Just as a slump in flour sales throughout the
winter was giving rise to anxiety, salvation
came in the form of yet another bread baking
television programme (BBC's Paul Hollywood's
Bread). The flour has literally flown off the
shelves since but only to be faced with another
poor crop growing season which is likely to
yield a lower volume and lower quality wheat,
not only in the UK; the US has suffered a worse
weather pattern which has meant that by 9 May
just 12% of corn had been planted compared with
a five-year average of 47% across 18 states. In
the Black Sea area grain has been sown in very
dry conditions which has been challenging for
the farmers, barley excepted (that is doing
fine). Even Wessex Mills are having to mix
Canadian with their local grains. So, grim times
may still be ahead for us traditional millers,
we shall just have to wait and see and hope that
the crop prices don't rise too high and cause
another slump in sales. Meanwhile, better and
more widespread publicity of National Mills
Weekend resulted in higher visitor
numbers and in Hampshire's case, a rise in the
number of group members too! Long may it
continue.
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Bere Mill, Whitchurch
and Donnington Mill House nr. Newbury, Berkshire:
are opening their beautiful grounds at under the
National Gardens Scheme (Yellow Book) in June.
Eling Tide Mill:
The mill has a new
iron pitwheel fitted and new concrete base to the
inlet arch under the toll bridge. It is not in full
milling operation yet but Dave Plunkett has
re-dressed both bed stone and runner stone and
rebalanced the runner for optimum wholemeal
production. Completion of sluice gate repairs are
expected at time of writing to allow full operation
for the summer season. The long awaited
commissioning of the rebuilt Eureka grain cleaner is
also expected later in May this year. Dave has
also supplied the following photographs of the new
pit wheel’s arrival and placement:
Information
from the website
http://www.elingtidemill.org.uk/ as we went to
press:
“Following the major restoration works, there are
plans to start running the mill this week. Some of
this will be testing and bedding in the machinery.
Therefore, milling times may not be accurate and it
is advisable to check before visiting if we are
milling. It will take us a couple of weeks (at
least) to replenish our flour stocks, but hopefully
we will have flour available again soon.”
Shears Mill, Bishopstoke:
A small HMG work party has carried out essential
cleaning and painting there.
Whitchurch Silk Mill:
The Trustees are seeking to appoint a new Chairman
as
The current Chairman, Keith Watts, is to step aside
from the role as part of a succession plan agreed in
the autumn. The Mill’s Trustees want a person who is
committed to keeping alive this part of our
industrial heritage. The person appointed will
have experience of leading an organisation that is
ambitious, wanting to grow, become more sustainable
and wants to develop models of excellence. Last
July, all of the then Trustees of the Mill resigned,
except Councillor Watts. By September a
diverse group of volunteers with a range of talents
came together as Boards of Trustees and Directors,
since when they have built strong partnerships with
local Councils and with the freeholders of
Whitchurch Silk Mill, Hampshire Buildings
Preservation Trust. In recognition of that,
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council and Hampshire
County Council have decided to continue to pay
substantial grants to the Trust. Councillor
Watts will continue to be the Trustee who represents
the Borough Council on the Trust.
