Meir Heath Windmill

Work on porous concrete roof to make it watertight

Andrew Milward and his son Andrew Joseph Milward, first developed an interest in the Wind Mill in 2002, whilst exposing the buried iron slag in the grounds of a former iron foundry opposite the mill.
It was looking in a very dilapidated state, with trees growing out of the walls, and the iron restraing bands corroding away. We then decided that something must be done to save this Heritage Treasure.

I Persuaded the landlord to let myself, son, and Dr Barry Job of Staffordshire University to do a survey on the mill. Barry Job has published a book on all the mills in the Moddershall Valley,
so he was very pleased to obtain access to the mill as it was the only mill he had not been allowed to survey. It was raining when we all inspected the interior of the mill and the water was soaking through the pourous concrete roof.

The ingress of water was causing the timber structure to become rotten and unsafe, and required urgent attention, also the main steel girder supporting the concrete floor was being attacked by rust and in danger of collapse.
I tried to make contact with the brewery to explain the situation inside the mill, but they failed to acknowledge any of my correspondence etc.

At this point a group was formed called the "MEIR HEATH WINDMILL GROUP" to try and resolve the noncommittal response from the brewery. After much persuasion from the group, they finally agreed to meet the requirements of Stafford Borough Council, and English Heritage people, which was to make the Mill watertight and stable.

As the windmill group had diverse opinions on how to solve the many problems involved. I decided that it was in everyone's best interest if I resigned as president of the group, and open a web site to form a chronical of events that happen through the years. Anyone can submit their opinions to be published on this site.

Pictures of work being done to concrete cap.

Image: These pictures were taken by Andrew Milward and son, showing the repairs to the concrete cap of the windmill due to the ingress of water through the porouse concrete roof.

These pictures were taken by Andrew Milward and son, showing the repairs to the concrete cap of the windmill due to the ingress of water through the porouse concrete roof.