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Dunstable Sea Cadets History
Dunstable Sea Cadets are based in the Old mill on West Street in Dunstable; the Windmill has been around since the late 1700’s (in its basic form). However there are reports of a mill on this site going back much further (date unknown).
You will notice from the photo that our mill has no sails. Normally when a mill becomes unusable or unable to compete with industrial progress, some parts are removed for resale or because they have fallen into disrepair.
It is well known by the staff and cadets that the windmill has its odd little ways.
On several occasions a member of staff has been in the mill on their own, and has heard what can only be described as a whispered conversation taking place. Yet after investigation the source of the unusual noises could not be determined.
Many years ago the miller who owned the mill was going about his daily chores, unaware that his daughter’s boyfriend was approaching the building. Oblivious to any inherent danger he carried on as normal, the miller’s daughter saw her boyfriend approaching and ran out to meet him.
The story goes that she was killed outright by one of the windmills sails; in a fit of despair the miller hung himself from one of the wooden beams in the wardroom. Try if you would to imagine the building as a working mill, the floor levels are not as they were in the miller’s day and the entrance has changed also. As you approach the windmill you can see where the old entrance used to be (bricked up).
There do appear to be rope marks on one of the beams in the wardroom, but it is just as likely that any manner of items could have hung from the beams in the windmills heyday. Still it makes for a very sad story and if true may account for the strange whispering noises that have been reported. One of the beams has a date of the late 1800’s etched into it.
Dunstable Sea Cadets have been located within this mill since 1942. The mill was owned by Admiral Sir Lionel Preston, who was good enough to donate the mill to the sea cadets.
Back in the 1940’s there were approximately 80-100 cadets training at these premises, many of which went onto join the Royal Navy. The training they received held them in good stead and on many occasions fast-tracked them into the senior service for wartime duties.
The property itself has seen quite a few changes, not only structurally but also in the people that have been involved here.
The windmill itself has however remained fairly consistent brick for brick, but there have been various out buildings constructed with varying uses. As you approach the windmill you will see that there are now additional administration offices located to the right along with two containers, and a large red container on the left of the mill.
Some visitors have remarked on how the windmill is a bit like Dr Who’s tardis. There are many more rooms than there first appear.
As you can see from our Picture Gallery the cadets take part in various outside adventures. They are rightly proud of their achievements with the Sea Cadets Corps, and the staff at Dunstable unit are rightly proud of them.
The cadets can gain qualifications in many different disciplines.
The three main categories are
Specializations- Mechanical/electrical-communications-seamanship -etc
Proficiencies – Meteorology-shooting-first aid-musician-etc
Water borne – sailing-power-pulling-windsurfing-canoeing-etc.
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