old windmills


Left, the tower windmill at Chesterton in Warwickshire, dates from 1632. It is something of a rarity among windmills in that it was designed as an architectural piece as much as a functional one. Below, 16th and 17th century fabric is present at Great Gransden post mill


subject of a detailed study carried out by Luke Bonwick prior to its recent repair. An interesting picture of developments in


mill construction and technology is now emerging, which suggests that some post mills which were constructed in the 17th century made use of structural components, particularly oversize timbers such as the post and crown tree, from earlier mills. These mills then saw several phases of structural repair and alteration, sometimes after storm damage as mentioned, and sometimes to allow for the addition of grain cleaning and flour dressing machinery. This phase of development usually took place during the last quarter of the 18th century, reflecting a growth and change in trade and product requirement during the industrial age. In many mills a more recent, 19th-century phase is also apparent, with the introduction of cast-iron iron gearing and shafting which replaced or superseded timber components. But the picture is complicated further by the thoughtful economy of the millwrights, no doubt under pressure from millers and mill owners, who repaired, retained and re-used earlier components wherever feasible.


rotated through a full circle to enable the sails to face the wind – appeared before the end of the 13th century. They were more expensive to construct than post mills, and it is possible that the dominance of carpenters as the principal designers and builders of windmills in the later MiddleAges may have retarded their development. In areas where stone building


T Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 2 2011 37


ower mills – in which the machinery is contained within a fixed masonry shell, topped with a revolving cap carrying the windshaft and sails, which can be


SIMON BARBER


JOHN LAWRENCE


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