Our legacy is kept alive by those we inspire.
Ten years since his passing, the legacy of Vincent Pargeter (1943–2015), one of the greatest twentieth-century millwrights, is still felt.
Through the 131 mills he repaired,
In his records to guide future restorations,
And training the next generation of millwrights.
Now we need your help to continue his legacy.
The Mills Archive Trust is the leading archive and educational charity dedicated to the history of traditional milling. With the support of generous donors, we have digitised 115 of Vincent’s millwrighting drawings. One could save a mill restoration thousands of pounds. Now there are 200 still left to digitise. Just one photo can help reconstruct a regional mill design. Within his 280 boxes of photos, planning applications, surveys and more are the tools to save our shared milling heritage.
Your support will ensure we make the rest of Vincent’s invaluable drawings and field work accessible to aspiring millwrights and professionals online.
Both a mentor and mentee of mill experts like Frank Gregroy, Vincent knew that passing on his knowledge was the only way to truly safeguard our shared heritage. We want to honour that spirit of mentorship by creating a digital hub where today’s apprentices and aspiring millwrights can connect with experienced professionals.
As the Chairman of the Midlands Mills Group remembered, while ‘making a pair of sails for Berkswell Windmill in 1999, I asked Vincent Pargeter if he had any tips for us.’ Vincent shared his knowledge on how to prevent rot by sealing the mortices of windmill sails with tin and mastic.
With your support, we can connect experts and aspiring millwrights to pass on these trade secrets.
With your support, we can continue to catalogue and digitise the knowledge of modern millwrights—many of whom Vincent trained. While working with the Broads Authority and Lottery Heritage Fund, Vincent trained five new millwrights in 2006, including Tim Whiting of Suffolk Millwrights. Tim now maintains over 20 windmills across the country. The work of the Mills Archive Trust cannot stop after we finish cataloguing and digitising Vincent’s work. We must work with millwrights to capture records and create resources to train and inspire the next generation.