Restoration of delay-hit mill finally under way

The windmill's cap and fantail assembly, which weighs about 10 tonnes, was removed to allow for repair work to be carried out

Work to restore a Grade II listed mill is finally under way after it was plagued by a series of delays.

Skidby Mill, near Cottingham, had its sails removed in 2019 after wet rot was discovered.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council approved restoration plans in November 2023 but the work was further delayed due to the discovery of damage to the mill's cap.

The cap is due to be reinstated later this year once repairs have been completed, the council said.

The Grade II listed windmill, which was built in 1821, had its sails removed for restoration work in 2019

In addition to delays caused by the discovery of the damage to the mill's 10-tonne cap, the council said it had been "difficult" in securing the services of a specialist millwright to carry out repairs.

Three failed bearings had also been identified, which would need to be fabricated by a specialist contractor, a spokesperson added.

In April, councillor Richard Meredith said the project had been a "real saga from beginning to end".

Once the work has been carried out, the cap and fantail assembly would be inspected, repaired, waterproofed and redecorated prior to it being reinstalled on the mill later in the year, the council said.

This would then allow for the sails to be reinstated at "a later date", it added.

Skidby Mill, which was built in 1821, stopped commercial grinding in the 1960s, but has remained "a beloved symbol" of the region's rural identity, according to council officials.

Councillor Barbara Jefferson, cabinet member for heritage and coastal, said it was "marvellous" to see work progressing.

''We have worked hard to reinstate the features of an iconic landmark which means a lot to residents while inspiring our loyal visitors and inviting new ones to the local area.''

The restoration is part of a broader council initiative to safeguard local heritage.

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