New Hall Mill is a splendid place, restored and run by wonderfully dedicated volunteers.

One of the incidental effects of the current pandemic (how odd it is to type those words) that is slowly dawning on me is that most of the things that I treasure about summer are unlikely to happen this year much, if at all.

You all know I love cheesy garden fetes, church fayres, floating markets, boat rallies and festivals, not to mention the steam and vintage events? Well, it occurred to me in the last few days that most of these events won’t happen this year now: Even Pelsall Carnival has been cancelled.

One of my favourite things about curating the blog in summer is knowing I can direct a healthy flow of interested folk to great, otherwise hidden local attractions, like New Hall Mill. I love the place and adore getting them better known – the mill is gorgeous and so quintessentially English it’s impossible not to love.

My old pal Alan Dawson wrote to me a few days ago to say that sadly, this year the first few open days have been wisely cancelled, and rightly, a question mark hangs over the remainder.

This is absolutely the correct action, but by jove, I’ll miss these folk and their events.

The Friends of New Hall Mill said:

Hi Bob

New Hall Mill – Coronavirus

I hope that you are well and keeping yourself socially distanced from others in these challenging times. It would seem that we are about to have a very quiet summer with event cancellations increasing daily.

We are aware of the interest that your blog creates, many visitors to the mill indicating that their attendance was the result of your promoting the open days, for which we are immensely grateful.

Could you please post the following information on your blog?

NEW HALL MILL – Unfortunately, we have to report that along with many other organisations, we are having to cancel our open days in May and June. The remaining dates in July, August and September have been left pencilled in, we will take government advice nearer the time as to whether they can proceed. Should that be allowed, then the details will be published. 

Access our Face Book page NEW HALL MILL for regular updates

Many thanks in anticipation, Best wishes from New Hall Valley

Alan Dawson – A friend of New Hall Mill

More details can be found on their website – www.newhallmill.org.uk or their Facebook page here.

Obviously, I would imagine the same goes for similar attractions locally like Balleny Green miniature railway, Clay Mills pumping station, Klondyke Mill at Draycott and so forth.

This is so very sad but I will be so ready to welcome them all back when this strange time passes. My best wishes to Alan and all at New Hall Mill, and to all those volunteers, organisers and grafters who put events on and now find themselves oddly spare for a season.

My sympathies. See you on the other side.