
Other coverage of horizontal windmills:
Contents
They say not to reinvent the wheel, but the horizontal windmill is something that has been continually reinvented many times. Whilst some true inventors came up with innovations on the horizontal windmill, it also looks like many of the ideas that got patented were not really original, and indeed should not have been eligible for patent protection. Whilst the inventors typically thought that their invention was going to make their fortune, many of the horizontal windmill patents were the end of the story rather than the beginning - the designs often proved unworkable, and were never commercially exploited (and indeed many were probably never built as full sized examples).
Some of these are further explored on other pages, particularly designs and locations.
KAY. 24th June 1738.
561. A grant unto JOHN KAY, of Bury, in the county of Lancaster, engineer, of the sole benefit of his invention of a new engine or machine which he calls an upright windmill, being to be moved chiefly by the wind, & is proper for raising of water, & applicable to many other purposes where force is required; and of two inventions that remedy the inconveniencies of raising water from a mine or deep pit by buckets (therein particularly described); to hold to him, his exech, admrs, & assignes for the term of 14 years, within England, Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, pursuant to the Act in that behalf. Witness His Matie at Westm', the 24th day of June, in the year above.
By writt, &c.
Higgins, Bryan, of Southwark, gent.
A horizontal windmill for the usual purposes as well as for driving a carriage against the wind; for ploughing, sowing, and harrowing at once; for mowing and reaping, breaking by the cylinder, and sailing a vessel in all directions by the same wind. Likewise a vertical windmill, a fire engine, a machine for working many sledges by a small power, and an instrument for drawing teeth.
26 Aug. [1762]
[p] 287 [in Warrant Book, vol. 29, 1760-65]
McINTOSH. 1st April 1776.
1124. A grant unto PETER McINTOSH, of Burr Street, Wapping, in the county of Middlesex, mariner, of his new invented horizontal windmill with a multiplying power, upon a very different and much superior construction, and broke and stopt in a very different manner from any mill that has ever yet been invented; the same mill to be likewise worked with cattle, and the wind power to be put upon a water mill, as occasion may require; and that upon the whole the invention of the said windmill will be very useful and beneficial to society; to hold to him, his exors, admors, and asss, within England, Wales, the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and all the colonies and plantations abroad, for the term of 14 years pursuant to the statute; with a clause to inroll the same within four calendar months from the date hereof. W. H. M. at Westm', the 1st day of April, in the year above.
By writ, &c.
HOOPER. 14th March 1777.
1149. A grant unto STEPHEN HOOPER, of Margate, in the Isle of Thanet, in the county of Kent, merchant, of his new invented engine or machine for raising or lifting of water, and which is of great utility, and greatly varies from any engine or machine hitherto invented for that purpose; to hold to him, his exors, admors, and assigns, within England, Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed for the term of fourteen years pursuant to the statute; with a clause to inroll the same within four calendar months from the date hereof. W. H. M. at Westm', the 14th day of March, in the year above.
By writ, &c.
MAUNSELL. 8th Dec. 1795.
2076. A grant unto DANIEL MAUNSELL, of Sion Row, Clifton, near Bristol, in the county of Somerset, esquire, of his new invented horizontal windmill, upon entire new principles, for grinding corn, and various other purposes; to hold to him, his executors, administrators, and assigns, within England, Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed for the term of 14 years pursuant to the statute; with a clause to inrol the same within one calendar month from the date hereof. W. H. M. at Westminster, the 8th day of December, in the year above.
By writ, &c.
WALKER. 5th May 1813.
3689. A grant unto THOMAS WALKER, of the city of Norwich, machine maker, for his invented certain improvements in the construction of a horizontal windmill, that may be applied to all sorts of machinery that is to work by wind; to hold to him, his exors, admors, and assigns, within that part of our united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, our dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed for the term of fourteen years pursuant to the statute; with a clause to inroll the same within six calendar months from the date thereof.
By writ, &c.


For Sale.
HAYPRESS "Little Native," winner Government 1st prizes; Hydraulic Tree and Stump Extractor, gold medal; Horizontal Windmill, new principle lately patented. ALFRED TAYLOR and CO., Auburn, N.S.W., Engineers, Machinists, and Patentees. Prices, particulars, and trials, at Works, Auburn.
| Last updated 17/04/2026 | Text and images © Mark Berry, 1997-2026 - |