Essex & Suffolk Group Tour of the workshops of Suffolk Millwright, Dennington

Event details

13 March 2025 at 10.30am for Members and their guests

An exclusive behind the scenes visit to the Workshops of Suffolk Millwright, Dennington: this is a working site with some heavy-weight engineering. We are attending in early spring because the windmill components that have been built over the winter have not yet been moved to the installation sites, when the craftsmen will be working on site rather than at the workshop. So, we should be able to see things like windmill caps that are normally out of reach!

Our host will be Tim Whiting who co-owns Suffolk Millwright with his wife, Clare.

Tim started out in 1998 running a cabinet making business in the grounds of Friston windmill in Suffolk, where in 2005 he met the late Vincent Pargeter who was one of the last of the old school traditional millwrights in the UK. Tim spent five years working alongside Vincent working on many aspects of the craft and opened Suffolk Millwright in 2011 and has proudly worked almost entirely on windmills ever since.

Tim is very actively involved with the SPAB Mills Group and has had a couple of SPAB Fellows in his team. Tim looks after more than 20 mills around the country.

The workshop is unheated, much of the visit is outdoors:

For people wanting to arrive early, so as not to be late, we recommend going to Neathouse café – open from 10am-3pm @ Old Post Office Framlingham Road, The Old Post House, Dennington IP13 8DD – for home-baked cakes. Located just a mile south of the Millwrights Workshops. 

See: Suffolk Millwright | millwright | Dennington, Woodbridge, UK 

You are welcome to take pictures and videos, but you must not post video on social media.
There is nothing formal organised after the visit, but Dennington Church is well-worth visiting visit just opposite the Neathouse, behind the Dennington Queen. But first, why not return to the Neathouse, or try the Queen for a meal.

You will need

Sturdy footwear, warm coat, hat and gloves

How to get there

The Dairy, Lodge Farm Laxfield Road, Dennington, Suffolk IP13 8AR

The entrance is on the west side of Laxfield Road, just after Severalls Lane on the left.

There is limited car parking on site – people are encouraged to share transport. It is unlikely that you will be able to get there by public transport. 

Accessibility

•    This is a working site with some heavy-weight engineering. 
•    Limited seating available
•    Possibly uneven surfaces/slippery paths
•    Significant periods of standing 

Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email membership@spab.org.uk

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions. 

Photo: Suffolk Millwright Team  © Sarah Fisk