Creek windmill to close to public

The BBC series Jonathan Creek was filmed at Shipley

A West Sussex windmill used as the fictional home of the BBC sleuth Jonathan Creek is to close to the public after more than 50 years.

The TV series starring Alan Davies was filmed at Shipley windmill - the largest in Sussex - which is owned by a descendant of writer Hillaire Belloc.

It was the last working mill built in the county, in 1879.

Shipley Windmill Charitable Trust said the building needed £80,000 repairs but the lease had only three years to run.

The building and five acres of surrounding land were bought by Belloc in 1906 and operated as working mill until the 1920s.

His great grandson has decided not to renew the trust's lease on the building when it runs out.

West Sussex County Council opened the windmill to the public in 1958 and the trust took over in 1987.

Chairman Jim Woodward-Nutt said he had been working on the building ever since.

"Like a lot of volunteers I have been helping to keep the windmill in good repair for the last 20 years and we are very sad not to be able to continue with that," he said.

"At the moment we have two sails off the mill.

"When we examined them we decided they would have to be completely rebuilt.

"I am quite sure we could raise the money with grants from various fundraising bodies but they nearly all insist on having 25 years or more of a lease remaining."

The windmill was opened to the public on 5 April for the 2009 season, but will close for good on 19 July.