Millers can't wait to show off restored windmill

A six-sailed windmill is reopening after years of repair work.

The Sibsey Trader Mill, built in 1877, was damaged after storms in 2015 and closed for repairs in 2020.

The mill – once held up as the pinnacle of windmill engineering – is now in working order and, from 2 May, will reopen on the first weekend of every month.

English Heritage, which owns the mill, said it was "very excited to be opening up to the public and showing off what we've done".

The history charity described the unusual mill as having "superior engineering and increased efficiency in low wind" because of its six sails.

It also originally had four mill stones to grind flour, rather than the usual three.

Rob Negus, of English Heritage, said it was "a pleasure and a privilege" to work at the newly restored mill.

He has taken the job so seriously that he has trained as an amateur miller to help run the 149-year-old building.

"It's been such a long process coming," he said.

"It's always been a passion of mine, so I was lucky enough to attend a course to essentially learn how to work this fantastic building.

"It's been a real joy."

Robert Ingamells, who began volunteering at the mill in 1999, said it had been "a great pleasure and very fascinating to see it back working again".

He became "hooked on windmills" having been taken to the top of nearby Alford Windmill at the age of two and a half.

"I'm very enthusiastic to keep it working for as long as possible," he added.

To mark the reopening, Sibsey Free Primary School, which uses the mill as its school emblem, held an art competion.

Olivia, eight, said the school was "super excited" that the windmill was opening.

Martha, seven, said the windmill was "really important" and that "it's really nice to see it running again".

Zac, 10, said he was glad it was open again because it had been "such a long time".

And Jasmine, 9, said: "Our school is really happy the windmill is open again because we have the windmill as our school logo".

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