The Windmill

The afternoon of Sunday 2nd August 2015 was bright with a light breeze. After taking my dogs for a stroll over the Commons, I was able to have a moment of quiet reflection sat in the garden. The fan tail of the windmill stirred into action, slowly and deliberately the cap turned, with the sails coming to rest facing due south. Since moving to the Commons, the turning of the cap has been a fascination, being able to immediately see the prevailing wind direction, so instrumental in determining our weather.

Returning to a quiet and somewhat desolate Common after watching the professional cyclists race through the Village as part of the Ride London event, it was immediately obvious something dramatic had occurred, or had I enjoyed one beer too many! No on a second look there were only three sails on the windmill!

Staff from the Commons were already on site and it quickly became apparent that one of the stocks that supports the sails had sheared off, coming to land on the chimney stack and creating a large hole in the roof. Fortunately no one was injured, but damage was sustained to cars belonging to one of the Commons' Keepers and his partner.

Since then, working with the Windmill Museum Trustees, we have been able to repair the roof, clear away the debris and remove the sails. The windmill was reopened some six weeks after the damage, but looks bare and forlorn without its sails. We now need to look to the future and, in particular, to 2017 - the 200th anniversary of this iconic Grade II* Listed structure.

A major restoration scheme is needed. We already knew that water ingress through the Tower required attention, the structure needs repainting and there are other works necessary if we are to ensure that the building's integrity is not compromised. The last major works were in the mid-1990s, so it's not surprising that a wooden building sat on a hill, facing all that the elements can throw at it, year after year, is in need of a little tlc. It's also an opportunity to think about the museum and the opportunities for wider public engagement and education.

Together we need to consider how we can use this dramatic and sad event to create an opportunity for the future preservation of this most cherished landmark, an asset at the very heart of our community.