The iconic Sibsey Trader Mill is to be restored by English Heritage, following a meeting with Matt Warman, MP for Boston and Skegness.
After the meeting, making the case for urgent restoration of Sibsey’s unique windmill, Matt said,
“I am relieved that English Heritage have recognised the urgent need for repair and renovation work on this Grade 1 listed monument and will be looking to appoint contractors to carry out the work as soon as possible. I have visited the mill, the only working one of its kind in the country, several times, and to see it in its present sorry state without its sails and unable to mill the flour it was designed for is a very visual reminder of the need for protection of our great industrial heritage.”
The responsible body for the protection and preservation of the mill is English Heritage, who recognise that previous attempts to repair the mill left it vulnerable to the current damage. Alex Sydney, Head of Investment and Involvement, who attended the meeting at Sibsey windmill, has confirmed that the repair of the mill is now a high priority for English Heritage.
Alex commented,
“I am very aware of the concern both locally and more widely around the future of this wonderful working building. English Heritage is totally committed to returning the mill to its rightful place as one of only a small number of fully working windmills in the country and is also committed to doing this as quickly as possible. In order to achieve this aim, we will almost certainly need to replace the windmill cap and conserve the sails and fantail. English Heritage will ensure that this project is carried out thoroughly and we will be undertaking a tender process which fully involves our fantastic local mill manager Ian Ansell. This will ensure that we appoint millwrights with the necessary expertise in order to restore the mill to its full glory.”
The importance of involving the local community in the restoration project was also discussed, with an undertaking from English Heritage to commission interpretation boards and information leaflets explaining the work being undertaken.
Matt commented,
“I know that Sibsey windmill is held dear by the village of Sibsey and beyond, and I will work with English Heritage to ensure this project is delivered as quickly as possible within the constraints of ensuring that the appropriate skilled people are commissioned for the work. I will be writing to Sibsey villagers, as well as all those who took the time to contact me about this issue, to update them on progress as the project progresses. In the meantime, I would urge everyone to support the windmill by continuing to visit and use the tea room with its wonderful baked goods produced using Sibsey mill flour. I will be dropping in as the project progresses and look forward to seeing the striking silhouette of Sibsey mill with its six sails restored to the local landscape.”