Published by the Surrey Industrial History Group and printed

by YesPrint 3 Leafy Oak Workshops Cobbetts Lane Yateley GU17 9LW

© SIHG 2010 ISSN1355-8188

1

www.sihg.org.uk

Reigate Heath Windmill -

Historic Windmill

Renovation Nearly Complete

26 August 2010

A HISTORIC windmill has had a new

30ft tail post craned into position as part

of the final stage of its restoration.

Reigate Heath windmill, which dates

back to 1765, is thought to be the

only one in the country which is a

consecrated church.

In 1880, the roundhouse was converted

into a Chapel of Ease to St Mary's.

Services are still held in the tiny church

during the summer.

Over the past three weeks, Reigate &

Banstead Borough Council, which owns

the mill, has been undertaking a range

of restoration works including repairing

slats to the Vestry and Crown, while the

whole structure has been given two

coats of tar to weatherproof it.

And, as restoration works draw to a

close on the Grade II-listed building,

council bosses are promising the mill

church will be ready for the Heritage

Open Days Weekend on

September 9-12, with the rest of

the building opening shortly after.

Councillor Mike Miller, executive

member for planning, transport and

housing, said:

No 177 Sep 2010

Reigate Heath Windmill - Renovation.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/632932

© Copyright Ian Capper (Creative Commons Licence)

“The old tail post was showing signs of decay.

“The new one, carved from a specially selected Douglas Fir tree, has been made in the same style

“and will be fitted in the same way as the old one.

“The work is being carried out as part of our remit to maintain our historic buildings.

“Once completed, Reigate Heath windmill will be a gleaming beacon on our skyline again.”

A 6ft length of the old tail post and the original peg workings will be going to the local Holmesdale

Museum in Reigate.

The tail post was used by the miller to turn the windmill into the wind and then he would set the sails.

The mill has not worked by wind since 1862.

This article appeared at www.getsurrey.co.uk (search for ‘windmill’). ¤

Surrey Industrial History Group Officers

Chairman & SIHG Lectures Organiser: Robert Bryson, meetings@sihg.org.uk

Secretary: Alan Thomas, info@sihg.org.uk

Treasurer: (vacant)

Membership Secretary: David Evans, membership@sihg.org.uk

Newsletter Editor: Jan Spencer, news@sihg.org.uk

September 2010 2 Newsletter 177

Reports & Notices Details of meetings are reported in good faith, but information may

become out of date. Please check details before attending.

SIHG Visits, Details & Updates at www.sihg.org.uk

Contents

1 Reigate Heath Windmill Renovation

2 Notices

3 Venues, Times & Contacts & Diary: 20 September - 30 November

6 Surrey Industrial History Group Officers

5 Is Ockham Mill an Odious Building? by Alan Crocker

7 Industrial Archaeology News No 154 Autumn 2010 report by Gordon Knowles

Members' Talks If you would like to give a short talk on a holiday experience

or your research on an Industrial Archaeology topic,

please sign up for 7 December 2010. Please contact Bob Bryson, meetings@sihg.org.uk.

SIHG Outing- London - 28 Oct - see p 3.

Barrett, Exall & Andrewes - Reading Pioneers in Steam

Museum of English Rural Life, Reading. Wednesday 3 November 2010, 1300-1400. The Reading Iron Works was one of the foremost builders of steam engines in the nineteenth century.

Roy Green, an expert on the history of the company, and Dr Jonathan Brown, MERL Honorary Fellow,

give a guide to the business and its engines. Free and open to all, but advance booking is essential,

0118 378 8660 or merlevents@reading.ac.uk. MERL, Relands Road, Reading RR1 5EX. www.reading.ac.uk/merl

Council for British Archaeology / Association for Industrial Archaeology

East Midlands Regional Industrial Heritage Day School

Hosiery and Lace Industries

+ site visit in the afternoon to lace mills in Long Eaton & Erewash Canal

Thursday 11 November 2010, 0930 - 1630. Booking: www.britarch.ac.uk

at Long Eaton Art Room, Granville Avenue, Long Eaton, Derbyshire

Surrey Archaeological Society Autumn Conference 2010 - The Research Framework

Building Materials from Timber to Tiles

Saturday 20 November 2010 0930 - 1630

Presentations on a Range of Materials by eminent Specialists from

English Heritage and the Commercial World

The Dixon Hall, The Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8AH

Tickets from the Society, Castle Arch, Guildford, GU1 3SX

£8 in advance, £10 on the day. Details: www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk

September 2010 3 Newsletter 177

SIHG is a group of the Surrey Archaeological Society, Registered Charity No 272098

Castle Arch Guildford Surrey GU1 3SX

Group Patron: David Shepherd OBE, Group President: Prof AG Crocker FSA

SIHG Newsletter No 177 September 2010

DIARY

The 35th series of SIHG Industrial Archaeology Lectures starts on 29 September 2010 on alternate Tuesdays, 1930 - 2130 at the University of Surrey (Lecture Theatre F).

Enquiries to programme co-ordinator, Bob Bryson, meetings@sihg.org.uk. Maps at www.sihg.org.uk

Free parking is available in the evening on the main campus car park.

Single lectures at £5, payable on the night, are open to all.

The Autumn 2010 Thursday Morning Lecture Series at Leatherhead starts on 23 September 2010.

Enquiries to Leatherhead programme co-ordinator Ken Tythacott, Ken.tythacott@btinternet.com. As seating is strictly

limited, enrolment is for the whole course only; casual attendance is not possible.

Surrey Industrial History Group

Half-term Visit on Thursday 28 October 2010

London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, followed, after lunch, by a visit to the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

The London Transport Museum tells the story of the development of the capital’s bus, tram, trolley-bus and underground railway systems,

the effect that this had on the lives of Londoners and the growth of suburbia.

Tower Bridge, opened in 1894, was one of several designs to provide a new river crossing without impeding ships seeking to sail into the

Pool of London. Visitors ascend the North tower by lift to the upper walk-way level where there is a video telling the history of the

building of the bridge. As visitors cross the enclosed walk-ways they will find models, drawings and photographs about the bridge as well

as panoramic views across London, so bring your cameras. After descending the South tower the visit continues to the plant rooms where

the steam engines and hydraulic gear which operated the bascules of the bridge are excellently preserved and presented.

Refreshment facilities. There is a café in the London Transport Museum and many places for lunch round Covent Garden.

Travel arrangements. The coach will depart from the rear car park of the Leatherhead Leisure Centre promptly at 0900. In your timings

please allow for the traffic congestion through Leatherhead at this time. The coach will then pick up passengers from near the public car

park by the Sainsbury’s roundabout on the A3100 at Burpham (not Sainsbury’s own car park) before proceeding to London on the A3.

After lunch the coach will transport us from Covent Garden to Tower Bridge at a time to be announced. The intention is that we should

return to Leatherhead by around 1715. When approaching the Leisure Centre do not park in the first car park on your left but continue past

the Centre buildings and park in the farthest section of the rear car park. It is free of charge.

Cost. The cost of entry fees, the coach and driver’s gratuity will be £20,

reduced to £10 for those who are enrolled on the Leatherhead SIHG Thursday course.

Guests will be welcome subject to availability of seating on the coach.

Further details from

Ken Tythacott - Ken.tythacott@btinternet.com, Geoff Roles - geoffrey@groles.wanadoo.co.uk, or Robert Bryson meetings@sihg.rg.uk.

Diary September 2010

23 Thu Surrey Industrial History Group: New Lecture Course at Leatherhead.

28 Tue Surrey Industrial History Group New Lecture Series (Guildford): Watches in England,

the First Hundred Years, 1580-1680 by David Thompson, Curator of Horology, British Museum

Diary October 2010

12 Tue Surrey Industrial History Group Lecture Series: The Cable Ships of Turnchapel by John Avery, Local Historian.

26 Tue Surrey Industrial History Group Lecture Series:

Replicating British Army Aircraft No 1 by David Wilson, Farnborough Air Sciences Trust.

28 Thu Surrey Industrial History Group: Half Term Visit London Transport Museum & Tower Bridge, page 3.

Diary November 2010

09 Tue Surrey Industrial History Group Lecture Series:

Robert Stephenson - Eminent Engineer by Dr Michael Bailey, Past-President, Newcomen Society.

20 Sat Surrey Archaeological Society: Conference - Building Materials from Timber to Tiles, see page 2.

23 Tue Surrey Industrial History Group Lecture Series: Start, Stop, and Start Again: Building the Oxted Line

(Croydon to Oxted) in 1865-67 & 1880-84 by PaulSowan, Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society.

September 2010 4 Newsletter 177

Institute of Welsh Affairs

History Heritage & Urban Regeneration

A One-day Conference at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Thursday 14 October 2010 0930 - 1730

The day will explore how history and heritage, particularly of our industrial past,

can help inform creative and sustainable regeneration.

The day will also launch a new project, funded by the ESRC, on the

Local and Global Worlds of Welsh Copper

at Swansea University.

Conference tickets: £40 for IWA members £50 for non-members.

Booking: 029 2066 0820 or wales@iwa.org.uk; www.iwa.org.uk/en/events/view/100.

Institute of Welsh Affairs, 4 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9LJ

Other IA Organisations

Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre: next to Amberley railway station, West Sussex, www,amberleymuseum.co.uk.

Association for Industrial Archaeology: www.industrial-archaeology.org.

Basingstoke Canal Authority: 01252 370073.

Brighton Circle (London, Brighton & South Coast Railway): www.lbscr.demon.co.uk.

Chatham Historic Dockyard: Kent ME4 4TZ; www.chdt.org.uk.

Cobham Bus Museum: London Bus Preservation Trust, Redhill Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1EF; www.lbpt.org.

Croydon Airport Visitor Centre: Aiport House, Purley Way Croydon CR0 0XZ; www.croydon-airport.org.uk.

Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society: meetings: Small Hall, United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, E Croydon.

Cuffley Industrial Heritage Society: Northaw Village Hall, 5 Northaw Road West, Northaw EN6 4NW; www.cihs.org.uk.

Didcot Railway Centre: Access via Didcot Parkway Station; www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk.

Docklands History Group: Museum in Docklands, No 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, London, E14 4AL;

www.docklandshistorygroup.org.uk.

East London History Society : Latimer Church Hall, Ernest Street, E1; www.eastlondonhistory.org.uk.

Enfield Society: Jubilee Hall, 2 Parsonage Lane, Enfield, EN2 0AJ; www.enfieldsociety.org.uk.

Fetcham U3A: http://fetchamu3a.org.uk/home.htm.

Greenwich Industrial History Society: Old Bakehouse, Age Exchange Centre, 11 Blackheath Village, SE3 (opposite Blackheath Station).

Great Dorset Steam Fair: South Down, Tarrant Hinton, nr Blandford, Dorset DT11 8HX; www.gdfs.co.uk.

Hampshire Archaeology Society (HIAS): Underhill Centre, St. John's Road, Hedge End, SO30 4AF.

Hampshire Mills Group: www.hampshiremills.org.

Heritage Open Days: 1 Waterehouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST; www.heritageopendays.org.uk.

Honeywood Museum: by Carshalton Ponds, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 3NX; www.friendsofhoneywood.co.uk.

Kempton Great Engines: Feltham Hill Road, Hanworth, Middx TW13 6XH (off elevated section of A316); www.kemptonsteam.org.

Kew Bridge Steam Museum: Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 0EN; www.kbsm.org.

Lewisham Local History Society: Lewisham Methodist Church SE13 6BT.

London Canal Museum: 12/13 New Wharf Road, N1 9RT; www.canalmuseum.org.uk.

London Transport Museum, Acton Depot: 2 Museum Way, 118 - 120 Gunnersbury Lane, London, W3 9BQ; 020 7565 7298.

London Underground Railway Society; Upper Room, All Souls Clubhouse, 141 Cleveland Street, London W1T 6QG; www.lurs.org.uk

Lowfield Heath Windmill: near Charlwood.

Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line): Alresford Station, Alresford, Hants SO24 9JG or

Alton Station, Alton, Hants GU34 2PZ; www.watercressline.co.uk.

Newcomen Society London: Fellows’ Room, Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD.

Newcomen Society Portsmouth: Room 0.27, Portland Building, University of Portsmouth, St James Street off Queen Street, Portsea.

Open City London (Open House London): www.open-city.org.uk.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: www.historicdockyard.co.uk.

Railway & Canal Historical Society: The Rugby Tavern, Rugby Street, London WC1; www.rchs.org.uk

Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Local History Group: Time & Talents Centre, Old Mortuary,

St Mary Church Street, Rotherhithe Village, SE16; www.kingstairs.com/rotherhithe.

Royal Gunpowder Mills: Waltham Abbey; www.royalgunpowdermills.com.

Rural Life Centre, Old Kiln Museum, Reeds Road, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey GU10 2DL.

Shalford Mill (National Trust), Shalford Guildford Surrey GU4 8BX.

Shere, Gomshall & Peaslake Local History Society: Shere Village Hall, Gomshall Lane, Shere GU5 9HE; www.sherehistorysociety.co.uk.

Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Society: Housing Co-op Hall, 106 The Cut SE1 8LN (almost opposite the Old Vic).

Shirley Windmill: Postmill Close, Shirley, Croydon CR0 5DY; visitor@croydontowncentre.com.

STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway: Kemble Drive, Swindon, SN2 2TA; www.steam-museum.org.uk

Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society (The Basingstoke Canal): Parish Pavilion, Station Road, Chobham; ww.basingstoke-canal.org.uk.

Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society (SIAS): www.sussexias.co.uk.

Sussex Mills Group: www.sussexmillsgroup.org.uk.

Twyford Waterworks:Hazeley Road, Twyford, Hampshire SO21 1QA; www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/.

Wealden Iron Research Group: Nutley Memorial Hall, Sussex, (North end of village, West side of A22).

Westcott Local History Group: Westcott Reading Room, Westcott near Dorking, Surrey RH4 3NP; info@westcotthistory.org.uk.

Wey & Arun Canal Trust: The Granary, Flitchfold Farm, Loxwood Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 ORH; www.weyandarun.co.uk.

Wings & Wheels at Dunsfold Park: near Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8TB; www.wingsandwheels.net.

September 2010 5 Newsletter 177

In 2007 SIHG awarded its annual

conservation plaque to the Horsley

Countryside Preservation Society (HCPS)

for its initiative in conserving a series of

bridges built by Lord Lovelace, mainly in

the 1860s, on his forest estate south of

East Horsley. As part of its efforts to

obtain a major grant from the Heritage

Lottery Fund, HPCS is now extending this

Lovelace Bridges Project to include other

Lovelace buildings in East Horsley and

neighbouring villages. One of these

buildings is Ockham Mill (NGR TQ 0559

5792) and HPSC asked me for my

comments on it and to write a note for the

their magazine Around & About Horsley.

This appeared in the Summer 2010 issue

and is the basis of the present note.

In his book Old Surrey Water-Mills,

published in 1951, Jack Hillier describes

this mill as an ‘odious building with

architectural embellishments associated

with misapplied Ruskinian decoration’.

He did however note that the garden of

the adjacent Millstream Cottage is ‘one of

the loveliest in Surrey’. Lord Lovelace built the mill in

1862 to replace the former timber mill, (shown left), that

had been destroyed by fire. All that appears to survive of

this earlier mill is a cast-iron sluice gate with the partial

inscription ‘LORD [WILLIAM] LOVELACE [18]41’.

The new mill is a large 4-storey brick building plus a

loft and has elaborate flat-arched windows with alternate

black and red cut bricks, string courses, terracotta tiles

with incised patterns and fancy ridge tiles (see below).

All of this is of course typical of many Lovelace

buildings. In his book The Watermills of Surrey,

published in 1990 (not the peculiar date MCMCX on the

title page), Derek Stidder comments that the building is

a fine example of a Victorian mill!

In 1296 Ockham had two watermills and in 1706 there

was a mill on the present site. In 1707 Lovelace’s

ancestor Peter King acquired Ockham Park and later

became Lord Chancellor. The Park stayed in the family

until 1894. In 1862 the miller was Henry Bowyer and he

stayed 15 years. Then Alfred Tice took over and stayed

until 1899 when the large agricultural firm of Henry

(Continued on page 6)

Is Ockham Mill an Odious Building? by Alan Crocker

Ockham Mill in the early 19th century,

based on a reproduction of a painting in the Minet Library, Lambeth.

Ockham Mill in about 1900.

September 2010 6 Newsletter 177

The waterwheel in Ockham Mill in the 1970s.

Photo: Francis Haveron, founding Secretary of SIHG.

Moore & Son acquired the mill. It ceased working in

1927 and lay disused until 1958 when it was converted

for residential use. However, the gearing was restored

sympathetically by professional millwrights and the

present owner had the superb internal, low breast-shot

waterwheel restored and turning again in 1988. Its

diameter is 14ft 6in, its width 9ft 10in and the iron

shaft bears the legend ‘Filmer & Mason, Engineers,

Guildford. 1880’. A photograph of this wheel, taken in

the 1970s, is shown above. It powered five pairs of

millstones and there are now at least nine old stones

used as decorative features in the garden of Millstream

Cottage.

An interesting collection of items relating to the mill

has been put on display on the ground floor of the mill

adjacent to the gearing. They include an ammeter and

a voltmeter manufactured by Drake & Gorham Ltd,

London. This firm was formed in 1888 and installed

early electrical lighting equipment in many grand

country houses, including Chatsworth House for the

Duke of Devonshire and Alnwick Castle for the Duke

of Northumberland. It is tempting therefore to think

(Continued from page 5)

Ockham Mill Now, wwwgeograph.org.uk/photo/518331.

Photo: © Copyright Colin Smith.

Licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

that they also installed lighting in some of

Lovelace’s properties and that electricity

was generated by waterpower at Ockham

Mill. However, the firm did not become a

limited liability company until 1901 and

therefore could not have used ‘Ltd’ after

‘Drake & Gorham’ until eight years after

Lovelace died. Also, these particular meters

are thought to date from the 1920s. A

photograph of the face of the ammeter is

shown on page 20.

Jack Hillier, quoted in paragraph 2, died in

1995 and his obituary states that he was an

authority on Japanese art and that his

mother was connected with Lord Byron’s

friend Scrope Berdmore Davies. The life of

Scrope (which rhymes with ‘soup’ and not

‘soap’) is recorded in a book by T A J

Burnett entitled The Rise and Fall of a

Regency Dandy that was published in 1983.

The foreword was written by Jack Hillier’s

son Bevis, who is an authority on Art Deco.

One can but wonder whether Jack knew

that Lovelace’s first wife Ada was Lord

Byron’s daughter. She was a brilliant

mathematician and collaborated with

Charles Babbage on his design of the early

general-purpose computer, the analytical

engine, and is credited with being the

world’s first computer programmer.

Perhaps Ockham Mill is an ‘odious

building’ but I have certainly found it to be

fascinating. ¤

See page 7 for two more images.

September 2010 7 Newsletter 177

The April visit to Upper Normandy is described by

Richard Hartree. Three days were spent looking at the

port of Rouen and 120km upstream as far as Honfleur. A

visit was made to the Port Authority Head Office, where

it was pointed out that the Rouen complex of harbours is

the fifth largest in France. A tour made along the docks

revealed everything from containers ships to cruise

liners. An unusual feature noted was a waste incinerator/

electricity generating plant built to resemble the outline

of an ocean liner. Wheat is exported to Algeria and wine

imported to blend with local wines.

The former textile industry and museum in an 1822

cotton mill in the valley of the river Cailly was visited.

The mill still has a waterwheel driving machinery to

produce braided and plaited textile products. At

Montville a fire fighting museum was next on the list; it

contains a wide range of appliances from a 1722 hand

pump to a late 20th c. 36m extended ladder engine. Next

the impressive 27 arch brick Barrentin Viaduct, 100ft

high and 600yards long. Designed by Joseph Locke and

built by Thomas Brassey in 1846, it collapsed soon

afterwards - the reason was never discovered - and was

rebuilt by Brassey at his own expense. Then a visit to the

private venture Maritime Museum in Rouen. Some

members of the group then visited a stationary steam

engine and two rotative beam engines at a local

waterworks, while others visited more museums. (There did seem to be a lot of museums visited, perhaps the only way these days to see relics of industry, as so few remain in situ. GK).

Then on to the Moulin de Hautville at Brotonne, which

had first operated in the 13th c. By the 19th c. it had

become a tower mill with a thatched roof on the rotating

cap. It has now been completely restored. Next to yet

another museum, a maritime one at Caubebec-en-Caux,

where a display illustrated how the tide is used to enable

ocean going vessels to go up to Rouen and back

downstream again. Next to the Palais Benedictine at

Fecamp where the medicinal herbal drink made by the

monks for centuries has been used since 1863 to flavour

alcoholic spirit to make the well-known liqueur. (There is no reference to samples being drunk, but I am sure there were. At least they were when I visited the site some years ago! GK).

The final visit was to the lace museum in Calais. The

industry had been set up by English businessmen in

1815.The museum has a working Leavers lace making

machine and several displays of more recent

developments in textile materials.

Mark Sissons describes three more ventures supported

by the AIA from its recent anonymous bequest. The

Hoylandswaine nail makers workshop between Barnsley

and Pennistone needed urgent roof repairs, which have

been started with the aid of the AIA grant. The site was

a small family workshop with three forges and was still

producing foundry nails by hand until WWII. The

National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port was

assisted to restore a coal box boat of mixed wooden and

iron construction. It was the forerunner of today’s

container vessels. The final grant this year went to the

Chaldron Waggon Project at Beamish Museum, County

Durham. The museum is working to rebuild two rakes of

chaldron waggons to enable a demonstration set to be

available. Repairs made in the 1970s, often in softwood,

are life expired. A concurrent scheme to provide covered

storage is also in hand.

Applications for Restoration Grants for 2011 can now be

made up to June next year: details are on the AIA

website.

Ian Drysdale reports that the Farme Colliery winding

engine, erected in 1810 at Rutherglen near Glasgow, is

now in the Summerlee Museum at Coatbridge. It is

reputed to be one of the last working Newcomen rotative

engines, but there is some doubt now as there were two

other engines on site, it is possible that data from them

has been confused over the years.

Bob Carr reports on a number of Greater London

activities, or lack of them, including the delay in moving

the St.Pancras gasholders to a new site to the northwest

of Kings Cross station. Work is going ahead on the new

University of the Arts in the Grade II listed Granary

complex to the north of the Regent’s Canal. The engine

house at Markfield Road in the Lea Valley has been

transformed and the 1886 Woolf compound beam

engine is now regularly steamed. Bob reports on the

100th anniversary celebrations of A.V.Roe’s flight from

Hackney Marshes and the re-opening of the Brunel (Continued on page 8)

Ada Countess of Lovelace

Ammeter at Ockham Mill.

Photo: Penelope Veiga-Pires for HCPS.

Industrial Archaeology News No 154 Autumn 2010 report by Gordon Knowles

September 2010 8 Newsletter 177

tunnel on the underground system under the

Thames, following closure in 1995 for major

repairs. Foot passengers were allowed to

walk through over 12-13 March before the

line re-opened to traffic. A large 12th c.

timber tide mill was discovered at

Greenwich in 2008, the site has been

thoroughly recorded and the remains of the

waterwheel have gone to the York

Archaeological Trust for preservation. The

site is now being re-developed with housing.

Attempts to list jetties and silos at the former

Tunnel Glucose Refineries close by the

Blackwall Tunnel were unsuccessful and a

photographic recording was made last

September. Demolition has now started.

SIHG Secretary Alan Thomas, who is the

correspondent for the South East, reports at

some length on regional matters including

demolition of more 1950s buildings on the

Manor Royal Industrial Estate in Crawley,

Sussex, and the cement works at Northfleet

and Halling in Kent. Also the final

demolition of the former Aveling and Porter

works in Strood, also in Kent, although the

company had moved to Grantham in the

1930s and survives as part of the Aveling-

Barford group. (The Strood site has been part of the offices of the District Council for some years, and included a small industrial heritage centre containing A & P and Shorts Aviation material. I do not know where the records will be housed in future. GK).

Rochester Common has been cleared for re-

development, no archaeological

investigations of the industrial sites have

been made. These included the 18th c. shipyard where

East Indiamen and 3rd rate battleships were built. The

Folkestone Harbour railway branch has closed; there is

uncertainty as to the future of the line, viaduct and

station buildings. Also under threat is the Sittingbourne

and Kemsley Light Railway, with its early pre-stressed

concrete viaduct, now that the older Lloyds paper mill

buildings have been demolished. A regeneration scheme

for the area is likely.

The Explosives Museum at Gosport has been taken over

by the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust and there

are plans to run a ferry service to it across the harbour.

Lottery money has been provided for a new visitor

centre at Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill. A further £1.5

m is being raised in matching funds. The PS Ryde is

being demolished on the Isle of Wight but work was

halted because of the presence of asbestos. In

Southampton the Calshot Spit lightship was due to be

moved to Berth 49 in the Eastern Docks, adjacent to the

new Ocean Terminal. Proposals have been announced

for a new museum complex at Trafalgar dry dock and

Berth 50, including the relocation of Solent Sky

Aviation museum. The scheme will include ships such

as the tug tender Calshot and ML Medusa. The portable

airship hangar at Farnborough has been listed Grade II,

(Continued from page 7)

Sadly, efforts to save the former Aveling and Porter works have been in vain.

the sections scattered around the site have been re-united

and it is now located with other historic structures on the

Business Park. The Beachy Head lighthouse is among

those listed for closure as they have become redundant

now that ships carry satellite navigation equipment. The

de Witt lime kilns at the Amberley Museum are being

restored following receipt of a Lottery Fund grant of

£400,000. Work continues on the Wey and Arun canal

to extend it north of Loxwood to Southland. A legacy

has helped fund this work. On the Bluebell Line work

proceeds at East Grinstead on the junction with the main

line and the new platform is due to be opened in

September. Track is laid south of the station allowing

rubbish from the Imberhorne cutting to be moved by

rail.

In Surrey Peter James is continuing work on the Ockley

smock mill reconstruction, of which only the

roundhouse remained. Original methods and materials

have been used wherever possible. The interior will be

fitted out as a dwelling. The postmill at Tadworth is

being repaired by Reigate and Banstead Council; it last

worked in the 1920s, was damaged in WWII and

repaired in 1950. Since then little has been done on the

structure. ¤