Past Events (About us - 2)
2009
Saturday, 14th March 2009 -
The Mill Owners' Forum met at St. Dogmaels
and discussed topics including making your mill viable, business rates,
use of modern materials, grant schemes, employment issues,
hydro schemes, health and safety, hygiene regulations, and pond restoration.
A full report will appear in Forum Enews4.
See News (Forum)
for contact information.
Saturday, 21st February 2009 -
Mucky Mills Gang
In Pembrokeshire - Pond cleaning day, and visit to a farm wheel site.
2008
Saturday 18th October 2008 -
The Society's Autumn Meeting and 24th AGM
was held at at Alice Springs Club, Kemeys Commander, Usk
Highlights included illustrated talks by Peter Morgan on the restoration
of Llancayo Windmill and by Alan Steel,
"Little Mill: from mill to house to mill"; followed by afternoon visits
to Llancayo Windmill, Llanyrafon Mill
(Llanyrafon Mill, Torfaen)
and Little Mill.
|
Saturday, 27th September 2008 - The Mucky Mills Gang went to a sawmill in Carmarthenshire on 27th September to carry out a measured survey, in order to make a full record of the site before it is sold. The day was used as an opportunity for a training session for members who wished to learn how to record a mill in a systematic way. The survey will form the basis of an article in a future edition of Melin . As well as the sawmill we found the remains of a cornmill on site , and a woollen mill further up the valley. |
| Bridgend Foundry cast overshot wheel |
Monday, 23rd to Friday, 27th June 2008 -
The Society visited The Isle Of Man
including the working 72 foot diameter Laxey mine pumping wheel, a fulling mill,
corn mills, a water powered roundabout, and the castle mill site.
|
Saturday, 31st May 2008 -
The Mucky Mills Gang
enjoyed a dirty weekend (well, dirty day )
at Pontysgawrhyd Mill near Welshpool, owned by Dave and Jane Wadley
( WMS members ). The aim was to clear out the wheelpit, to kick
start the restoration of the mill machinery .
Saturday, 26th April 2008 -
The Society's Spring Meeting at the Trecastell Hotel, Bull Bay, Amlwch, Anglesey.
John Crompton gave a talk on "Anglesey Mills in the Seventies", and
Dr Brian Davies on "Seeking dyes but finding pigments on Parys Mountain".
After lunch the Society visited
- Melin Cafnan, a watermill owned by the National Trust and attractively situated by the sea, with all its machinery but in need of repair.
- Melin Llynnon - the only working windmill in Wales.
- Melin Howell - a watermill retaining machinery but no longer working.
Weekend, 19-20th April 2008 -
Mill Experience Weekend organised by the Midland Mills Group
at Charlecote Mill. Practical aspects of restoring and running a mill.
Saturday, 15th March 2008 -
Millers Forum discussing common issues and seeking solutions.
A forum for mill owners, or those interested in buying a mill or operating a mill,
was held on Saturday 15th March 2008, at Y Felin, St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire.
It was attended by Mel Walters , Tim Haines, David Smith, Dave Wadley, Wyn Jones,
Dean Braithwaite, Mike Foxwell, Andy and Anne Parry, Tim Chilton , and Susan Phillips.
The subjects discussed included, water rights, grants, promotion and publicity, insurance ,
specialist suppliers and materials, power production, mill history and recording,
A list of specialist suppliers will be drawn up, and an E-News Forum
was proposed, which would carry up-dates
of progress on the issues discussed.
Since the forum I have been in touch with the Herefordshire Hydro Group, to see if we
can get any help with hydro systems at Welsh mills. They seem very anxious to help,
so I will try to arrange a meeting. So if you have, or know of a mill site in Wales,
which may benefit from a Hydro scheme please let me know. The viability of small scale
hydro is improving rapidly, with the price of heating oil having gone up by 70% in
the last year, all energy prices can only increase, the payback time for a hydro
system is decreasing considerably.
If you would like to receive the Forum E-News update, or are interested
in hydro power, please send your details to afindon@fsmail.net
2007
Saturday, 21 April 2007 -
Cider Mills was the focus of the
Society's Spring Meeting
based in Llanddewi Skirrid, Monmouthshire.
In the afternoon, there were visits to two cider mills
- not working, but still retaining horse-operated cider
mills and hand-operated cider presses; and other points of
interest. A full report is eagerly awaited.
Much information about the area can be found on the Village Alive Trust website. Further Cider lore can be found on the website of The Welsh Perry and Cider Society Ltd; note especially the "Heritage" page including interviews with traditional cider makers, and links to features about Great Tre-Rhew Farm and Cwm Farm Cider House
2005 - The Society Comes of Age
The Society celebrated its anniversary at the 21st AGM in October 2005 and with a visit to Ireland in 2006.
Read here about the 21st Annual General Meeting on the 22nd October 2005 at Swansea Museum .
