By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
Work to repair a windmill in Nottingham that dates back more than 200 years will begin next year.
Green’s Windmill, in Sneinton, was originally built in 1807 and today welcomes around 20,000 visitors every year as an educational centre.
But its sails were removed in November 2022 because of the their deteriorating condition.
Until then it was a handful of working city windmills remaining in the UK, but its milling capabilities are limited until repairs can be done.
The work is expected to cost £761,227, with most of the money coming from the Arts Council England Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND).
Nottingham City Council’s executive councillors decided to press ahead with repair work using the funding during a meeting on Tuesday, June 18.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service was told work will commence early 2025 and take two years to complete.
Council leader Neghat Khan (Lab), who also represents Dales ward, said: “Green’s Windmill is a Grade II listed building and science discovery centre. It is one of Nottingham’s most cherished heritage sites.
“It is one of only a handful of actual working windmills remaining in the UK. I am privileged it is in Nottingham’s Dales ward.
“Due to risk and safety concerns the sails were removed in 2022, and a programme of urgent repairs to make the building watertight is essential to protect the windmill’s collection, staff and visitors.”
The windmill was built in 1807 by a ‘Mr Green’, who was a baker, and later inherited by his son, George.
The mill was abandoned on numerous occasions, including when George died in 1841 at the age of 47, as well as after a fire in 1947.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the mill was presented to the council and restoration began.
In 1985 the windmill and science centre opened to the public, and in 2012 the running of the site was put in the hands of the Green’s Windmill Trust, a registered charity.
Today it is open five days a week and entry is free.
Most of the working parts are at least 35 years old and exposed to the elements, and the mechanics and fabric of the fan-tail and sail frame have become “such a risk to staff and visitors” they had to be removed.
The repair work will restore the windmill to its original, working state, while also making it safe again for staff and visitors.