Benefactor visits construction site

Benefactor visits construction site

27 August 2025

CONSTRUCTION work on Saintfield’s new community park is progressing ahead of schedule.

The Saintfield Development Association is spearheading the drive for the new facility on land known locally as the Windmill Field, adjacent to the new community centre at the Belfast Road.

The bulk of the finance for the project has been provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and American benefactor David Moffett whose ancestors emigrated to the USA from Leggygowan.

Mr Moffett has made a substantial donation to the development association to enable it to purchase the windmill field to develop a new heritage park for residents in Saintfield and the wider district. 

During his visit, Mr Moffett had an opportunity to walk around the development site and had a chance to visualise how the proposed community park would surround the ancient windmill and caretaker’s home that is part of Saintfield’s history. 

He was impressed at the potential of fitting out of the empty buildings which would include a heritage area to complement the planned windmill park.

Three stone buildings at the site — where all ground work is expected to be completed by the autumn —  are being stabilised to make them safe for future generations to visit and learn about the industrial heritage of two windmills, two watermills and railway. 

Contractors have been on site for two months with development association officials suggesting the striking image of scaffolding surrounding the historic windmill is a tangible reminder of the progress that is being made.

The base for the planned outdoor gathering area down by the river has already been finished, while all the paths have been marked out and some completed. Repointing the stonework on one of the buildings is nearly complete. 

Writing in the latest edition of Saintfield News, development association chairman Martyn Todd said as the buildings are scheduled monuments, the sand for the lime mortar has been agreed with the Historic Environment Division as a good match with the original mortar. 

“The scaffolding on the outside of the windmill tower is now in place so that the repointing of the stonework can begin,” Mr Todd continued.

“Archaeologists are on site when ground work is being done so that any heritage items that are found can be carefully monitored. Clearance of the debris inside has revealed the original stone flagged floor.”

Mr Todd confirmed that new lintels are to be ed above the windows and doors, while the contract for the fabrication of the interpretation panels has been awarded, with the contractor working with the main contractor to plan installation.

“Disruption to residents along Windmill Road and neighbouring the park has been kept to a minimum and their patience is very much appreciated,” the community group chairman continued.

“Most of the groundworks will be completed by the autumn when it’s hoped the planting of indigenous trees, wildflowers and, possibly, fruit trees will also be done.”

As part of the redevelopment of the site, four bat boxes have been put up along the old railway trackbed, which is being left as a ‘wildlife corridor’. 

And the perimeter fence will have small openings to allow any foxes, hedgehogs or badgers in the area to forage through the area.

Meanwhile, five stories about the windmill and the railway have been gathered from local people and anyone who has any memories of the windmill field or the railway is asked to share them on Facebook, Instagram or contact Diane Goodwin via email at: windmillparksaintfield@gmail.com