Group visits to Shirley Windmill
The outside of Shirley Windmill is freely accessible so that visitors can view this
interesting local landmark, but visitors who wish to see inside must be accompanied
by an official Guide, provided by The Friends
of Shirley Windmill, who will give a guided tour covering its history and
principal features.
There are several Open Days each year, but The Friends
of Shirley Windmill are pleased to arrange visits to the mill for groups unable
to attend these. The following should be helpful in arranging your visit:
- Weekday visits can prove difficult to arrange, as sometimes a Guide may have to
take time off work to take a tour, so weekends or evenings are to be preferred,
if possible.
- At present, The Friends of Shirley Windmill does not charge a fee for group visits,
but as all running expenses must be met from our own resources, a donation would
be appreciated. It is suggested that £1 per adult and 50p per child is a reasonable
minimum, but this is left to the group organiser.
- There are many steep stairs to climb inside the mill, so visitors must be able to
manage these without undue difficulty. “Sensible” shoes are best, and long skirts
are not recommended. It is recommended that the group organiser visit us beforehand,
on an Open Day, so as to be aware of the access arrangements and assess the suitability
of their group.
- A guided tour takes between 45–60 minutes to complete, though this can vary,
depending largely on the agility of the group. A more leisurely approach is normally
taken on a specially arranged visit than on a normal Open Day.
- A range of attractive, inexpensive souvenirs can be purchased at the Visitor Centre.
Adult group visits
Wherever possible these should be arranged for a normal Open
Day.
If visiting on a normal Open Day is really not possible, a weekend or evening is
preferred, as it is easier to arrange for Guides to be available. The maximum number in a group that can be effectively and safely catered
for is about 15. A larger party of about 30 may be possible, but this will involve arranging for two Guides to be present.
It is regretted that we cannot arrange group visits for fewer than 12 people.
School group visits
These are of course rarely possible except on weekdays, and we are very keen to
accommodate school parties whenever we can. Groups may be of up to about 30 children,
with sufficient adults to control and supervise. Experience has shown that the minimum
age of a class of children in a group visit should be about seven years.
To arrange a group visit or for further information, please ring Frank Paine, Guided
Tour Coordinator, on 020 8651 0064 (home) with a selection of possible dates, or go to our Contacting Us page.
We look forward to welcoming you to the mill!
Children’s letters
We receive lots of letters from our younger visitors — here are a few: