Shutter making & sponsorship

UPDATE Jan 2010: All shutter and fantail blade sponsorships have now been sold.

In a moment of enthusiastic madness HWPS committee decided that it would be a good idea to make all the shutters for the mill ourselves! Other mills have done this in the past and it is definitely a way of contributing directly, 'hands on' to the restoration. However the reality of what we had agreed to do became apparant when we took delivery of all the various components which make up a shutter.

Work has started in earnest on the first batch of the 200 shutters we have to make with committee and society members helping with the task. We still have a long way to go and if you would like to give a helping hand with this very important part of the mills anatomy then give Richie Green a call on 07926 151 132 and he will give you the times when shutter making sessions are being held. You don't have to be skilled to help, just enthusiastic.

Work on the shutters entails oiling the wooden spines, fitting the cast iron ends with screws, drilling and fitting the wire frames and cutting out and sewing on the canvas covers. When this is complete they can receive three coats of linseed oil rich white paint.

Thanks to everyone who has sponsored a sail - each shutter will be clearly numbered and inside the mill there will be a prominent plaque showing all the sails with the numbers corresponding to the names of the people who have sponsored them.