This publication by the
SPAB Mills Section details all the windmills and watermills in the UK
open to the public, including full location, contact, and opening details.
Invaluable when visiting mills, and a handy "bag of flour" icon identifies
mills where flour may be purchased.
128 pages, illustrated.
Cover illustration: Outwood mill, Surrey
Purchase from: [SPAB Mills Section]
This detailed paperback book by busy millwright
Martin Watts provides an excellent introduction to windmills and
watermills, by someone who works regularly on them, and who has been
researching their history for many years.
136 pages, 102 illustrations. Cover illustration: Sarre windmill, Kent; Rossett watermill, North Wales
More info from the
publishers.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk] [amazon.com]
A visual documentary of the architecture of wind and water mills.
Purchase from: [amazon.com]
Martin Watts earlier introductory book which describes both the craft
of milling, and the buildings the milling was done in.
32 pages, 39 illustrations.
More info from the
publishers.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
Annie Crowther tells the story of the windmill at Lewes in Sussex, which was
built by public subscription in 1801. Although the smock of the mill was
moved in 1819, the remaining base of the mill survives in its original
location, and in fact has a story all of its own. Perhaps most famously,
this "Round House" was owned (briefly) by Virginia Woolf and her husband
Leonard.
104 pages, with 80 illustrations including photographs, drawings and maps.
Book review -
More details from the
author's site.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk] [The author]
Rodney de Little updates his earlier classic book about English windmills,
with masses of new information, and previously unpublished photographs.
Publisher's Note: "In the 1950s, as a boy, Rodney de Little became fascinated by windmills and, with the gift of a camera from a relative, began assembling an unrivalled record of them in black and white photographs. His standing as a leading authority on the history and operation of these mills was recognized on the publication of his book The Windmill - Yesterday and Today in 1972. It was reprinted in 1975 and remains, today, an authoritative work in its field and much sought after in the out-of-print trade. In the last twenty years much has changed. What were seen as mechanical, historical curiosities, lacking any contemporary relevance, are now finding new commercial opportunities and uses as this traditional technology has been successfully married to modern technological advances It is becoming clearer that there is much to be learned from the uses and mechanisms of traditional windmills."
192 pages, 215 photographs.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
Another coffee table book, by Laura Brooks, with photos from around the world.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk] [amazon.com]
This coffee table book by Sally Taylor is illustrated by photos of windmills
in many countries.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk] [amazon.com]
Serious and in depth coverage of the subject.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk] [amazon.com]
A selection of 150 historical photographs from the Francis Frith collection,
featuring wind and watermills. Selected and described by Tony Bryan. Cover
shows the windmill at High Salvington, Sussex.
See also the pages dedicated to the
Francis Frith Collection, from where individual
prints from the collection may be purchased.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
Lindsay Baker's book is the definitive work on American windmills
(ie windpumps), from an author whose depth of knowledge of the subject
is second to none.
A hefty 516 pages, with hundreds of photos and silhouette drawings of
windpumps to aid in recognising each model in the field.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk] [amazon.com]
This hardback book is illustrated with R J Brown's excellent line drawings.
Each entry comprises a description and history of the mill, together with
the drawing.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
An activity book by Gretchen Woelfle about windmills, aimed at younger readers.
Purchase from: [amazon.com]
Another well researched book by working millwright
Martin Watts.
176 pages.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
An illustrated guide to Yorkshire's remaining windmills, with coverage of
selected historical vanished mills as well. Includes many historical photos
from the 1930's, and from the past decade.
84 pages, softback.
Full book review.
Purchase from: [Culva House Publications] [amazon.co.uk]
Purchase from: [amazon.com]
Researched from the original manufacturers trade literature.
Purchase from: [amazon.com]
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
88 pages. Compiled by Tony Bryan, and the Mills Research Group.
Purchase from: [Mills Research Group]
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
A children's animated video story, with a filmed section about Thelnetham
windmill. Includes footage of the late Peter Dolman at work as the miller.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
A well illustrated book, from Frank Gregory who devoted a lifetime to
assembling a collection of milling material.
Purchase from: [amazon.co.uk]
| Last updated 16/09/2025 |
Text and images © Mark Berry,
1997-2025 -
Some image © varies |