Mill news and topical information 🌍

Thaxted windmill is currently undergoing a major restoration, thanks to a significant lottery grant. Over the past few months a roadway had been constructed across the fields to the mill, to allow heavy equipment to to brought in, and that has allowed the cap to be lifted off. Whist the original plan was to remove all the sails before the lift off, one of the stocks could not be shifted, so the cap was lifted off with that still attached. However, now it's on the ground, the millwrights Owlsworth IJP have managed to free up the stock and remove it from the poll end. Details of the restoration progress can be found via the Thaxted Windmill blog, and via social media such as Facebook.

A advertisement for a windmill with a wood chipper, on this day in 1778 Leeds Intelligencer, 03 February 1778

To be LETT, for a TERM of YEARS,
And entered upon at PLEASURE,
Situate about Half a Mile from Halifax, and about a Mile from the Calder and Hebble Nawigation.
A SMOCK WIND-MILL for grinding Corn and chipping Wood, a Pair of blue and another of grey Stones, a Patent Machine for dressing Flour, a Pair of Rollers for Malt, a Chipping Mill and Malt Mill, with every Convenience proper for those Works.- Also a DWELLING-HOUSE, and suitable Outhousing, and a Quantity of Land, all adjoining to the above Mills.
Other Particulars may be had of Mr Howorth, Grocer and Druggist in Halifax.

Historic England have pulled together a year end review of 19 Remarkable Historic Places Listed in 2025. The list includes items being listed for the first time, (and also ones whose listing level has been ungraded), and includes some surprising objects such as anti-tank "Dragon's Teeth", a submarine phone cable hauler, a coal duty post, some signposts as well the expected buildings.

In 2025 there were 199 sites which were given protection for the first time, comprising 173 first time listings, 21 scheduled monuments, and 5 parks and gardens. A further 129 existing listings were amended.

Amongst the amendments, Drapers windmill, Margate was upgraded from a Grade II to a Grade II*, to reflect its position as one of the increasingly rare operational windmills.

Chelmsford Chronicle, 02 February 1866

A FIRST-CLASS BRICK TOWER WINDMILL,
With the Goodwill of the capital old-established thriving Trade connected therewith.

---

DWELLING HOUSES, GOOD PREMISES AND PADDOCK, IN THE FLOURISHING TOWN OF SAWSTON.

---

Mr. Benjamin T. Thurgood
Is instructed by Mr. Mumford, the proprietor and occupier of the above property, TO LET THE SAME BY AUCTION, at the Bull Inn, Sawston, on Wednesday, 14th February, 1866, at Three for Four, p.m., for the term of Seven Years from the ensuing Lady-day,
THAT very superior White-Brick TOWER WINDMILL, with 5 floors, driving 3 pairs of French stones and patent sails, recently erected in an artistic style, at the cost of a considerable sum of money, by Mr. William Rawlings, of Cambridge, and complete in all its arrangements, including appliances for steam power.
A DWELLING HOUSE, journeyman's house, two granaries, an engine-house, three-bay wagon lodge, coal-house, stable, chaise-house, harness room, chaff-house, a yard and garden, and a close of meadow land, a short distance from the mill, containing 1a. 2r. 11p. The two granaries and the mill are estimated to stow 500 quarters of corn.
There is a capital paying trade connected with this property, which is advantageously situated near the town, and about 1 1/2 mile from the Whittlesford and Abington stations, and two miles from the Shelford station.
The hirer will be required to find an approved surety, and to keep the premises in tenantable repair - the landlord finding bricks, slates, rough timber, and lime; and also to take by valuation the straps, cloths, chains, ropes, pullies, shaker, and utensils and tools in trade only.
A draft of the proposed lease may be seen upon application to Mr. Mumford, upon the premises. Mr. Thurgood has confidence in directing attention to the fact that the town of Sawston has the fortune of having two most important manufactories conducted by opulent gentlemen, employing many hundreds of workmen at an adequate rate of wages, which tends much to the prosperity enjoyed by the trade of the town.
Further particulars may be had of W. B. Feeland, Esq., Solicitor, Saffron Walden; and at Mr. Benjamin T. Thurgood's Land Agency and Auction Offices, Saffron Walden.

A forthcoming auction publicised on this day in 1850 Chelmsford Chronicle, 01 February 1850

ROXWELL, ESSEX.

---

ELIGIBLE WATER & WIND CORN MILLS, With Immediate Possession.

---

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Messrs. Baker and Son,
At the Black Boy Hotel, Chelmsford, on Friday, February 22nd, 1850, at Three o'Clock, by direction of the Executors of the late Mr. Joseph Cooch,
ALL that eligible and highly desirable FREEHOLD PROPERTY, land-tax redeemed, situate at Roxwell, about 5 miles from Chelmsford, Essex, consisting of a WATER CORN MILL, driving two pairs of stones; also a very substantial POST WINDMILL driving three pairs of stones, with all the machinery, flour mills, going gears, &c. recently putin upon the best construction; together with a respectable and commodious Dwelling-house, offices and large garden, exceedingly well situated, with a good trade, having been in the hands of the proprietor for many years.
Part of the purchase-money may remain on mortgage.
For further Particulars apply to Messrs. Chalk and Meggy, Solicitors, Chelmsford; Mr. Robert Swinborne, Great Oakley; or to the Auctioneers, Writtle and Chelmsford.

Auction notice for property including a watermill and a windmill published on this day in 1779. Ipswich Journal, 30 January 1779

To be SOLD by AUCTION

By order of the assignees of the estate and effects of BRAME OXFORD and THOMAS ROCKHILL, Bankrupts, on THURSDAY the 2d day of Feb. between the hours of Three and Six of the clock in the afternoon, at the ANGEL INN in HALESWORTH, Suffolk, the following estates late of the said Bankrupts,

LOT I. THE now residue and remainder of a term of 41 years, (whereof were 35 years to come on the 10th of October last) of and in a Water-Mill, Dwelling-house, Outhouses, aud about four acres of very rich meadow land in Wenhaston in Suffolk, lately in the occupation of the said bankrupts.
This mill was lately new built, has 7 feet pend of water, a tumbling water wheel, 12 feet by 10, and a breast water wheel, 14 feet by 5 1/2, breasted 5 feet and 1/2 high, three pair of French stones, one pair of peak stones, two flour mills, and a machine to clean corn; is situated upon the river Blyth (which is navigable to the port of Southwold) about three miles from Halesworth, and six from Southwold (both market towns) in a fine corn country, where a considerable trade in the flour branch, as also in corn in general, may be advantageously carried on, there being no other water-mill within ten miles.

LOT II. A new built Messuage or Dwelling-house, Stable, Granary and other Outhouses, yards and appurtenances belonging thereto in Holton in Suffolk, (about one mile and a half from Halesworth) lately in the occupation of the said Brame Oxford.
Also, A Post Wind-Mill, with two pair of French stones, a four mill; a machine to dress corn, and a round house, with two floors capable of holding a considerable quantity of corn, in exceeding good repair, and also half an acre of garden ground belonging to the same, and adjoining to the said last mentioned premises late in the use of the said bankrupts.

For further particulars enquire of Mr. Richard Dreffer of Blyford, or Mr. John Beales of Cheddiston, in the said county of Suffolk, assignees of the estate and effects of the said bankrupts.

Auction notice for two windmills on this day in 1825 Northampton Mercury, 29 January 1825

TWO VALUABLE WINDMILLS, IN FULL TRADE.
To be SOLD by PRIVATE CONTRACT, Either together or separately, At the Option of the Purchasers,
Lot 1. ALL that valuable freehold ESTATE, at RISELY, in the County of Bedford (Tithe free); consisting of a capital SMOCK MILL, with fan Tail; an excellent Pair of French Stones, four Feet four Inches in Diameter, with good Regulators; a Pair of peak Ditto, five Feet two inches in Diameter, with good Regulators; a valuable dressing Machine, with two Cylinders, nearly new. Also, A good DWELLING HOUSE, with suitable Rooms; two Barns, newly erected, with Stable and Piggeries, and other out Offices; a good Well of Water and a lead Pump, a Garden with choice fruit Trees, together with a Pi[???]le of rich sward Land, containing about one Acre.
The Mill is in complete Repair; and the Whole adjoining the high Road from Bedford to Kimbolton and St. Neots; from Kimbolton four Miles, and from St. Neots and Bedford 10 Miles each.- Also may be rented adjoining the same. 22 Acres of good ARABLE and SWARD LAND, if agreeable to the Purchaser; forming together a most desirable Situation for a Miller. The above may be entered upon at Lady Day next.
Lot 2, situated at OLD WESTON, in the County af Huntingdon, consists of an excellent POST WINDMILL, with a capital Pair of French Stones and Regulators, four Feet tour Inches in Diameter; one Pair of peak Ditto, four Feet 10 Inches in Diameter, with dressing Machine nearly new, and two Cylinders. Also, A good brick and tiled DWELLING HOUSE, Barn, Stable, and Piggeries, with other Out offices, a Yard and Garden, a good Well of Water; also, FOUR ACRES, more or less, of good ARABLE LAND, in the open Field of WESTON aforesaid, which is contiguous to the House. The Whole is Freehold of Inheritance, is in the most complete Repair, and forms a most desirable Situation for a Miller.
Old Weston is distant from Thrapston and Huntingdon seven Miles, and from Oundle eight.
For a View of the above, please to apply on the Premises of each Lot; and for further Particulars, and to treat for the same, to Mr BRADSHAW, the Proprietor, at Dean Mills, Bed; or to Mr. PETER WARREN, Auctioneer, Risely, Beds.
N. B. All Letters, Post paid, will be regularly answered.

Another auction advertised on this day in 1824 Kent Herald, 29 January 1824

HASTINGS.- WINDMILL.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Mr. EATON,
AT the SWAN INN, Hastings, on SATURDAY, the 7 h day of February, 1524, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
A FREEHOLD SMOCK WINDMILL, with a Warehouse, and about one acre and a half of exceeding good LAND, situate in the parish of Saint Clement, Hastings, the property of Mr. John French, deceased, and now in the occupation of Mr. Eldridge, under a lease for seven years, from the 17th January, 1820, at the rent of £50. per annum.
For further particulars enquire of Mr. JOHN LONGLEY. or Mr. WM. EDWARDS, Hastings, or at the Office of Messrs. BISHOP and THORPE, Solicitors, Hastings.

An upcoming auction advertised on this day in 1820: Suffolk Chronicle, 29 January 1820

A MOST DESIRABLE SITUATION For a Miller, COLCHESTER, ESSEX.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By W. JACKSON,
On Wednesday, February 9, 1820, at the Blue Posts Inn, Colchester, at Twelve o'clock at noon, ALL that valuable FREEHOLD ESTATE, advantageously situated in the Parish of Saint Botolph, Colchester, now in the occupation of Mr. JOHN SPRACKLIN, the Proprietor (leaving the same) in One Lot; comprising a very pleasant and comfortable Dwelling-House, with a keeping room, 2 parlours, 4 bed rooms, Bake Office (with 2 ten-bushel ovens) brew house, and kitchen; stable and other outbuildings; a good substantial Cottage for workmen; and a most capital and well-timbered Post Windmill, with 2 pair of French stones, good and convenient round house, well-binned for holding corn, with all her going gear; the whole in complete repair and condition. Also, a good Garden, and about One Acre and a Half of very productive Arable Land.
The Mill is now in full trade, and stands well for business, either retail or shipping for London.
Immediate possession may be had; and part of the purchase money may remain on mortgage of the Premises, if required.
Further particulars and Conditions of Sale may be had of Messrs. Daniell, Sewell, and Daniell, Solicitors, and of the Auctioneer, Colchester.

Advertised for sale on this day, 1806: Morning Advertiser, 28 January 1806

WINDMILL-To be SOLD by PRIVATE CONTRACT, by B. DONKIN, Engineer and Millwright, Fort-place, Bermondsey, a capital POST MILL, with two pair of stones, situated within a mile and a half of London Bridge, in excellent repair and full trade; also the Lease of the Dwelling House, and the Ground upon which the Mill stands, 65 years of which were unexpired on Christmas Day last. For further particulars, and to view the premises, apply to Mr. Donkin, as above.- N. B. No person will be treated with but such as shall give satisfactory reference, if required.

Reported on this day in 1840 - Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 18 January 1840

THREE GOOD CARTS, BREAK WHEEL, BREAK, IRON SHAFT, and NECK of a WINDMILL,
AND 120 LOTS OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE,
FOR SALE, AT WHITCHURCH.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY Messrs. Gibbs and Sons,
Upon the Premises of Mr. John Clark, baker, of Whitchurch, Bucks (who is leaving that place),
On FRIDAY, the 24th of JANUARY, 1840, at Ten,
GOOD dung cart and market cart, both in iron arms, a light baker's cart on springs, three sets of harness, a valuable break and break wheel, iron shafts and neck of a windmill, about 120 lots of useful household furniture, and other effects.
May be seen the morning of sale, and catalogue had on the premises, and of the [auctioneers], Aylesbury.

Reported on this day in 1779 - Shrewsbury Chronicle, 16 January 1779

His Majesty's Letters Patent, is granted to SAMUEL WATSON, of Baslow, near Chatsworth, Derbyshire; for the sole Making and Vending his New
HAND - MILL,
Made of the Derbyshire Burr Material, for grinding Wheat, which so long has been wished for, as the work is so easy and expeditious, and the Flour equally as good or rather superior to that which is ground on the French Burrs at the common Water or Wind-Mills, and so small produce of Bran, and no loss of weight betwixt the Grain and the Produce, makes the Machine of great use to all Families, Apothecaries, Druggists, &c. Also for his
NEW ROLLERS,
Made of the Peak Mill-Stone Materials, for crushing Malt, Oats, Beans, &c.
The Power of one Man with ease (by the great improvement he has made in them) may crush 20 Bushels of Malt in One Hour, which is found better for Brewing than when ground on the common Mill stones, or by the Steel Hand-Mills. By the same power 8 Bushes of Oats or Beans may be crushed in the same Time, and it need not be here insisted on, that Corn thus crushed affords more nourishment to Horses or Cattle, than when given whole; besides they are not dried upon a Kiln, which is the usual process before common grinding, which greatly endangers the horses wind, being thirsty after eating provender prepared in that manner, and from the simplicity and strength of the Construction of the above Machines, they are not liable to be out of order, or unfit for use. The price at Baslow of each pair of Rollers, 5l. 5s.
Whoever attempts to imitate either of the above Machines, and impose upon the public, will be prosecuted as the Law directs. Of the said Watson may be had Peak Mill-stones of any size. Also Bolting-Mills for dressing flour of the best construction may be had with the Mills.
N. B. The Rollers may be seen at Mr. Thomas Hinton's, Whitchurch; Mr. D. Stodard's, St. Asaph, Flintshire; Mr. Brittain's, near Chester; and number of other Places in this and the adjacent Counties.

Reported on this day in 1938 - Daily News, 14 January 1938

THE WINDMILL MAN
PRESERVATION of windmills has become the self-imposed task of Mr. Donald Smith, headmaster of Park Senior School, Dagenham.
He is the chief adviser to the Open Spaces Committee of the Essex County Council, which has approved a grant of £500 to preserve the three or four dozen windmills of Essex.
"The building of windmills demanded a high standard of skill, and their wooden machinery is wonderful," said Mr. Smith to the News Chronicle.

That's a remarkably bland report by the newspaper - Smith had already in 1932 produced a book, English Windmills, Vol. 2, for the SPAB, covering windmills in Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and London.

I don't have much to go on, but note from the Lottery site that they have awarded Woodbridge Tide Mill Charitable Trust £26,600 for Tidemill External Restoration. Unlike other recent project pages at the lottery website, the page has not included any further details of the project.

PA Images is the current branding of what used to be called the Press Association. As such it continues the job of providing editorial images of current events to the media, as well as being the holder of a vast archive of historical news photos.

I thought it would be interesting to take a look at what recent windmill news stories they have photo coverage of. Although they maintain their own website, they actually pass off sales to Alamy, so since their search interface is slightly easier to use, and provides for better incoming links, I'll search the Alamy site for PA images as a proxy. (Actually there is a fairly major difference - the Alamy site only contains images that actually exist, whereas the PS site includes a number of other pictures, typically of subjects outside of the UK, which try and link you through to the Alamy site, but fail because these images do not exist there. Interestingly the linkage to Alamy is via searching for the image caption, rather than via any form of permalink).

Events covered in 2025 are:

• Specialist engineers install new sails on the 17th-century Chesterton Windmill in Warwickshire. Picture date: Wednesday March 19, 2025.
• The sun rises behind Chesterton windmill in Warwickshire. Picture date: Sunday February 2, 2025.
• A person walks by Chesterton Windmill during heavy fog in Chesterton in Warwickshire. Picture date: Thursday January 16, 2025.
• Birds fly close to Chesterton Windmill before sunrise in Warwickshire. Picture date: Thursday January 2, 2025.

I'm spotting a definite theme there - the photographer Jacob King is based near Chesterton windmill, and supplies regular photos of it to the agency.

Working backwards through previous years, a few other mills just about get a look in:

• A drone view of Llancayo Windmill in Monmouthshire in the autumnal sunshine. Picture date: Wednesday November 13, 2024.
• Chesterton Windmill in Warwickshire during a cold an dry morning in Warwickshire. Picture date: Saturday March 2, 2024.
• Wilton windmill, Wiltshire, where members of the Wilton Windmill Society are helping to complete the annual Spring clean of the traditional tower mill with fantail, built in 1871 and operational for 100 years. Picture date: Sunday April 10, 2022.
• Willesborough Windmill, a white smock mill built in 1869 is bathed in the morning sunshine as the moon sets behind in Ashford, Kent. Picture date: Thursday January 20, 2022.
• Clouds gather over the 17th century Pistone Windmill near Alyesbury. Picture date: Monday May 10, 2021.
• The moon rises behind Chesterton Windmill in Warwickshire, before the April super full moon on the 27th, which is traditionally known as the Pink Moon. Picture date: Monday April 26, 2021.
• Groups of people watch sunset by Chesterton Windmill in Warwickshire. Picture date: Wednesday March 17, 2021.
• Dense fog surrounds Chesterton Windmill, Warwickshire. 9 November 2020
• Jack, 10, plays with his kite as he enjoys the hot weather by Chesterton Windmill, Warwickshire. 11 August 2020
• Visitors walk by Chesterton Windmill in Chesterton, Warwickshire. 23 July 2020
• Kadie Lane, 11, takes photographs of colourful wildflowers next to Whitburn Windmill near Sunderland. 19 July 2020
• The full moon, also known as the Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises over Chesterton Windmill, Warwickshire. 7 May 2020
• The sun rises over Chesterton Windmill in Warwickshire. 5 April 2020
• Fulwell Windmill in Sunderland is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff who are trying to battle coronavirus. 26 March 2020
• Sunrise by the Chesterton Windmill in Warwickshire. 29 January 2020
• The sun rises over the village of Brill near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. The Grade II* listed windmill dates back to the 17th century. 20 January 2020
• The sun rises behind the Allen Clarke Memorial Windmill in Blackpool, as the chilly weekend continued with the mercury dipping below zero and fog coating large parts of the country. 19 January 2020
• The sun rises over Chesterton Windmill, in Warwickshire. 30 December 2019
• The sun sets behind the Great Haseley windmill in Oxfordshire. 15 October 2019
• People walk their dogs through a layer of morning mist by Chesterton Windmill, Warwickshire, following the hottest August Bank Holiday Monday on record, with temperatures reaching 33.2C. 27 August 2019
• A crane hoists new sails into place as they are fitted to Saxtead Green Post Mill near Framlingham, Suffolk, an 18th century corn-grinding windmill, as part of a ??250,000 conservation project. 22 August 2019
• The sun rises over Chesterton Windmill in Chesterton, Warwickshire. 20 August 2019
• A bailer works in a field in front of Great Haseley windmill in Oxfordshire. 13 August 2019
• Bright colourful rhododendrons in front of Whitburn Windmill on a bright summer day in Sunderland. 4 August 2019
• A view of Willesborough Windmill, a restored and working white smock mill built in 1869 in Ashford, Kent, during the morning sunlight. 12 July 2019
• The sun sets by Chesterton Windmill in Warwickshire. 27 June 2019
• Poppies and wild flowers surround Whitburn Windmill near Sunderland. 23 June 2019
• A lady arrives to cast her votes at a polling station at West Blatchington Windmill near Hove, as voters head to the polls for the European Parliament election. 23 May 2019
• Dark clouds form over the Little Marton Windmill in Blackpool. 6 March 2019
• A near full Hunter's moon rises behind Wilton Windmill in Wiltshire. 24 October 2018
• Flowers at Whitburn windmill, Sunderland, as the hot weather continues. 22 July 2018
• A new sail is fitted to Wicken Village windmill in Cambridgeshire. 9 May 2018
• Robert Weighton, one of Britain's two oldest men, painting a model windmill in the workshop at his home in Alton, Hampshire. Mr Weighton celebrates his 110th birthday on Thursday. 21/02/18
• A family take a moment to look at the Chesterton Windmill, a 17th-century cylindrical stone tower windmill which is Grade 1 listed, outside the village of Chesterton, Warwickshire. 24 September 2017
• Riders climb Brill Hill with Brill Windmill in the background during stage seven of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain from Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham. 9 September 2017
• Warm weather at Whitburn Windmill in Sunderland. 30 July 2017
• A crane lifts the restored roof cap back onto the National Trust's Horsey Windpump in Horsey, Great Yarmouth. 16 May 2017
• A view of Union Windmill, England's largest Smock Mill in the afternoon sunshine in Cranbrook, Kent. 9 March 2017

I've nothing against seeing pictures of the very photogenic Chesterton, but I can't help wondering whether this blanket coverage is getting a bit repetitive! I'll also note that many of these are not really news items at all - the sun and the moon appear every day in some form, and in summer we have hot days and flowers grow. I suspect that the target for these photos is not so much the news reports, but rather feature articles which are looking for a picture to go with an otherwise unrelated topic. Of course, there may be selection bias happening here - the real news illustrations may age off the system very quickly, leaving only these sunrise/sunset/moon photos around offering some longevity on the system.

I shall be returning to PA Images in the future, to see if other real news does feature in their coverage.

Back in Feb 2024, Gareth Ross Buddell commented that he was building a 1/4 scale post mill. By July 2024, he'd completed it, and decked it out with colourful sails created from an old curtain. Gareth does work as a furniture restorer, and had some experience studying classical boat building at Falmouth Marine School, so building the mill in his garden in Bishopstone, Wiltshire was an extension of these pursuits. Its main structure is in green oak, costing a few hundred £s, and with electrical expertise help from Anthony Owen has incorporated a 500 watt e-bike motor being used as a generator to produce electricity. The design was adapted from survey drawings of Bourn windmill in Cambridgeshire. The windshaft turns a large wheel where the brakewheel is in the original, which meshes with a lantern gear which drives the generator via a pulley. There are some videos of the mill on Gareth's YouTube channel, The MillWrite, including it in action in a local field where it catches more wind than it does in the village high street.

Gareth wrote to King Charles about the mill, thinking it would appeal to his eco-ideals, and offering to oversee building him a version. The original prototype has been promised to TWIGS Community Gardens.

As a follow up to this small scale device, Gareth has produced plans for a full scale mill, again to produce electricity, and is seeking offers of help, including crowdfunding the materials cost, but also volunteers say from a carpentry college, and from a landowner to provide a site for it, with perhaps a charity to operate the mill.

The cap of Buttrums mill in Woodbridge has been lifted off by Crowland Cranes as part of a refurbishment by millwright Tim Whiting, which includes

• overhaul of winding gear
• fresh coat of Belzona paint
• rectified fly
• four new sails

(more photos).

The sails had been removed a day or so earlier using a different crane and were dismantled and cut up on site.

Following on from the action in June 2025, when the National Trust withdrew their ill advised plan to simply take the sails off their mill at Burnham Overy Staithe, they are at least now engaging with the public to discuss possible ways of securing the future for the mill. They attended the parish council meeting on the 8th Sept, attended by about 50 locals, with Peter Nicholson, the NT's new general manager for the Norfolk Coast and Broads in attendance. He mentioned that no exact costing had been done, but estimated it being in the £700K to £1M range which they do not have available, but the Trust wants to sort out the mill as soon as it can. Options being looked at included

• a potentially viable option of leasing the mill to an "anonymous connection" who would restore it, in return for being allowed to build a house on the site, and sometimes opening it to the public
• seeing if the Landmark Trust would take on the building
• asking the community to help raise funds towards the restoration, which could then operate as a social enterprise, such as a café

None of these options are currently given on the Trust's page on the mill, which carries the general statement

Having listened to the strength of feeling locally for this iconic building, the National Trust team for the Norfolk Coast and Broads, together with key local and regional colleagues, wish to reconsider all options. This will include efforts to gain support and fundraise to protect the fabric of the building, followed by a period to consult on options of how we might best proceed.

The newspaper report of the meeting that I'm relying on had various replies from the public, and at least as presented I have to say that none of the options seem to be popular. Hopefully minutes of the meeting will be forthcoming soon.

Back in 2015, Plans for converting the Fernicombe windmill tower were submitted and approved, for

Conversion and change of use of the Fernicombe Windmill to a single residential unit, erection of new roof structure and single storey extension.

The plans, by Devon architect Christopher Pancheri, showed a well researched and actually pleasing looking structure, with a wooden cap, appropriately shaped for the Devon region, of which there are no existing examples remaining. Millwright Martin Watts is credited as supplying survey drawings as input in to the design.

Those plans were never executed, and the developers wanted more, so switched to SPX Architects of Yorkshire, who came up with a new planning application submitted 4 years later in 2019, this time for

Conversion and change of use of the former Fernicombe Windmill to a single residential unit, construction of new roof structure, addition of a linked 2-storey extension and associated landscaping works.

Note the increase in size of the extension to 2 storeys, and the subtle change to the wording about the roof. Actually the roof design had been completely changed from the historically accurate cap to a garish and inappropriate all round glass observation room. Many objections were made to this new design, and I guess that's why this application has taken so long to progress. In particular SPAB noted:

There is sufficient information on the drawings however for us to take the view that the proposed cap is still not close enough in design form to resemble what we believe was the carefully researched and drawn design of the 2015 application. This design reflected the style of cap found on South Devon Windmills until the latter part of the 19th century, since when all local mills have been lost, fallen into ruin or been converted so that no original mill caps survive. We feel that the works to Fernicombe Windmill offer one of the few opportunities to see a cap put back that would reflect the original design and so maintain the local tradition.

In late 2024 new plans were submitted within the still open application, and these got rid of the roof structure, (which many comments had described as a lighthouse) and instead stuck with what appears from the side elevation drawings to be a flat roof on the existing tower, (though the drawing comments note "windmill cap removed, replaced with glazed lantern", so it's not a completely flat opaque roof). These new plans were approved in May 2025.

The Watermills and Landscape of the River Great Ouse, Cambridgeshire, Bridget Flanagan and Keith Grimwade, (2025) Windgather Press. ISBN 978-1-914427-41-1

Chapter titles

1. Introduction
2. The Physical and Historical Background
3. The First Watermills: the Roman Period to 1066
4. A Water milling 'powerhouse': the Domesday Mills
5. The Age of Backwaters: 1086-1350
6. River Wars: 1515 - matters come to a head
7. The Age of Locks: a 17th century Technical Solution
8. Continuity, Disputes and Cooperation: 1700-1850
9. Decline and Romantic Appreciation: 1850 to the present day
10. Modelling and Managing the Watermilling Landscape

Cover shows a watercolour image of Houghton mill.

The BBC had an article about the restoration of a model of Bourn windmill. The model itself is 80 years old, created by Michael Dunn, in his basement workshop in Bristol in the 1940s, repurposing venetian blinds' slats. Repairs done to the model by the Cambourne Mens Shed between Sept 2024 and May 2025 included stripping paint, repairing sails, replacing damaged parts and then repainting in white (though the full size mill is painted black). The model will be on show on Bourn mill open days in 2025.

Michael's collection of windmill material amassed during the 1930-70s has been deposited by his daughter Jennifer Howes at the Mills Archive.

In 2020, the Wrights Clock Land charity sold half its land resulting in an enormous windfall, far in excess of the existing charity's needs. They thus registered a new charity, with widened objectives within the Fulborn parish. As a result, the new charity paid for a detailed Condition Report on the state of Fulbourn Windmill.

Subsequent to that, the charity has agreed to fund the mill restoration, subject to a strict set of conditions, including putting the windmill on a firm legal position, with an properly registered charitable trust, and a 99 year lease on the mill. The BBC reports that the mill has been owned by Ian Harrison since 2006, who has rebuilt its sails, but the discovery that the tower frame distortion meant the fantail was unable to turn the cap to wind, which mean that further self funded restoration work was unaffordable. Mr Harrison and his wife were happy to lease the mill in this way, saying

We also have to recognise that it sits in our garden and we won't be living in the house for the next 99 years, so we have got to think about looking after the interests of future generations as well.

A Planning application and Listed Building Consent have been submitted for

Repairs and alterations to existing windmill to enable it to run for demonstration purposes and related works including Change of Use together with the erection of a single storey extension to the existing domestic garage.

In more detail, the proposal listed are

EXISTING GARAGE

• to be extended to provide disabled wc, kitchenette and tool store, new brickwork to match existing in colour, texture, gauge and pointing, new rooftiles to match existing

EXTERNAL MILL REPAIRS

• reinstatement of former finial and gallery handrails (both already on site)
• replacement of existing copper cap covering with new copper (existing is likely to be damaged when the cap is craned off)
• stripping and replacing of weatherboarding with white painted weatherboarding of similar gauge to existing, including painted aluminium soakers at mitres
• alterations to fenestration (see detail drawings)
• fan stage rotten timbers to be replaced with matching new
• cast iron rack (concealed by petticoat) sections where broken to be replaced with matching castings
• half a set of sail shutters to be covered either with traditional paint-soaked canvas or man-made “Panama” rot-proof canvas

INTERNAL MILL REPAIRS

• remains of existing sole plate (which has largely been replaced in concrete) to be removed and replaced with new oak soleplate
• existing cant posts and framing timbers (many rotten, incomplete, or resin repaired) to be replaced in new oak
• kerb ring to be replaced in larger section timber

INTERNAL MILL ALTERATIONS

• new ground to first floor staircase, necessitating removal of a small area of first floor
• some machinery is painted silver, which is not traditional; either over-paint or chemically remove. Cast iron components to be finished either red oxide or a hammered black finish

The garage extension with its disabled WC, kitchenette, and tool shed, are to allow for visitor and volunteer needs to be met without imposing on the house in whose grounds the mill sits. Whilst most comments are supportive, there have been some questions on the highway impact of having public visitors to this site, which are being clarified. The SPAB has also questioned the plan to install the secondary set of stairs, including a stairlift, which would necessitate removal of a significant amount of historic material, which is unreversible, and disproportional to the benefit offered.

The planning documents include a full structural condition statement, prepared by Stuart Armitage, who has previously worked on mills at Bourn, Kersey, Ludham, Nottingham, Great Gransden and Drinkstone amongst others. Reference is also made to [Luke] Bonwick's 2022 Condition Assessment and Conservation Plan, though that is not in the submitted documents.

Having been removed in Nov 2024, the sails were replaced on to Marsh Mill, Thornton in July 2025. The mill is (in)famous for having an electric motor installed that can turn the sails.

The work was done by Fylde Conservation, and they have photos of the work on Facebook. Contractors included AE Engineering Crane & Plant hire, and Wyre Scaffolding Ltd.

Back in May 2025 Clare Woodward-Nutt wrote an obituary of her father, Jim Woodward-Nutt who had died at the age of 90, for the Guardian. It covered his working life as a television engineer at the BBC, at the University of Aberdeen, and at Racecourse Technical services. It also touched on this political and consumer work, and had this to say on his mill passion:

He had a passion for wind and water mills, and in retirement managed the Shipley and Outwood windmills in Surrey on a part-time voluntary basis, milling wheat to produce flour for sale to visitors. Between 2008 and 2010 he was chair of the mills section of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

Amongst his many responsibilities, Jim produced several editions of the Mills Open publication for the SPAB, and when that transferred online, the National Mills Weekend website.