Historic windmill in Bursledon closes to the public

Hampshire Cultural Trust managed and operated the venue and offered guided tours

A 19th Century windmill has closed to the public due to financial difficulties.

Hampshire County Council approved Hampshire Cultural Trust's plan to close the tourist attraction, which is the county's only working windmill.

The cultural trust asked the authority if it could end operations there following a funding withdrawal.

Twenty-six historic objects associated with farming life were displayed at the venue.

The council's commercial transfer agreement said that if operations ended, it would be necessary to deal with the items within the property that were transferred to the cultural trust in 2014.

The council may request that the items be transferred to the authority or a new provider of operations.

In 2014, it entered into a management and funding agreement with the cultural trust to transfer responsibility for providing the council's arts, museum and heritage services.

'Diversifying'

The windmill, just off Junction 8 of the M27 between Southampton and Portsmouth, had its wind shaft and sails replaced following a £94,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

After it reopened, the cultural trust managed and operated the venue, offering guided tours, with a small shop providing gifts and refreshments.

But, in February last year, Eastleigh Borough Council terminated its funding agreement with the trust.

The county council said it "accepts the future course of action suggested by the cultural trust in connection with the venue closure, including management of accessioned Items, handling objects and other assets".

A report said the trust had made efforts to keep the windmill open by "diversifying" revenue through "grants, donations or commercial opportunities".

But it said it would not be "sufficient to support the financial viability of the venue".

The Grade II listed five-storey structure was rescued by Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust in the 1970s.

It has been a working windmill and heritage attraction since the 1990s.

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