Written 09/08/10

TEAMS stands for The East Anglian Mills Society and was formed during 2008 following a series of meetings between like minded mill owners and enthusiasts in East Anglia. The aims of TEAMS are simply to share information, expertise and experience in maintaining, preserving and restoring our windmills.

Windmills were once the focal point in every community providing employment and producing flour, notwithstanding the visual aesthetic they exude. Throughout the 20th Century windmills became disused and were replaced by more efficient ways of flour production. By the Second World War most windmills were decommissioned and demolished for scrap material.

Thankfully a few special mills have survived the decades, largely through a sustained dose of TLC from their owners and major support from organisations like the Society for The Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), English Heritage, The National Trust, Cambridge Past, Present & Future, the Heritage Lottery Fund and mill groups that exist in many counties.

TEAMS is independent and amongst its associate members are the mill owners of the following mills (with opening times during TEAMS Mills Open Day (Monday 30 August)):

• Impington mill, Cambridgeshire (2pm - 7.30pm - 07967 461933)
• Haddenham Great Mill, Cambridgeshire
• Wicken smock mill, Cambridgeshire - a working windmill (10am - 5.30pm - 02476 183524)
• Over tower mill, Cambridgeshire - a working windmill (NB this mill is not open to the public)
• Swaffham Prior tower mill, Cambridgeshire - a working windmill
• Willingham - Cattells Mill, Cambridgeshire (11am - 4pm - 01954 261168)
• Bourn post mill, Cambridgeshire (Sunday 29th August - 2 - 4.30pm - 01223 243830)
• Stanton post mill, Suffolk - a working windmill
• Thurne Dyke, Morse's Windpump, Norfolk - a working windpump and the most beautiful on the Norfolk Broads
• Repps, near Potter Heigham, Norfolk - Morse's Wind Engine Park

Over the course of the next few months there will be organized and supervised work-ins to carry out ongoing repairs, culminating in a coordinated open day at the mills during TEAMS Mill Open Day.

We are actively encouraging people to get involved - young, old, skilled or unskilled. A website is being developed to promote TEAMS mills and the tasks that lie ahead.

For more information on TEAMS please contact Bob Paterson on or visit the website www.millsofeastanglia.org.uk.

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