Lights smashed by vandals at Black Mill in East Yorkshire before it had chance to reopen after £1m restoration

Two East Riding councillors have said they are worried the area around a 200-year-old recently restored mill could become a target for vandals after lights were damaged.
Lights at Black Mill near the Humber Bridge have been damaged by vandalsLights at Black Mill near the Humber Bridge have been damaged by vandals
Lights at Black Mill near the Humber Bridge have been damaged by vandals

Hessle ward’s Coun David Nolan said it was a “shame” the lights had been smashed before the Black Mill had chance to open following restoration works costing almost £1m.

Coun Phil Davison, also of Hessle ward, said the part of the Foreshore area the mill is in, close the Humber Bridge Country Park, was known to attract antisocial behaviour.

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Both have called for anyone with information on the incident, which took place close to a recently refurbished children’s play area, to come forward.

An East Riding Council spokesperson said their investigations into the vandalism remain ongoing.

The vandalism follows £968,869 in works to restore the building which is one of the only wind powered industrial mills of its era left in the country.

The restoration of the mill, which once ground chalk into whiting for roads, paint and other goods, was backed by £724,000 in National Lottery heritage funding.

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Coun Nolan said the vandals stuck a site which he hoped would put Hessle “on the map” for tourists.

The Liberal Democrat said: “This is an almost £1m project designed to make that part of the Foreshore more of a landmark. The lighting was designed to illuminate the mill at night and make it more of an asset for the area. It’s awful that some idiots did this before it could even reopen.

“We might have to look at switching any new lights off at night now, the issue is they’re part of the same circuit used by ones in a tunnel that goes under the railway. We do get kids going down to that area on bikes causing problems, it’s such a shame this has happened.”

Coun Davison said he feared any replacement lights could also become a target for vandals.

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Coun Davison said: “It took quite a bit of expense to get the mill refurbished, it’s very unique and one of the few wind powered ones left and the money has helped bring it back to life.

“Now having spent all that money the lights have been smashed and they haven’t been able to open the mill itself as it’s a small confined space. The area already has its problems, people walk down there or drive and park up at the Foreshore before disappearing into the Country Park to do whatever they’re doing, so sadly I’m not surpised by this.

“The trouble is if it gets lit up again it might attract more people going there not for archaeological reasons.”

The mill was built between 1810 and 1815 though the exact date is unknown and was due to reopen in Spring last year but now faces delays due to coronavirus.