For many 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 many 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 2017 was held on
Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th 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. The theme for 2017 was Engineers and Engineering - a way of celebrating the engineers and millwrights who built the local mills and their machinery, and the millwrights of today who continue this ancient craft.

Morris dancers at Stone Cross Windmill Photo by David Jones   Open Day at Nutley Windmill : Photo by Nick Linazasoro

Details of Sussex Mills that planned to open to visitors on National Mills Weekend appear below. Mill owners are invited to contact us with details of their mill
MILL	DAY	OPENING TIMES	SPECIAL EVENTS AND COMMENTS
Argos Hill Windmill	SAT	2 pm to 5 pm
Michelham Priory Watermill	SAT	12 pm to 3 pm	An afternoon on the mill's engineering history to celebrate the chequered history of the mill and celebrate its ever changing character over the last 150 years or so. There will be a fascinating talk in the Tudor Barn on Saturday and the South Downs Folk Singers are performing on the Sunday. Plenty of fun children’s activities in the barn both days. Delicious scones and bread will be available in the café made with Michelham flour (subject to flour availability).
Nutley Windmill	SAT	10.00 am to 5.50 pm
MILL	DAY	OPENING TIMES	SPECIAL EVENTS AND COMMENTS
Argos Hill Windmill	SUN	2 pm to 5 pm
Chailey Windmill	SUN	3 pm to 5 pm	Downlands Radio amateur enthusiasts will be broadcasting from the mill all day on Saturday 13th and on the morning of Sunday 14th but the mill itself will only be open to visitors on Sunday afternoon
Cobbs Mill	SUN	10 am to 4 pm	Tangye engine will be running
High Salvington Windmill	SUN	2.30 pm to 5 pm	Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club with call sign GB0-HSM will be contacting other Mills
Jill Windmill	SUN	11 am to 5 pm
Michelham Priory Watermill	SUN	12 pm to 3 pm	The South Downs Folk Singers are performing on the Sunday. Plenty of fun children’s activities in the barn. Delicious scones and bread will be available in the café made with Michelham flour (subject to flour availability).
Nutley Windmill	SUN	10.00 am to 5.50 pm
Oldland Windmill	SUN	2 pm to 5 pm	Teas and refreshments
Polegate Windmill	SUN	11 am to 5 pm	A number of classic cars will be attending
West Blatchington Windmill	SUN	11 am to 5 pm	Dutch street organ, Vintage Tractor and possibly Lambs to pet, Model loco display, Radio operators, Stationary engines, 2nd hand books and jigsaws, Handmade mosaics stall, needlework and knitted items stall, Good As New stall and other attractions The mayor Cllr Pete West will be visiting the mill at 3 pm Home made cakes & refreshments Entrance to the mill : £2 adult £1 child
Windmill Hill Windmill	SUN	11 am to 4.30 pm	Free parking at the Horseshoe Inn New for 2017! Film of the restoration including milling machinery Virtual tour Stationary engines at the mill BBQ Sausages and burgers Plants - Teas and other attractions Mish Mash Morris at 2 pm

The website of G4CDD Denby Dale Radio Club has details of Amateur Radio Stations broadcasting from Mills on National Mills weekend.

Is your Sussex Mill listed here ?

If not . . . . please click here

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