Heage Windmill

Heage – a derivation of ‘High Edge’ – comes from the Anglo-Saxon Heegge meaning high, lofty and sublime. It perfectly describes Heage Windmill. Presiding over spectacular views towards the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, the windmill was lovingly restored in 2002 and looks as good as when first built in 1797. A Grade II* listed building, it is now a major Derbyshire attraction highly rated by visitors and the only working six-sailed stone tower windmill in England. It is also the last windmill in Derbyshire producing stone ground flour the traditional way.

Heage Windmill opens to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am until 4pm from the beginning of April until the end of October, including Bank Holiday Mondays. There is no charge to visit the site and there is ample free parking. A fascinating optional tour of the mill (for which there is a small charge) is led by guides – usually in period costume – explaining the mill’s history and how she works. Last tour is at 3.30pm. The windmill is run by a charitable Trust who delegate operations on a day-to-day basis to a devoted team of volunteers.

Guided tours are special because they bring the ‘Old Lady’ – as she is called – to life. The guides point out some of the myriad of details developed over the years which make this windmill such a clever machine – because that is what she really is! Also on site are various features that offer ‘hands on’ experience to even quite young visitors. Our Visitor Centre normally has our stone ground flour on sale, milled on the very machinery you have seen on your tour. Light refreshments and souvenirs are also available. For any less able-bodied person there is an interactive virtual tour in the undercroft i.e. the basement of the mill.

The mill was restored to working order as a result of the efforts of a group of dedicated volunteers but new volunteers are always welcome. These include guides, shop workers, millers and a team which looks after the maintenance of the mill and her surroundings, keeping them in tip top condition.

The role volunteers can play in keeping the building in operation was recently demonstrated when two sails needed to be replaced due to rot and new ones would be on a two-year delivery programme. ‘We can surely make them quicker ourselves’ the volunteers agreed. And they did! Six months after taking delivery of the timber – and some 750 person hours later – the new sails were fitted to the windmill. It was a proud demonstration of great teamwork, and proved immensely satisfying for all involved.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Meg Tarlton on 07970 710041 or email h.secretary.w@gmail.com or visit our website www.heagewindmill.org.uk for more details on volunteering.

Further extensive repairs and refurbishment have been carried out over the past two years and the mill has now returned to full operation. So why not visit, see the sails turning, take in the views from our new picnic area and take a step back in time to see how flour was produced two centuries ago. A warm welcome is assured. Further details available on our website or our Facebook and Instagram pages.