April 08. Runner stones lifted.
York was historically a City surrounded by Windmills. Today, the principal survivor is Holgate Mill, a mile west of the City Centre. Built c 1770, it now occupies a suburban roundabout, at the summit of Windmill Rise, Holgate, in the vee of the junction betweeen the A59 and B1224.
Its sails and fantail, were removed in the 1950's but the millstones and much of the original metal machinery survived inside. The original horse and cart track to the Mill, still remains in narrowed form, as a snicket from Acomb Road, opposite the junction with New Lane.
A group of local residents formed a Preservation Society in 2001, to fundraise, and ultimately restore the Mill. An A.G.M.is held each summer, and a Committee for the following year is elected. Residents can join the Society for £5 per year or £8 per household.
Planning Consent was granted in September 2004 for the Mill's restoration. This is valid for five years.
The first stage of restoration began in July 2006, with external renovation and weatherproofing, reglazed windows and an electrical supply.
The cap and fittings were spectacularly craned off in October 2006. The exposed curb ring - a circular monorail track which the cap rests and rotates on like a turntable - was found to be fractured in several places, and its supporting timbers rotted. A new curb ring and supporting oak timbers was craned on during August 2007. External scaffolding was removed two months later, to reveal the new lime rendering on the brick tower.This will be painted black during 2008.
The wooden beams which support the first floor and millstones, have had their rotted ends removed, and placed in new joist hangers. This enabled a forest of temporary props to be remove from the ground floor area beneath, to open this up as a useful working space. New stone paving was installed on the ground floor. The tentering machinery under the first floor could also be accessed and has been restored.
A new cap, including sails and a fantail are being made at the Alford (Lincs) Millwrights. These will incorporate as many of the old fittings as possible. It is being assembled at a site near the Mill, and will be painted white and craned on during the coming Spring.
Most recently, the first and second floor floorboards have been renewed. This includes a new, traditional style wall hugging staircase from the ground floor, to replace the present temporary steps. The latter occupied the site of the original sack hoist, which can now be partly reinstated, and fully so when the upper floors are also restored. Three of the four pairs of millstones have had their top "runner" stones lifted so that their condition can be checked for eventual restoration.
Substantial grants have been received from private donors, businesses and grant making trusts, to supplement the approx £4,000 that we have raised locally each year, towards the final bill of over £600,000. We still need to raise about £100,000 to complete the project, including internal renovation and decoration, interpretation displays plus fitment of safety railings to the roundabout which the Mill stands on. Further donations are welcomed!
Visit our main website via the link below, for more information, including our 2008 events and open days. That site also has links to other Windmill sites around the UK.
The restored mill also will be available for pre-arranged visits only by small groups, whose maximum numbers, visiting times and vehicle parking arrangements will be determined as part of Planning Consent by City of York Council. A charge will be made for each group visit, to cover Insurance and running costs.
Last update 18th April 2008.
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