Historic East Yorkshire Windmill could see it's sails turn for the first time in around a decade
It's after plans were revealed to replace two that have rotted
The sails at the historic Skidby Mill could turn for the first time in around a decade with plans to replace two of them which had rotted.
Plans lodged with East Riding Council would see four sails return after their removal for restoration. Plans stated two of the sails had to be replaced after wet rot took hold when the they stopped turning about ten years ago.
The plans follow efforts to restore the sails and get them back on the 19th Century corn mill which have been ongoing since 2020. Millwright Steve Boulton found weather rot in two of the sails was so severe that it would be unsafe to put them back on the mill.
The millwright was unable to make two replacements as they stopped trading during the coronavirus pandemic, so an alternative manufacturer was found in Suffolk.
The old sails were used as templates for the new designs but plans stated there will be subtle differences between them and the new ones.
The existing sails which will be refitted are not uniform in their design either, according to the plans which added the differences would not be visible from ground level.
Shades will not be installed along with the sails and no milling will be done when they return because they would turn too quickly, putting stress on the whole mechanism.
The sails will instead be bare and turn at a slow speed to allow them to shed water so they can last longer. If the four sails do not turn on their own then a minimum amount would be fitted to allow them to turn slowly on a moderately windy day.
Plans stated it was common for non-working mills to have bare sails, including ones in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. They stated: “The mill sails have not been turned for approximately 10 years have been left in a stationary position.
“This results in a degree of water penetration into the various joints of the sails. It inevitably speeds up the development of wet rot within the timber leading to the early failure of the sails.”
Skidby Mill was built in 1821 and was raised in the late 1870s. The mill’s fantail is still in place which allows its cap to rotate on its turning mechanism with the wind.
The mill site includes a cafe, courtyard and a museum. Plans to refit the sails are yet to go before councillors.