Berkswell Windmill reopens after £200k restoration

Berkswell Windmill dates back to 1826 although it is believed another windmill was previously on the site

Jeanette McGarry owns the windmill which will be open to the public a number of times each year

Much of the windmill's mechanism is made from timber

English Heritage's Nick Reading (left) was pleased with the project that was overseen by John Boucher

Conservative MP for Meriden Caroline Spelman (right) helped officially reopen the windmill earlier in May

Berkswell Windmill will be open once a month between July and October

A 19th Century windmill in Warwickshire is reopening to visitors following a £200,000 restoration.

The improvements at the Grade II*-listed Berkswell Windmill took over five years to complete.

English Heritage donated much of the money for the project because the building was on its At Risk register.

The privately-owned windmill, which dates back to 1826, was a working mill until 1948. Volunteers will assist at the public open days.

Its owner Jeanette McGarry said she was fortunate to have been helped by a charity called the Friends of Berkswell Windmill.

'Big crane'

Ms McGarry said: "They've been absolutely tremendous.

"Without the volunteers we wouldn't be able to open to the public.

"The only responsibility owners of Grade-II* listed buildings have is to keep it watertight, but I thought if a building's watertight it can still fall into disrepair."

Consultant John Boucher spent 18 months overseeing the project which featured a series of repairs carried out by millwright Neil Medcalfe.

Mr Boucher said: "The most dramatic thing was that they took the cap off with a big crane, then took it away for repairs.

"While the cap was off we took the opportunity to repair the kerb which is the ring of timber on top of the brickwork."

Nick Reading, from English Heritage, said one of the conditions of awarding the grant was that the public would have access to the building.

People can view the windmill on the first Saturday of every month between July and October.