Restoration work begins next week at Haigh Windmill - the only remaining windmill in Greater Manchester. In fact, it’s a historic wind pump, and a familiar landmark near Haigh Hall country Park.
The £60,000 scheme was made possible after Wigan Council successfully bid for the money through the Heritage Lottery fund. The project will include repairing the damaged brickwork and replacing the broken and missing sail.
Completion of the work will be celebrated with an opening event due to be held during the National Mills weekend in May.
John O’Neill, Chair of the Greenheart Partnership Board and the Borough-wide Environment and Heritage Network, said:
‘This is the only windmill left in Greater Manchester which is why it is so important to restore and repair the building’s fabric so that it may be conserved for future generations’.
He adds, ‘Haigh is a key gateway in the north of Greenheart and the project will also promote a new windmill walk and interpretation of the heritage value and significance of the windmill in the local community’.’
After the restoration is completed, Haigh Parish Council and the Friends of Haigh Windmill, will put aside funds for the upkeep of the windmill and to cover future eventualities such as storm damage.
The Environmental Education team have also been working with four local schools to teach children the history of the windmill. The project will be marked by the creation of a mosaic outside St David’s School designed with the help of pupils at the school.
Built in 1845, Haigh’s historic windmill was originally used to pump water from two ponds to the reservoir at Haigh Brewery. It has been disused for decades but is an iconic building that is a valued part of the rural scene in Haigh.
