Ben Hassett - millwright at Stratford Hall Plantation, USA 🌍

Stratford Hall Plantation gristmill has just been rebuilt as the first solo project by Ben Hassett a keen 26 year old millwright working in the USA.

As a jobbing carpenter, the work was often repetitive, but a visit to the Alcorn windmill, Iowa, suggested a new direction. After contacting Derek Ogden who was millwright on that mill, his advice was the less than welcoming "there is no money in millwrighting". After dogged persistence, Ben persuaded Derek to take him on as an apprentice in 1997, initially for just 1 year.

In 2001 Ben started out on his own, and the 17 month rebuild of Stratford Hall Plantation was his first major work. His craftmanship is beyond doubt, though he admits his business acumen could do with more attention. The next job lined up for him is a 2 year rebuild of Flourdew Hundred Plantation windmill.