Popular windmill set to sail onto TV screens

THE only eight-sailed windmill in Western Europe is to be featured on the BBC's programme Flog It!

Heckington Windmill was selected to feature in an episode during filming in Lincolnshire after being chosen as a local place of special interest.

For those who are not familiar with the programme, Flog It! is about members of the public who try and make money out of their antiques with the help of experts including presenter Paul Martin.

Mill manager Jeff Wise was honoured that Heckington mill had been selected.

He said: "Our windmill was chosen for the mid-programme slot, where they show a local place of special interest.

"Presenter Paul Martin came with director Cathy Clarke, co- ordinator Dee Kalakoti, and a technical team including a sound-man and two cameramen.

"On a glorious sunny afternoon, the team worked around and inside the mill, recording Paul in the cap and on the other floors as he explained to viewers some of the mill's history and how it works.

"There were also short interviews with two of our volunteer millers.

"Cameraman Paul Thompson also took some footage of a distance view across the fields from a local farm.

"The linseed crop was in full flower and made a beautiful setting for the view of the village.

"Between shots the team refreshed themselves in the mill-house tea-rooms and later relaxed in the garden while Paul did further commentary sessions."

It is not yet known when the programme will be aired.

Heckington Mill

Heckington Windmill was built in 1830, with five sails but the top was destroyed in a storm in 1890.

In 1892 it was bought by John Pocklington and fitted with machinery and eight sails which he transported from an older mill in Boston.

John Pocklington died in 1941 and in 1953 the mill was bought by Kesteven County Council which renovated it.

The mill is now owned by Lincolnshire County Council, and run by a local group of volunteers, The Friends of Heckington Windmill.

Until May this year, the mill regularly milled flour. However, the mill is still open to the public at weekends, with expert guided tours and flour and gifts available for sale.