Notes on the Spring Meeting of Hampshire Mills Group
held on 19^th March in Alton.

This meeting was organised for us by Jane Hurst, Secretary of the Friends of the Curtis Museum & Allen Gallery in Alton.  About thirty members met in the ‘French Horn’, where we had a private room, and this short meeting was held before Jane Hurst gave us a talk on the various sites in and around Alton.

Ashok Vaidya reported on the progress of the proposed book on the mills and millers of Hampshire – the first volume of which is to be the Meon, the Itchen and also the Hamble rivers.  Ashok is trying to get an introductory article, and is still collecting information and photographs;  He will be able to use some of John Reynold’s drawings, and also the watercolour paintings that we have of various Hampshire mills. Members thanked Ashok for all his hard work.

A list was circulated for volunteers for National Mills weekend to help Eleanor at Hockley Mill on the Sunday.

Bursledon Windmill, which is owned by Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust and operated by Eastleigh Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, will retain the miller on a two-day a week basis with volunteers manning the mill at other times. 

Eling Tide Mill repairs on the sluice gate had been completed.  The Town Council are applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £1 million for the ‘Eling Experience’ which includes the mill, car park, toll bridge and a project to generate electricity in the mill.

Crux Easton Wind Engine: the work has started to replace the beams holding the pump rods.

Headley Mill: Dave Plunkett has been to see where the roof is being repaired and the walls repointed with the appropriate lime mortar.

Slipper Mill pond, in Emsworth has had its bank reinforced and this work is now completed.

There was a short discussion about EU water rights, too difficult a subject to write about here.  This subject must be watched by us all.  

This brief meeting was followed by a very interesting talk on Alton, the various water-powered industries that had once been in the town and the mills distributed along the river north of Alton.   Jane Hurst gave us maps so that we can explore further on another day.  After enjoying our lunch, we set off for a walking tour of some of the sites Jane had talked about, finally ending up for tea at the Allen Gallery – a delightful house and  garden with (mainly) exhibits of pottery,  where we ended our very interesting day.  

Alison Stott

Jane Hurst showing us some mathematical tiles