old windmills
Above, the smock mill at Lacey Green in Buckinghamshire, saved by the Chiltern Society in the 1970s and 80s, may have its origins circa 1650. Right, Brill windmill, 1680s
There is still much to be discovered about
the development of milling in the period between the end of the Middle Ages and the middle of the 18th century. From the evidence that can be gleaned by detailed historical research and painstaking observation of the construction techniques used for both the framing and the mechanical components of a number of standing mills, as well as the valuable information that can be gained from tree-ring analysis and dating, it is clear that it is no longer appropriate to consider
surviving windmills simply as relics of the industrial age.Within their fabric and mechanical layout evidence of evolution and technical innovation can be identified by skilful analysis, which can only help to broaden our understanding of these fascinating machines, and to underline how much care we need to take when considering their repair and long-term protection as unique historic buildings and machines.
Acknowledgement I am grateful to Luke Bonwick for useful discussion and sharing information on the dating of timbers in several post mills.
Sources Bonwick, Luke. Brill Windmill, Buckinghamshire. The History, Technology,Conservation and Repair of a 17th-Century PostMill (2010, Buckinghamshire County Council) Highfield, Michael. Lacey Green Windmill, Buckinghamshire (2003, The Chiltern Society) Watts, Martin. The Archaeology of Mills and Milling (2002, Tempus Publishing) Windmills (2006, Shire)
Luke Bonwick reports on the recent conservation work at Brill windmill in the next edition of Cornerstone.
Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 2 2011 39
JOHN LAWRENCE
JOHN LAWRENCE
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