After 40 years exposed to the elements, the sails were removed for restoration.
On Monday 8th August 2016, our millwrights Owlsworth IJP started loosening the bolts and preparing the sails for removal.
They then returned on the Tuesday at 6am to lay down an artificial road for the crane.
The first sail came off and onto the low-loader at around 10.30am. The other 3 sails were removed during the day, and the team of 6 had cleared the site by the end of the day.
The sails were taken to the millwrights' workshop in Reading for assessment and repair.
The initial findings were positive, and the plan was for reinstallation in November ...... however it took a bit longer than that!