A whole package of good things have happened recently, the first of which is flavoured with sadness. Pete Brown`s father passed away a little while ago and his widow very kindly donated a quantity of her late husband’s tools to the volunteer group. They arrived in a large steel chest, a veritable treasure chest of equipment to help us with our projects – Great stuff!
Another gift came from the “Friends of Coldharbour Mill” in the form of three orange advertising banners to increase local awareness of the steam week-ends. Our thanks also go to Messers Sparks and Disney for allowing us to display these banners on their properties at Perry Elm Wellington and Junction 27 on the M5.
After twenty or more years of wishing for a new (and safe) electric system at the steam end of the mill it has finally arrived. The luxury of having a power socket near to your work area is just amazing. We even have a heater in the workshop!
Having re-cycled as much steelwork as possible from bits and pieces lurking around the mill the rest of the steel required to finish the overhead walkway in the Pollit engine house has been purchased by the Museum Trust. Hopefully this will enable us to complete the installation by this summer.
When the 1888 boiler was declared to be unfit to steam by the boiler inspector many years ago the seating blocks had been removed and heavy timbers had been fitted to support the boiler along the south side. As the 1910 boiler was not ready to steam we got right on with the job of rebuilding its setting with some urgency.
The other week I felt it was time to reinstate the seating blocks under the 1888 boiler before the “temporary” timber props rotted away. So two or three dedicated volunteers have been down in the damp sooty flues performing this unenviable task and will be for several evenings yet - “dark satanic mills” are alive and well.
John Jasper February 2010.
