Event - Campaign to reuse mill gets kickstart (Millhouses)

A CAMPAIGN to bring a historic mill site back to life kicks off with a traditional event this weekend.

The fight to restore the 1,000-year-old building in Millhouses Park, Millhouses, Sheffield, is being led by the park’s Friends group.

On Saturday campaigners are hosting a Wassail – usually celebrated on the 12th night of Christmas – with a quiz, auction, carols and hot food in nearby pub The Waggon and Horses.

Money raised will help bring the building back into use.

Organiser Jane Bradley said: “The idea behind the Wassail was the fact that the traditional festival dates back to Anglo Saxon times around 1,000 years ago and that a mill has been on the Millhouses site for around the same time, so it seemed quite fitting to tie the two together.”

Millhouses was named after the old corn mill, which was first fuelled by water from the River Sheaf.

The Friends of Millhouses Park are working with Sheffield Council on the project and nearly £130,000 has been secured so far.

Work has already started on the small building to make it secure after a four-year battle to save it from destruction.

But another £9,000 needs to be raised to make it weatherproof and so it can eventually be used by the community.

John Brighton, Friends’ secretary, said: “These buildings have huge historical significance and we have fought tirelessly to save them from being knocked down.

“We hope we can bring these buildings back to life and start the next part of their history in Millhouses.”

Tickets cost £5 each or £15 for a family ticket and are on sale from The Waggon and Horses or Perfectly Dressed on Abbeydale Road.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/campaign-to-reuse-mill-gets-kickstart-1-5268941