Briggate Mill Under Threat

January 2008

Hardley windpump
under restoration

The Friends of Norfolk Mills . . .

are a varied mix of people of all ages who have an interest in the wellbeing of Norfolk mills. All types of mills in Norfolk are precious and unique to the Norfolk landscape and whether you live in Norfolk or holiday here, the corn windmills, watermills and drainage windpumps form an important part of the county's heritage.

We have a healthy membership and a committee who meet several times a year to arrange talks, visits, fundraising and social events for members and friends alike.

Our website intends to:

• Help promote the Friends of Norfolk Mills and its activities to the world

• Help preserve and record part of Norfolk's heritage

• Act as a notice board to all mills in Norfolk by publicising events, meetings, activities and fundraising opportunities

• Have the artistic flare to produce paintings and photographs.

• Help attract as many new members as possible

Who are we?

• We are a small not-for-profit organisation with members of all ages. We all have a common interest – Norfolk mills.

• We were formerly known as The Norfolk Mills Group. However, following the AGM in October 2007 the committee were asked to assess the organisation's current and future position – it was agreed that the group should reform itself subject to a plan being approved by the Members. A vote on the changes took place and at a meeting in March 2008 the results proved an overwhelming majority and the new Constitution was agreed.
  
  
• We aim to stimulate interest in Norfolk Mills and to assist those involved in the conservation and restoration of Norfolk Mills. We maintain close links locally with The Norfolk Windmill Trust, Friends of Letheringsett, Friends of Hardley, Morse’s Wind Engine Park and others with similar aims. Further afield we keep in contact with the Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings – Mills Section, which actively promotes mills at a national level. We also contribute to the Mills Archive Trust based in Reading, which records and stores national mill related archive material.

What do we do?

• The Friends of Norfolk Mills promotes and supports Norfolk mill repair projects through active publicity and fundraising.

• We like to provide a varied programme of talks, visits and social events. For more details on our activities please check our forthcoming events page on a regular basis.

• A Friends of Norfolk Mills NewsLetter is produced three times a year and this is filled with news from around the county and further afield. There are historical articles, local mill news and progress reports, book reviews, photographs and much more. We actively encourage Members to submit mill related articles for consideration as this is a wonderful opportunity to share experiences with fellow members. The Friends of Norfolk Mills newsletter is distributed free of charge to all members.

• Norfolk Mill Records Project – the preservation of Mill Related Records is taken seriously by the organisation. We are aiming to actively collect, digitally record (and return) photos, slides and documents in order to preserve them for future generations to learn and enjoy. We are particularly looking for Norfolk mill related material which members or non-members my have lurking in drawers and attics…for more details of the scheme please see Norfolk Mill Records Project

Who are our members?

Anyone can join ... there is no such thing as a typical member ……….

Some members:

• Have specialist technical millwrighting or building skills

• Have an understanding of how important historical records are and take on the task of writing papers and books

• Have used modern technology to create mill archive websites

• Have the artistic flare to produce paintings and photographs.

• Other members just enjoy helping to do there bit in the ongoing task of preserving our heritage.

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2008