Calling all mini millers, age 4 – 7 years – join us to learn about and explore our wonderful windmill through crafts, activities and games this season. See our events page for mini miller sessions on the 3rd Saturday of each month, May to October. The session runs from 10am – 11am and costs £3 per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult and pre-booking is essential as places are limited. Book via email at minimillers@holgatewindmill.org
News – what’s happening at the mill?
Easter Opening
The windmill will be open on Easter Monday. Follow the bunny trail and solve the puzzle to win an Easter prize. Be ready for lots of climbing and fun while exploring this amazing historic windmill. Standard admission charge applies; £3 per adult, £1 for children 5-18 years, free for HWPS members, plus 50p per child for the Easter Trail activity, all ages welcome. No pre-booking required.
Pancake Day at the Mill
The mill is open on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd March from 11am until 4pm. Do come and look round the oldest 5-sailed mill in the country. Adults £3, children 5 – 18yrs £1. Under fives and HWPS members free. Plus on Sunday morning we will be holding Pancake Day at the mill. From 11am there will be freshly cooked pancakes, tea, coffee and juice (small charge applies) until the batter runs out – so come early and join in the fun.
Residents’ First Weekend
This weekend the mill is taking part in the city-wide Residents’ First Festival. It will be open on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th from 11am until 4pm. Admission will be free for York residents – please bring your library card or utility bill as proof of residence. Normal admission charges apply for non-residents.
Rich Fruit and Guinness Cake
Ingredients 8 oz butter 8 oz soft dark brown sugar 4 eggs (lightly beaten) 10 oz Holgate wheat flour, 2 tsp mixed spice (sieved or mixed together) 1 lb 8 oz mixed dried fruit About half a bottle of Guinness Method Preheat oven to 160C/gas mark 3. Cream butter and sugar. Gradually beat in eggs. Fold in flour and mixed spice. Add dried fruit and stir in well. Stir in enough Guinness to make a soft dropping consistency. Put in a parchment lined 7” round tin ( preferably not loose based) Bake for one hour then reduce to Gas Mark 2/150 C and bake for a further 1.5 Read More …
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our volunteers and supporters. The mill is now closed for tours but the shop remains open every Saturday morning 10am – 12pm through the winter. See the calendar for our open days next year.
Holgate Windmill Preservation Society AGM
All of our members are invited to our Annual General Meeting next Friday 30th November at 7.00pm. The venue is The Holgate, 6, New Lane, Holgate, YO24 4NT. Following the AGM we are delighted to welcome Rob Shorland-Ball who will be presenting his fascinating talk entitled ‘1900 – The largest roller flour mill in Europe:Leetham’s Mill, Hungate, York.’ We hope to see you there.
Making a Holgate Miller’s Smock
Would you like to make a smock like the one Holgate millers wear? Here it is. The design is basically an 18th century man’s shirt (think Poldark). A 5/8” seam allowance is included in these dimensions. It’s assumed you have experience of sewing. Everything is cut from rectangles. Fabric pieces Cut from white cotton or cotton/polyester such as a sheet: One rectangle for front, 26” wide by 30” long (or your preferred length plus 2” for hem). One rectangle for back, same size. Two rectangles for sleeves, 23” wide and as long as the distance from your shoulder to knuckles. Two Read More …
Santa at the Mill
Our very popular Santa at the Mill event is returning this year. Come and visit Santa, indulge in mince pies and hot mulled apple juice and see our mill beautifully decked out for the festive season. £5 per child including a present from Santa, adults free but donations welcome for mince pies and juice. There is no need to book but you may have to wait at busy times. We are open on Saturday 1st, Sunday 2nd and Saturday 8th December from 2pm to 4pm and Sunday 9th December from 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm
Holgate Windmill at St Crux
Instead of a milling day last Friday the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society were at St Crux Hall in the centre of York for a fundraising event. For the second year we provided home made food in the café and sold a selection of bric-a-brac outside and just like last time we were blessed with some lovely sunny weather. In the café we sold tea and coffee together with a wide selection of home made cakes together with leek and potato soup and filled sandwiches using bread buns baked by one of our commercial outlets, Ainsty Farm Shop – using Holgate Read More …