Winter is now with us with the first frost and snow on December 1st. The Mill building is making good progress with the doors and windows in situ and the bridge to the first floor door in place. The water wheel is now sitting on axle tree and bearings, spokes and side plates are bolted in. The roof and gutters are completed, stonework on water courses nears completion and the sluice gate is still to erect. Balcony timbers are in place and the flooring was delivered on 4th December. The Mill ground floor in compacted hardcore is ready to receive sand/cement and paving.
Excavation continues in the Interpretation Centre and grand plans are hoped to be announced soon.

The Lottery have suggester they may increase our payments and are looking at costs at this moment in time. Payments from Lottery and ERDF are due.

The new occupiers of "Path Head Farmstead" took up residence on 28th November.

Footpath excavations to the Interpretation Centre are completed along with a substantial retaining wall, this gives us a large area between this path and the entrance gate for a marquee etc.

Electric conduit and drawcord is laid to our site boundary and we await further payments to start this work.

A silver birch tree has been rescued from Path Head Farm whilst the digger was working and has been planted on our site.

We are making bids for Landfill Tax and Lloyds, TSB Foundation and hope that these two bodies will give us enough capital to complete for an opening at Easter. Land Fill Tax may also contribute to Revenue funding.

We hope to have an official opening in May and the Duke of Northumberland is hoped to be doing the honours.

Interested in joining the Vale Mill Trust?

How much will it cost to join?

Families (per year) - £5
Individuals (per year) - £3
Concessions (per year) - £2

Please complete our membership form to join.

Funding has been from the European Regional Development Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Funding assistance has also come from the Civic Trust and Country Landowners' Association. Further funding is being sought from the Landfill Tax.

Vale Mill Trust acknowledges support of main funders; The European Regional Development Fund and the Lottery Heritage Fund.

Architects and Design Advisors: High Massey, Architects, Upland House, View Lane, Stanley, Co Durham, DH9 0DZ

All in all excellent progress is being made but we need your help. Come and join us and become a member of the Vale Mill Trust or you can support us by just coming down for a visit.