| HIGH SALVINGTON WINDMILL
Est. c.1756 · Grade II Listed · Furze Road, Worthing, West Sussex FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS NEWSLETTER · SPRING 2026 |
A WORD FROM THE TEAM
Spring Is Here, the Sails Are Turning
After a busy winter of hard work behind the scenes, we are delighted to welcome you back for another season at one of West Sussex’s most beloved historic landmarks.
Paul and I have been involved with High Salvington Windmill for some time now, and every year we find ourselves struck afresh by what this place represents — not just as a beautifully preserved working post mill dating from around 1756, but as a genuinely extraordinary community endeavour. This Windmill stands because people care. It grinds flour, opens its doors, hosts fêtes and concerts and classic car days — all because a dedicated band of volunteers give their time, their skills, and quite often their weekends, to keep it alive.
| “Without our volunteers, the sails would stop turning and the grindstones would fall silent. We need you — and we’d love to welcome you into the team.” |
If you’ve ever thought about getting more involved, we encourage you to come along. There is genuinely something for everyone — from guiding visitors and helping in the shop, to maintenance, archiving, event organising, or baking the cakes that keeps our visitors so happy during their time with us. Please do read on to find out how to get in touch.
And if you’re joining us simply as a visitor this season — welcome. We look forward to seeing you.
With warm wishes,
Lucy Brooks & Paul Minter, Co-Chairs
THE SEASON
We’re Open for 2026
The season began on Easter Sunday. The Mill opens on the first and third Sunday afternoons throughout the summer, from 2:30 pm to 5 pm. Entry is just £1 per adult, with an additional £1 for a guided tour led by one of our knowledgeable volunteers. Children under 18 enter free.
Refreshments — including homemade cakes that have become something of a local institution — are served on every open afternoon. On warm days, the freezer is stocked with ice cream too.
Group visits are warmly welcomed outside normal opening times. U3A groups, history societies, youth groups, and others have all enjoyed private tours. To arrange a visit, please contact Rick Vince at tours@highsalvingtonmilltrust.co.uk.
WINTER WORKS
The Workshop Gets Its Own Upgrade
Cleaning the sails — a labour of love
Over the winter months, our remarkable maintenance team — working on most Sundays and Tuesdays — has been preparing the Mill for another season. One major project was the long-overdue extension of the workshop, which was simply running out of room for the team’s ambitions.
The newly enlarged space has delivered an unexpected bonus: it has become a genuine social hub. Volunteers gather, chat, share a cup of tea, and enjoy the bread pudding that one devoted volunteer brings along each week — all while staying dry. A wonderful thing.
For the 2026 season, the souvenir shop will operate from the workshop while a new, purpose-built shop premises is planned.
WHAT’S ON
Events Calendar — 2026
All open afternoons run from 2:30 to 5 pm unless otherwise stated. Dates may be subject to alteration — follow us on Facebook for the latest updates.
| Sun 5 Apr | Open Afternoon |
| Sun 19 Apr | Open Afternoon |
| Sun 3 May | Open Afternoon |
| Sat–Sun 9–10 May | National Mills Weekend |
| Sun 10 May | National Mills Day — Radio hams contacting mills nationwide |
| Sun 17 May | Open Afternoon |
| Sun 7 Jun | Book Fair & Open Afternoon |
| Sun 21 Jun | Open Afternoon |
| Sun 28 Jun | Orchestral Concert — Lancing & Sompting Concert Orchestra. Tickets £5. 3 pm |
| Sun 5 Jul | Annual Fête · 2 pm – 5 pm |
| Sun 19 Jul | Open Afternoon |
| Sun 2 Aug | Classic Cars & Slot Car Racing |
| Sun 16 Aug | Open Afternoon |
| Sun 6 Sep | Craft Fair · 1 pm – 5 pm |
| Sun 20 Sep | Last Open Afternoon of the Season |
WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY
Rick, who started volunteering last year and has become a huge asset to our team, says:
“I feel like I’m giving something back to my community and looking after a valuable treasure for future generations. Without the volunteers, the Mill would not be around, and that would be a terrible thing. I enjoy the camaraderie, banter, making new friends, and learning new skills. There are no negatives — purely positives.”
Andy, a long-standing volunteer at the Mill, says:
“I was originally attracted by an advertisement for a recruiting event at St. Michael’s Church. I liked the idea of being involved with a local group, as my working life was beginning to wind down and because the Windmill had always fascinated me. I particularly liked the opportunity to serve as a guide, especially since I completely lack practical skills. Over the years, I’ve been involved in organising the Fête, the Craft Fair and numerous Open Days. The appeal to me has always been to show off the asset that we are all lucky enough to have “in our own backyard”, especially to visiting schoolchildren, when I’m always keen to emphasise that the Mill isn’t ours, it’s theirs and the generations that follow them. And I’ve yet to meet a disappointed visitor, ever.”
Julie and Sam have organised the annual fête for a few years now. Together, they have turned our traditional fête into one of the most popular village events in the area. Sam says:
Our beloved Windmill Summer Fête is back on Sunday 5 July, 2–5 pm — a fantastic afternoon for all the family and a great way to raise vital funds for the Mill!
Join fellow visitors for traditional stalls, homemade treats, games, and live entertainment from the Sompting Morris Dancers. We’re also thrilled to welcome back Carol from the Sausage Roll Kitchen, alongside our own delicious cakes, tea, coffee and ice cream.
Our popular Raffle features great prizes from local businesses — restaurant vouchers, cinema tickets, hampers and more. And don’t forget the ever-popular Bottle Stall! We’d love it if everyone could donate a bottle or two—we’ve struggled to raise donations recently, so every one counts. Thank you!
Want to get involved? Volunteers are very welcome — just drop us an email at summerfete@highsalvingtonwindmill.co.uk
Whatever the weather, it’s always a brilliant day. We hope to see you there!
JOIN US
Could You Give a Little Time to Keep History Turning?
High Salvington Windmill is run entirely by volunteers. Every open afternoon, every guided tour, every carefully maintained sail and millstone — all of it exists because generous people choose to give their time.
If you live locally and have a few hours to spare — whether regularly or occasionally — we would love to hear from you. No specialist skills are required for many roles; just enthusiasm and a fondness for a remarkable place. You’ll find the volunteer community a wonderfully warm and welcoming one.
To get in touch, please contact Julie Gaskell or Lucy Brooks at:
enquiries@highsalvingtonmilltrust.co.uk
Ways to Get Involved
- Guiding visitors around the Mill — you can do as few as three Sundays a year, or as many as you wish. Full training is given.
- Helping at events (fête, fairs, concerts) — we are seeking volunteers to help with our favourite stalls at the July Fête.
- Maintenance & practical projects — working with a skilled and friendly team.
- Serving refreshments and helping in the shop.
- Archiving & historical research — our team of archivists meets on Mondays.
- Administration & communications, including the role of Honorary Treasurer (see below).
| We Are Seeking an Honorary Treasurer
We are looking for someone to step into this key role following the retirement of our outstanding long-serving Treasurer. Financial experience is helpful but not essential. If you are interested, we would love to hear from you — please write to enquiries@highsalvingtonmilltrust.co.uk. |
MILL NEWS
An Orchestral Concert — A First for the Mill
We are excited to welcome the Lancing Concert Orchestra to the mill grounds on Sunday 28 Jun. This is a first for the Windmill — an outdoor concert in one of the most atmospheric settings in West Sussex. Tickets are available at the gate for just £5. We’d encourage you to bring a rug and settle in for a lovely summer evening.
Classic Cars — With a New Twist
The ever-popular Classic Cars afternoon returns on Sunday 2 Aug, this year with the added attraction of slot car racing. A treat for visitors of all ages, and a chance to see some beautiful vehicles on the mill grounds.
The Mill is Grinding Again
With the windier days of recent seasons, the team has been able to grind flour on several occasions. We now source grain from a local farm, clean and sort it on site, and produce genuine stone-ground flour — just as the Mill has done for centuries.
Stone-ground flour (1.362 kg bags, available in paper or cotton) is on sale on open days for £3 to £3.50. Ask at the gate. It also makes a lovely gift or souvenir.
Track the Mill on Smartmolen
Our Smartmolen monitoring system — which tracks wind direction and sail status — is now working well. Residents and enthusiasts can check real-time windmill activity and a local wind forecast by visiting smartmolen.com and searching for High Salvington in the mill list.
SUPPORT THE MILL
Become a Member
Membership of the High Salvington Mill Trust is a wonderful way to support the Mill and stay connected with everything that is happening here.
| Membership Type | Annual Fee |
| Annual — Single | £6 |
| Annual — Couple | £11 |
| Life Membership | £60 |
Payment can be made by BACS, cash, or cheque. Bank details: High Salvington Mill Trust Ltd, Sort Code: 40-47-25, Account: 81712802. You may also pay by card via our website, or at the gate on any open day. Please let us know your name and address for administration purposes.
For membership forms and enquiries, please email membership@highsalvingtonmilltrust.co.uk or write to: Membership Secretary, 69 Hayling Rise, High Salvington, Worthing, BN13 3AG.
FIND US & GET IN TOUCH
| Visit the Mill
Furze Road, High Salvington Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3BP 3 miles north of Worthing town centre, signposted from the A27 and A24. Open afternoons: 2:30 pm – 5 pm 1st & 3rd Sundays throughout the summer |
Contact Us
General enquiries: enquiries@highsalvingtonmilltrust.co.uk Group tours — Rick Vince: tours@highsalvingtonmilltrust.co.uk Membership: membership@highsalvingtonmilltrust.co.uk Summer fête: summerfete@highsalvingtonwindmill.co.uk |
| Facebook: High Salvington Windmill · Instagram: @highsalvingtonwindmill · Web: highsalvingtonwindmill.co.uk
Kept turning by volunteers, for the community |
