Mill is brought to a standstill
ONE the Sleaford areas most distinctive and popular tourist attractions has been brought to a standstill.
The unique eight-sailed windmill at Heckington, the only eight-sailed working mill in the country, has had to cease operating after it was found that seven of the eight sails have rot.
Following an inspection by millwrights it was decided that the sails should no longer be operated and it is not known when they may be seen in action again.
Mill manager Jeff Wise said: "We had noticed some decay in a couple of the sails and then a subsequent inspection by Thompsons, the millwrights, revealed rot in at least six of the sails. "Lincolnshire County Council, who own the mill, then commissioned a structural engineer and timber preservation expert to carry out detailed tests on all the sails.
"It is now known that seven out of the eight sails need to be replaced. This means that they cannot be used for the foreseeable future."
But despite this setback, the mill, which has been enjoying its best year in terms of visitor numbers, is still keeping open.
Mr Wise said: "The mill is still open to the public every day and we are still producing flour. We are taking our wheat to Sibsey Trader windmill, where it is being ground, courtesy of the manager Ian Ansell.
"It then comes back to Heckington where we can process it on machinery that does not depend on wind power.
"Our excellent guided tours continue and the tea rooms are open every day, except Monday."
It is expected that it will be quite some time before the sails can be replaced as there is no funding immediately available for the work.
Mr Wise added: "We are looking to get back in action as soon as possible but we also realize that we are in for a long wait.
"Our mill is the only eight-sail mill in Western Europe and it is a national treasure, but it is not the only responsibility of the county council and they have little money in the heritage budget.
"At the moment we are also trying to raise the money to buy the Mill House for our tea room and other outhouses to improve and develop it as a business and education centre."
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Weather for Sleaford
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
