Mills Section Online Event: Mills of Coast & County

Event details

Mills Section Online Event:

Millwright Engineers and Millers - A story of the Past and Present

An afternoon of fascinating and informative online talks on windmills and watermills and millwrighting expertise.

9 October 2021, 1.30pm – 4.45pm (BST)

Live Online Lectures

£12 pp - SPAB members

£15pp - Non-members

Additional Information: Please note that everyone that has booked and paid for the postponed Mills Section Spring event in March 2020 can access the event free of charge and will be contacted via email before the event.

IT requirements: Please note that this is an online lecture and will be held via a webinar platform (Zoom). You will be sent instructions on how to join the session the day before the lecture. To participate, all you need is an internet connection, and a laptop, computer or phone with the ability to play video and audio.  

Please note that the event will be recorded and available to watch up to seven days after the live lectures for all registered bookings.

Programme information:

Nathanael Hodge (Mills Archive Trust): Rex Wailes collection

Mildred Cookson: Berkshire Mills

Jonathan Cook: The Craft of the Miller

Geoff Wallis: Engineering = Ingenuity 

Schedule of talks:

1.30pm Opening of the event and welcome by Mildred Cookson

1.40pm Nathanael Hodge – Rex Wailes Collection

2.20pm Mildred Cookson  – Berkshire Mills

5  minute break

3.05pm Jonathan Cook - The Craft of the Miller

3.45pm  Geoff Wallis – Engineering = Ingenuity

4.25pm  Time for questions          

Speaker information:

Mildred Cookson

Mildred Cookson is a former miller and joined the SPAB Mills Section in 1976 and the Section Committee in 1984. She is particularly involved in working with millwrights; she also established the programme of one-day training courses and the Mill Repair Fund. At present she is a trustee of the SPAB and chairman of the Mills Section Committee, and editor of the Section’s newsletter, ‘Mill News’. She is also actively involved as trustee of the Mills Archive Trust.

Nathanael Hodge

Nathanael Hodge is the Archivist of the Mills Archive Trust, and part of the team that rescued the Rex Wailes Collection and now responsible for making it available to the public.

Jonathan Cook

Jonathan Cook is the Miller of Fosters Mill, Swaffham Prior and the UK representative of the Craft of the Miller Network.

Geoff Wallis

Geoff Wallis was one of the founders of Dorothea Restorations Ltd, and ran the company for three decades, specializing in traditional wind and watermill work, including repairing and making new waterwheels, sluice-gates, sails, gears, millstones and structural timberwork. The Company is now run by Geoff's son John, allowing him time to provide consultancy services in UK and abroad.

Geoff is a past President of the Newcomen Society for the Study of History and Technology and current President of the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society. He leads the Metalwork Conservation Masterclass at West Dean College, Sussex, lectures widely on practical conservation and has contributed to a number of books on the subject.

Booking Terms & Conditions

Accessibility: please contact the SPAB before booking to discuss any special access requirements.