Wimbledon’s skyline could soon be restored after more than £100,000 was raised to repair the iconic windmill sails on the common, but there is still a long way to go.
In August last year, a ton of wood from the iconic windmill sail crashed through the roof of the Wimbledon Museum, spraying debris onto parked cars.
August 2015: Windmill sail smashes through Wimbledon Common museum roof
The damage devastated the Grade II-listed museum and since then the fundraising has been in earnest to get repairs underway.
The damage when it happened last year
Now, the Wimbledon and Putney Common Conservators say work can start in May after a £100,000 Heritage Lottery Grant and £4,250 in donations.
But they still need several thousand pounds more to pay for the damage.
Chief executive Simon Lee said: “We want everything to be finished and restored to its iconic state by 2017 in time for the bicentenary of the windmill.”
He added: “We have already received £4,250 from the local people of Wimbledon which we are extremely grateful for. We still need to raise a further £4,000 for the repairs. That’s why it has taken so long. It takes time to build up the funds to restore such a prestigious building.”
Not only are repairs taking place on the sails of the windmill but prior to the incident which caused one of the sails to dramatically fall through into the first floor, Mr Lee had identified that there was a problem with water leaking into the windmill on the first floor.
It is the water damage over a number of years that led to the degradation of the building’s structure, contributing to the sails collapse last summer.
“This is also a major piece of restoration that needs to be addressed. We have decided that whilst we have scaffolding up for the other jobs we will take the opportunity to complete smaller jobs such as painting,” he said.
The windmill was built in 1817 by carpenter Charles March as a corn mill. It was converted into cottages in the 1860s, when Earl Spencer, the Lord of the Manor of Wimbledon, bought a section of the Common.
In 1975 it was restored by Mr Plastow after a public appeal was launched to raise £20,000.
Professional millwrights will do the restoration works on the Grade-II listed building.
With the restoration process loaming closer, Mr Lee also wanted to emphasis their desire for more community engagement. “We are in desperate need for additional volunteers to help us manage the windmill now and after the restoration. It is currently managed by a group of trustees who are always eager to have new volunteers help maintain the prestigious landmark.”
Donations can be made at the ranger’s office at Manor Cottage, Windmill Road, Wimbledon Common.
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