Members of Royston Rotary Club teamed up with their counterparts from Saffron Walden to help mark the start of the restoration effort of the Great Chishill Windmill.

Royston Crow:

The windmill, owned by Cambs County Council, is one of only five open trestle postmills surviving in the country, but it closed 10 years ago.

Now the Great Chishill Windmill Trust aims to return it to a stable, weather-proof condition safe for the public.

Whilst permission from district planners and Historic England must be gained for work on the Grade II listed building itself, the Trust members decided to start work on the site by uncovering the fantail track.

This is the circular track around which the tail assembly wheels travelled as the mill turned into wind around its central post.

The team cut turves from the grass area that covered the track and found the stony path beneath.

Rotary’s David Telford said: “We were happy to help out on such a lovely day with a glorious view and passing interests.

“Hopefully the exposure of the tail track will add momentum to the restoration project.”