About

This blog is a celebration of heritage, creativity, and the story of the Catt family — a story that stretches back generations and continues to evolve today.

For many years, the Catt family were millers in Hailsham, East Sussex, working at what became known as Hamlins Mill. The mill stood as a symbol of hard work, skill, and community, with generations of the family dedicating their lives to the craft of milling. From millhands to ownership, their journey reflected determination and a deep connection to both their trade and the local area.

Although the mill itself was lost, its legacy remains.

Today, that legacy is carried forward by the granddaughter of Gilbert Catt, who continues the family tradition of craftsmanship in a new and creative form. Through Class in Glass, she creates handmade glasswork and photography, blending traditional skill with modern artistic expression.

This blog exists to share that journey — from the history of the mill, to the people behind it, to the creative work being produced today. It is also part of a wider vision: to restore the mill site and transform it into a centre for the arts, bringing together glasswork, photography, painting, music, and creative collaboration.

The aim is not only to preserve history, but to give it new life.

Through storytelling, art, and creativity, the Catt family legacy continues — evolving from wind and stone to glass and light, while remaining rooted in the same values of craftsmanship, dedication, and passion.

This is more than a history.
It is a living story.