Family day helps repair windmill

The free event, held on 10th and 11th September, raised over £2,000 through refreshments and donations alone.

Aimed at the whole family there was a variety for the children to do as well as keeping the adults entertained too.

Volunteer James Barlow said the weather definitely helped to make the day more fun.

“The wind was blowing so the children were grinding corn,” he said.

“We also made a clay oven where the children were making pizzas on it, and they loved it.”

Visitors could also have a go at archery, clay pigeon shooting and enjoy a display from the Yorkshire Hawking Club.

Mr Barlow said the children seemed especially impressed with being able to make their own scarecrow and pet the farm animals.

The money raised will go straight into repairing the windmill and with work beginning in the next fortnight, it is hoped that the repairs will be complete by the end of the year.

Mr Barlow, who has been involved with the windmill for about 20 years, said the main work will be on repairing the sails as they are coming to the end of their life.

The windmill has also been shortlisted for an English Heritage Angel Award, supported by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Friends of the windmill have been invited to attend a glittering award ceremony at the Palace Theatre in London on Monday 31st October where the final winners will be announced.

Mr Barlow said the fantastic news was really unexpected.

“We were more concerned with getting the mill sorted so it was really out of the blue,” he said.

You can vote at: http://subscriber.telegraph.co.uk/loyalty or : www.english-heritage.org.uk/angelawardsvote.