Volunteers at the windmill
Shipley mill has been run for the last 22 years entirely by volunteers - The Friends of Shipley Windmill.
The Friends have been prepared to give up their own free time to help open the mill to visitors.  Volunteers have carried out such tasks as taking the money and selling souvenirs at the desk, as well as acting as guides on the various floors of the mill. 

With the aid of grants from English Heritage and a number of other local and National charities, the volunteers have helped with the restoration and the maintenance of the building, and have carried out such tasks as cleaning and painting, as well as repairs to the structure and restoration of the machinery.
Some jobs, like making and painting smaller parts, have been done by volunteers in their own home or workshop.

A small group of mainly retired members have worked on the timber structure each week throughout the year.  The last working party was held just before the windmill closed, on July 15th 2009.

Now that the mill has been handed back to its owner, it is his duty to maintain the windmill, which is a Grade 2 star listed structure; that is a building regarded as being of National importance by English Heritage.