The Opening of Polegate Windmill

The spinning ornamental garden windmill gives a clue to the rest of this film. Shots of Polegate's restored windmill follow, showing many of its details, before we join the opening celebrations. We see an old man wearing a smock and a team of campanologists ringing their hand bells. After his speech, the door to the windmill is opened by the Duke of Devonshire and the sails start turning. Children play on an antique hay cart after which we see more shots of the windmill in action.

Polegate's windmill, which is the star of this short film, dates from 1817 and is the oldest working Tower Mill in the South East of England. Consequently, it is a Grade II listed building and has had several owners since it was originally built by Joseph Seymour. It was wind powered until 1943, after which, because of safety reasons, it ran on electricity until 1965, when it ceased commercial operations. The Eastbourne & District Preservation Society, formed after concerns about the fate of the region's historic buildings and structures, acquired the windmill for £1000 and set about restoring it back to working order. This film records the windmill's re-opening on the 1st july 1967.