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The Alton meeting report carries details of HMG work party activities so here are some Hampshire mills which provide leisure activities for enjoyable days out.  Why not set yourself the important  task of sampling all the homemade cakes and cream teas – but not all on the same day! At the same time you will be supporting the mills’ continued existence. If you have a favourite Hampshire mill worth a trip out to, do share it with us. Now, enjoy!

Alderholt Mill near Fordingbridge is a working mill producing flour for sale and commercial bakers.  In addition to the welcome tea room, the owners provide b&b and self-catering for that all essential get-away-from-it-all break.  It is understood that plans for the installation of a turbine to produce electricity are now well under way.     

Chesapeake Mill has overwhelming sense of history about it and although it is now used to display gifts and antiques, much history and machinery can still be seen throughout the building.  A separate room has been devoted to telling the history of the captured warship. An audio visual display includes the involvement of the Hampshire Mills Group in consultations with the council and saviours of this marvellous old mill.  An excellent tea room affords views over the river and delicious home-made fare.  Check www.chesapeakemill.co.uk/ for opening times.     

Eling Tide Mill made television news with the revelation that planning has been applied for the installation of a turbine to produce electricity whilst producing its various flour products.  Is Eling the first Tide Mill to do this?  Visit this fascinating mill, part of the Eling Experience incorporating the village, plus museum (and tea room!). Check out www.totton-and-eling-tc.gov.uk/Living_In_The_Town/Tide_Mill.aspx for opening times.   

Gordleton Mill:  this old watermill on the outskirts of Lymington has been a restaurant for quite a while but the owners are to be commended  having spent several years restoring the waterwheel  and all the paraphernalia that goes with producing electricity; the works are successfully completed complementing the restaurant’s green credentials resulting in being awarded the New Forest Marque for sourcing local ingredients including Eling Tide Mill Flour, itself the proud bearer of the New Forest Marque. Gordleton Mill is in Silver Street, Hordle, Hampshire, SO41 6DJ | Tel: 01590 682219 |info@themillatgordleton.co.uk

Longbridge Mill up in the north of Hampshire at Sherfield on Loddon is owned by a restaurant chain – and is their only working mill restaurant out of the 19 purchased from Whitbread a couple of years ago. Flour produced at the mill is on sale during normal opening times and the mill is operated by HMG members (usually) on the fourth Saturday of each month.

Here are the answers to the Spring Quiz..............

1.   At South Stoneham, Woodmill was a tidal mill on the River Itchen close to the tide lock of the Itchen Navigation and the building in the picture was built in the nineteenth century on the site of and earlier Woodmill run by the Taylor family where, in the 1780s, blocks were made for the Navy. Salmon pools just below South Stoneham House were formed by the mill’s bypass channels.  In 1781 S. Walter Taylor built the block making mill alongside the existing corn mill but the family monopoly of this craft ceased, possibly about 1811, when the Admiralty began their own manufactory.  The corn mill continued milling suffered damage by fire in 1931 and enemy action in 1941.  For fuller details of this mill’s fascinating history see page 48 of the Water & Wind Mills in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight gazetteer produced by members of SUIAG in 1978.

2.   John Lovell was featured on local radio and the national press with his amazing collections of artefacts and memorabilia.  You get a chance to see it too on Sunday, 29^th May, at Lords Farm near Petersfield.  See the separate advert for full details.

3.  A stellingmolen is a Dutch term for a tower windmill which has a reefing stage.

And here are your summer brainteasers..........

1. Photographed in Cornwall, what is the apparatus called and can you guess what it was used for?                                                                                                    

2.  Which Hampshire company made machinery for mills and were renowned for their turbines under “British Empire” and “River” trademarks?

3.  What, in milling terms, is a Spider and where will you find one?