Return
of the Cap & Fantail...
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The morning started early for the trailer drivers. The cap was moved from its home on the Network Rail site at 6am onto a side road adjacent to the mill. By 8.30am, the BT engineers had the telephone lines down on Windmill Rise and the millwrights arrived to supervise the transport of the cap up to the mill.
The lifting process took around half an hour and when the cap was finally in place, the committee celebrated with a glass of well deserved champagne and a round of applause. The biggest thanks of all go to our fantastic millwrights Tom, Steve and Dave who have made all of this possible (...that's Steve in the picture below, talking to local residents). Their next task is to fit the fantail onto the stage.
As always, please do not park on Windmill Rise to minimise disruption to residents. There is plenty of parking on Acomb Road. |
About the Cap |
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• The old cap and brakewheel were removed in October 2006 for a six month restoration project. Three years later, the new cap, complete with fantail, iron cross and restored brakewheel is now ready! A fantail stage was last seen on the mill in 1939. • The cap is formed from 28 Ogee shaped oak spars. These have been clad with horizontal pine boarding, followed by vertical boards of red cedar, all meticulously chamfered into the graceful curves. It truely is a work of art and incredibly beautiful to see. Tom, Steve and Dave, our Millwrights have done an amazing job. •It has been painted with a white paint that will keep its (very) bright colour for longer. It has also been fitted with a lightning conductor.
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We've
done it! Holgate windmill is now the proud owner of a brand new
cap and fan stage. All those who braved the (very) cold weather
were rewarded for their patience by viewing a spectacular sight
on Saturday morning.
As
the crowds and press photographers gathered around the mill, the
millwrights worked hard to remove the temporary roof and carried
out some minor brickwork repairs and by lunchtime, they were all
ready to go. The slings were attached round the cap and the great
lift began. 
The
mill will be open on Sunday 29 November for one day only to view
the inside of the mill. It will open from 11am - 4pm but we do expect
it to be very busy so please be patient. Entry is free for members
of the society or £3 for non-members, though of course you
can join the society on the day if you wish.
•
Holgate Windmill has a Lincolnshire style "Ogee" shaped
cap.