The afternoon of Thursday 18th January suddenly became very busy. A member of the Friends phoned me, as Bob’s phone was busy, to tell me that one of the sails had been damaged in the storm. I walked to the Mill in the very strong winds to see that the top left hand sail was broken off and hanging down, obviously caught on something. I tried to phone Bob, but his phone was still engaged as people were phoning him about the Mill and he was trying to contact me and Roger who came and met me at the Mill. Bob also phoned Nigel Oxley from the Council who, fortunately, was in the area, and then Bob came and met Roger, Nigel and me at the mill. We decided that nothing could be done then while the wind was so strong. We also did not approach too closely in case further damage occurred.
It was later ascertained that the stock of the forward pair of sails had broken adjacent to the canister and the sail appeared to be lodged against the front puncheon supporting the cap gallery. The striking rod was bent and the connecting links to the triangle (or bell crank) had either sheared the securing bolt or broken the corner of the cast triangle. The stock clamps fitted by the Friends have broken, but in breaking may have slowed the collapse and preventing major damage to the smock tower. This is apparently undamaged apart from a couple of weather boarding slats, and some of the petticoat boards are broken. The cap roof appears undamaged. The opposite sail will obviously have to be removed at the earliest opportunity and it would appear sensible to remove the remaining section of the stock at the same time.
Bob has asked me to thank everyone who has contacted him about the damage to the Mill. We all appreciate the interest and concern shown by people and local organisations.
At the time of writing we are awaiting the arrival of a crane to remove the damaged sail and then we can make sure everything else safe. - JW.