22nd - 26th September 2021
A beautiful clear, sunny and balmy week in September witnessed Tide Mills come back to life as never before and far beyond anyone’s wildest of dreams.
A beautiful clear, sunny and balmy week in September witnessed Tide Mills come back to life as never before and far beyond anyone’s wildest of dreams. The huge imprint of Mill House and The Tidal Mill (created from scaffold) loomed over the site and could be seen from miles around creating much interest amongst the local community. During the week Seahaven Academy, Seaford Head and Northease Manor all participated in artistic workshops connected with Tide Mills run by volunteer local artists. Young people from Chailey Heritage visited the site during the whole week with bespoke workshops tailored to their learning needs.
Creative Installations
Even though the event times were from 5pm-10pm, it was clear from the footfall that the thirst for attending was huge so most installations and the hub were active during the days for people to visit and explore in the sunshine.
Breadmaking, blacksmithing, young archaeologists at work, a Victorian garden, a water wheel running on the sparse tide and an enormous zoetrope of racing horses were some of the things on offer as well as an exhibition of finds from the ongoing archaeological dig and Tide Mills very own radio station. Mill drove was packed and bustling with visitors and all the free guided tours and all events were fully booked.
Discovering the site
As the sun went down each evening, the roaring firepit came into it’s own and people could drink from the bar and eat Tide Mills inspired food. The site transformed into one beautifully lit and multi-sensory installation created from seventeen separate ones. The inner workings of the mill cranked into action with racing horses galloping towards the audience. Hundreds of community actors, young and old, created the lives form different periods from Tide Mills History which included a brutal eviction scene set in 1940 – the end of Tide Mills. Stan Tubb, Matron Powell and William Catt himself were seen in amoungst the throng of bubbling activity.
VR Experience
Throughout the Celebration Week you could enter into Tide Mills through augmented reality points, watch Short 184 WW1 planes sway in the wind and listen to a soundscape created by young people from Chailey Heritage now, inspired by the sea and poems written for the project.
We are planning for the wonderful augmented landscape of Art Lewry, Jack Beccegato & Gary Bruggenwirth to be a permanent fixture on site. Please write to us HERE to support the permanent installation of our Augmented Reality landscape.
You can already visit Tide Mills and meet some characters by Virtual Reality, by clicking the button below.
Relive the celebration
Beautiful performances were given by Colin Chapman, Cushion the Blow, The Kites, The Copper Family and the wonderful Sam Lee.
This was a week not to be missed and never forgotten.
All photographs are courtesy of Alex Franklin.
