What a glorious Summer, all seems to be growing at an alarming rate and the grass needs cutting every week.

The spoil heaps around the pond have been levelled and we have one more area to service, to install our sundial, this is being held up at the moment, until we have the rusted crankshaft and flywheel cleaned and painted them in sealer paint before erection on the two stone piers. These two items each around two tons each are at present lying on our final lawned area.

Volunteers keep on increasing on site, we have some from Bowes and Tanfield railways, who find different inspiration at the mill and have been very helpful with grass cutting and gardening. Both day centres have a waiting list for site volunteers and we continue to have patients for visiting days, these people also do very useful work and help to keep the development of the site moving. BTCV do their bit as they have most weeks in the last 18 months (See managers letter this month).

Inside work progresses slowly, as we design and build, we have had some problems with the crownwheel cogs, and this has slowed the commissioning of the line shaft. Another pulley seems to want to run off, but this may be due to belt tension and so we progress, design and experimentation hand in hand.

Shall we see you at the Mill this summer, we need your support. I look forward to seeing you and showing you round.

Trevor, July 1999

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (Enterprises) and I most appreciate the projects and work that Mr Trevor Underwood and all persons involved with Path Head Water Mill have allowed us to do. They have allowed the B.T.C.V. New Deal participants to be actually involved in these projects, (bricklaying, joinery, amenity horticulture) over the past 18 months, this to include building of two stone pillars dry stone walls, bridges, pathways and all types of garden maintenance.

This not only having helped up to forty young adults both male and female, in achieving elements towards their N.V.Q. but also assisting in character building and motivation of these people ultimately helping them into a working environment.

Most of these young persons and myself included find Path Head Water Mill a quite remarkable place; there is peace and tranquillity here amongst the hustle and bustle of Gateshead and Blaydon as if time had forgotten the mill.

This is in part created by Trevor, as I can see this man’s vision and what he perceives that the mill will look like in years to come. the dedication and commitment and time spent at the mill, for this I must be in envy of Trevor that he has found something that he enjoys doing and I can see why.

For my own opinion I would like to invite all types of people from all walks of life to come and experience Path Head Water Mill, take time out of your busy schedule visit the mill then just take in the atmosphere and just sit back and enjoy this most peaceful of places and settings. Many thanks Trevor.

Mel Clements M.I.O.S.H.
Projects Co-ordinator B.T.C.V.

NEXT NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER ‘99