowered to the ground for restoration. These were replaced in 1989. From this point little work was done until 1997 when the present owners Mr and Mrs Cowley purchased the mill. Since this time a considerable programme of restoration has been undertaken, the aim being to restore the mill to working condition. The results may be seen in the following pictures.

This drawing shows the arrangement of the machinery in a typical windmill.

Description Beebe Windmill: Isometric of Machinery. The Beebe Windmill is in Bridgehampton, NY; on Long Island. Source Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service; Record NY-67 Date 1976 Author Kathleen S. Hoeft & Chalmers G. Long, Jr