June 2009 : Chris Charter reports that he finally had the weatherboard delivered and has started repair work on the mill. He needs to replace two sides and repair areas of others before coating everything in tar to complete the waterproofing.

He has managed half a side getting his technique sorted and getting used to using the tar.

He will be working every Sunday except July 5 and most weekdays for the summer, and would always welcome any Sussex Mills Group members who wish to help, gawp or merely tell him where he's doing it wrong !

He hopes to borrow a cherrypicker for the top bits (thanks to Bob Bonnett, who has also helped with the tar) but is working on ladders, scaffold towers and climbing ropes until then.

Bob Bonnett and Peter Hill spent a very enjoyable and therapeutic day down at Earnley mill where they assisted the owner Chris Charter, by tarring some of the cladding of the wooden smock tower.

For the past few weeks Chris, with the aid of a cherry picker, has been brushing off moss and algae from the original cladding and where necessary replacing any of the rotten boards. He is well on the way to reaching his goal of having the mill weatherproof before the onset of winter and welcomes any assistance that Sussex Mills Group members can offer to help him achieve this.

The accompanying photos show the work in progress and some of the carved bricks in the outer walls of the base thought to refer to the heightening of the mill and the installation of a reefing stage that occurred in 1827.

Update : October 2009
Chris Charter advises :   The weatherboarding has now been replaced or repaired and given two good coats of tar. It is a relief to know that the mill is waterproof for this winter.

Some basic statistics to cover the work involved : 800 metres of 9-inch weatherboard, 14 kilograms of nails and 18 gallons of tar. I dread to think of the man hours involved.

The next task is to get some floors back in.

This photo shows the state of the remaining joists, so the winter task is clear.

I just need to find a cheap source of timber but will continue to work as much as possible.

Update : August 2013
Chris Charter advises :   Work has progressed this summer to ensure complete water tightness of the mill. The Stone Floor doorpost and step have been replaced and the doors repaired and sealed.

Two new doors have been made and fitted to the Spout Floor. With various repairs to the doorposts and fittings. It was possible to repair and refit the old hinges to the main door, as seen in the photo, and it now opens well but keeps the rain out properly.

The whole mill was then given a good coat of tar, my least favourite job as it means many hours suspended on a rope and getting plenty of tar over oneself.

Now my carpentry skills are back in use the next phase is getting some of the Spout Floor back in place. I have obtained enough 3 x 7 for the joists and some 8 ½ x 1 ¼ floor boards are being machined by a local sawmill. This will be my task for the autumn, but at least it can be achieved in the dry. I will try to keep a photo log of progress.

Update : October 2013
Chris Charter advises :   I have finished this year's repair work.
The Spout floor joists have been repaired or replaced on the stair side of the mill. New floorboards, cut to the original dimensions, have been laid and some of the lighting has been renewed. This gives a new perspective to the interior and there is much more usable space.

The next task is to catalogue the myriad of ironmongery and machines. This will be where I need the experience of  Sussex Mills Group members to identify and label them.