Mill News from Windmill World

Saxtead Green post mill trestle unsafe

14 Jul 26 12:00 UT

Via a Facebook post on Windmill Hoppers, millwright Tim Whiting informs us that Saxtead Green post mill trestle has become very unsafe, and that quick works have taken place to secure the mill. To reduce the weight on the buck, the sails have been removed, and the buck is held up by guy lines.

The dramatic events started with the discovery of a loose chunk of oak on the floor, which lead to finding that one quarterbar had burst its mortice. Within a week a second quarterbar did the same, and soon there was a massive crack in the main post - described by Tim as making the trestle essentially "a snapped carrot". Planning is taking place to lift the buck off of the post.

Octopus Energy Tech Summit 2026

23 Jun 26 12:00 UT

The Octopus Energy Tech Summit took place in Battersea Park on 22th June 2026. There about 4000 delegates heard from a variety of business and political leaders, talking about energy. Whilst Octopus is amongst other things a gas supplier, the geopolitical environment, and the record breaking temperatures we are currently experiencing had all sides agreeing that electrification of our energy usage is where we need to be.

The subject of wind turbines got coverage in various ways

the outside area was dominated by "Fat Boy Spin", which is one of a number of small, essentially portable wind turbines, that Octopus use at things such as festivals and temporary installations, to provide green power to these events. The turbine was also present last year, but the local council had refused permission for it to be producing electricity. Similarly this year no permission was given, and although the tips of the turbine blades were turned to act as air brakes, the hub was not locked, so at times when the wind was cooperating, the turbine was slowly turning. Image: [Portable wind turbine Fat Boy Spin at the Octopus Energy Tech Summit, Battersea, with Battersea power station chimneys visible behind, 22/6/26© Mark Berry] Image: [Portable wind turbine Fat Boy Spin at the Octopus Energy Tech Summit, Battersea, showing banners below, 22/6/26© Mark Berry] Image: [Portable wind turbine Fat Boy Spin at the Octopus Energy Tech Summit, Battersea, as Octopus plushies were distributed to the attendees, 22/6/26© Mark Berry] Image: [Portable wind turbine Fat Boy Spin at the Octopus Energy Tech Summit, Battersea, with an octopus tentacle, 22/6/26© Mark Berry]
The banners at the base of the turbine gave a potted, and not strictly accurate "History of wind turbines..." Image: [Banner giving an approximate history of wind turbines at the Octopus Energy Tech Summit, 22/6/26© Mark Berry]
Inside by the Nerd Shack there was an even tinier wind turbine, which I take was non-functional, just for decoration! Image: [Interior decorative wind turbine by the Nerd Shack at the Octopus Energy Tech Summit, Battersea, 22/6/26© Mark Berry]
Much of the furniture in the top floor rest area consisted of upcycled wind turbine blades Image: [Chill out furniture at the Octopus Energy Tech Summit, made from upcycled wind turbine blades, 22/6/26© Mark Berry]
One of the sessions was a fireside chat with William Kamkwamba, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind", covering the story of his scratch built wind turbine, which is now subject of a West End musical by the RSC. Image: [William Kamkwamba, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, being interviewed by Zoisa North-Bond at the Octopus Energy Tech Summit, Battersea, 22/6/26© Mark Berry]
This was followed by a video update on Octopus' first wind farm in Africa, which has been built in collaboration with Idris Elba's foundation. Sierra Leone wind farm

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - stage musical

20 Jun 26 12:00 UT

William Kamkwamba's story has become well known over time, in diverse forms including

and now it has been adapted into a musical by the RSC, which had a short initial run at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, before transferring to SohoPlace in London.

The basic story is that William was a boy in Malawi who gets thrown out of school because his family cannot pay the fees. However his interest in learning continues, and he manages to get some library access, and sees pictures of wind turbines. When famine arrives at his village, he designs and builds a windmill from scrap material (but also including his father's bike which is needed for the dynamo), which saves the village since it generates some electricity which enables the crops to be planted and irrigated in the dry season.

The RSC spent years producing the adaptation, including a field trip for the writers, director, and set designer out to William's village in Wimbe, Malawi to see the windmill still in place in the village. As a result, the windmill that is built on the stage as part of the show is impressive, and superficially looks quite like the original, albeit adapted for quick assembly during the show. It's a real shame therefore, especially given the educational aspect of the story, that the designers have not understood how the turbine works technically, and have produced a facsimile whose sails are shaped to cause the wind to turn them one way, but the motor they use to turn them in the show rotates them the wrong way.

Image: [The windmill built by William Kamkwamba, as depicted in the RSC musical version of "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind", 1/6/26© Mark Berry]

Quentin Blake windmill illustrations

2 Jun 26 12:00 UT

With the opening of his Centre for Illustration which includes the windmill at Clerkenwell, I was interested to research whether Quentin Blake had drawn much in the way of windmills in his illustrations. I discovered he had produced at least the following

Don Quixote lifted from his horse by the sail of a windmill
Sancho Panza and Dapple approach the windmills
The book The Mouse Troubles with John Yeoman, which features many mice living in a windmill
A wind engine, illustrated in either "Sarah Plain and Tall" or "Huckleberry Finn"

New River Head windmill base at the Quentin Blake centre for illustration

2 Jun 26 12:00 UT

As of the 5th June 2026, the Quentin Blake centre for Illustration will be open at the former Thames Water site at Clerkenwell. The centre has been created from the various buildings on the site, namely

the Engine House with a library on the ground floor, a temporary gallery on the first, and the Quentin Blake gallery on the second
the Boiler House now converted to a cafe
the Coal Stores which is the largest art gallery
the Windmill Base which is to be used for small exhibitions and workshop events

As of the press previews at the start of this week, not everything is in place, for example there are no interpretation boards yet for the historic aspects of the site.

Image: [The windmill base at New River Head, now part of the Quentin Blake centre for illustration, 1/6/26© Mark Berry] Image: [The windmill base at New River Head, now part of the Quentin Blake centre for illustration, showing the new garden, 1/6/26© Mark Berry] Image: [The windmill base at New River Head, now part of the Quentin Blake centre for illustration, showing disabled parking in front of the mill, 1/6/26© Mark Berry] Image: [Inside the windmill base at New River Head (now part of the Quentin Blake centre for illustration), showing internal brick structures (and the clutter of not being quite ready for the opening day!), 1/6/26© Mark Berry] Image: [Inside the windmill base at New River Head, (now part of the Quentin Blake centre for illustration), showing curved seats, and new picture rail and lighting, 1/6/26© Mark Berry]

The windmill base has not been substantially changed from its general appearance in recent years, though some work has been done on it. Clearly it has had new electrical fittings, a picture rail installed to attach artwork, and new curved seating and curved worktops have been constructed. The internal walls however retain their original much patched and distressed appearance, and the existing brick built structures inside, whose purpose is uncertain have been retained, even down to the patch of carpet below the window. Early on in the conversion works, the pinnacle of the roof was removed since it was damaged, and this has been reused to form a 6-sailed windmill model or sculpture that will be shown inside. Externally the ugly protective concrete blocks that protected the mill when the yard was home to heavy machinery have now been removed, but the cast iron bollards which do a similar job retained. However, even the simple task of removing the weeds up the walls, and around the base of the area has not been performed. A garden has been planted up to the mill on the north side, and at the preview there was still left over garden landscaping construction materials partly obscuring the mill from the east side. The Thames Water plaque that used to be above the doorway, giving a one sentence history of the mill has been removed. Disabled parking places have been laid out alongside the mill, which when occupied will detract from the sightlines available from the west side.

When not in use for paid workshops, the windmill access will be free of charge. The centre as a whole is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 - 17:00, and the path through the compound passing the windmill is traversable on opening days 09:30 - 17:30.

Mill related books by Amberley Publishing

16 May 26 12:00 UT

Having recently reviewed Ian Yearsley's book of the Windmills of Essex, published by Amberley Publishing, I noticed that the publishers have a number of other windmill books in their catalogue. The full set of ones I spotted is

Windmills of Essex by Ian Yearsley
Windmills and Watermills of Suffolk by John Ling
Windmills of Norfolk by John Ling
Yorkshire Windmills Through Time by Alan Whitworth

There are also a number of books that are not specifically about windmills, but which feature a picture of one on the cover

Good Honest Tales by Adam Cartwright - book about Batemans Brewery, with a cover showing the windmill tower at the brewery
Rayleigh Through Time by Mike and Sharon Davies, with a cover showing the windmill in historical and modern views
Sussex Industrial Heritage by Colin Tyson - showing High Salvington windmill on the cover
Chilterns at Work by Jill Eyers - showing a heavily obscured Lacey Green windmill on the cover
A-Z of the Isle of Anglesey by Warren Kovach, with a photo of Melin Llynonn on the cover
Historic England: Bristol by Simon McNeill-Ritchie, with a cover showing an aerial view of the Clifton suspension bridge, and the old snuff windmill (now an observatory)
Illustrated Tales of Cornwall by John Husband, with the windmill tower on the Lizard shown on the cover
Illustrated Tales of Norfolk by John Ling, with a cover showing the windmill ruin at St Bennets Abbey
Illustrated Tales of Sussex by Christopher Horlock, with a small image of the windmill at Tide Mills on the cover
Lancashire in Photographs by Jon Sparks, with a photo of Lytham windmill on the cover
Norfolk Broads The Biography by Pete Goodrum with a skeleton windpump on the cover
Norfolk Places Behind the Faces by John Ling, with a cover showing Cley-next-the-Sea windmill
Paranormal Anglesey by Bunty Austin, with a photo of a windmill tower on the cover
The Broads Through Time by David Holmes, with photos of broads windpumps on the cover

I also saw other mills illustrated on more covers

50 Gems of the Cotswolds by David Elder, showing Lower Slaughter mill on the cover
50 Gems of County Durham by Derek Dodds, showing the watermill below Durham cathedral on the cover
Lost Durham by Michael Richardson with a old view of Durham cathedral and watermill
Paranormal County Durham by Darren W. Ritson, showing Durham watermill on the cover
Amersham Through Time by Colin J. Seabright, showing old and recent views of an Amersham watermill on the cover
Derbyshire in Photographs by Richard Beresford, showing an abandoned Derbyshire millstone quarry
Derwent Valley Mills Through Time by Adrian Farmer, showing textile mills in the Derwent valley
Sturminster Newton Through Time by Roger Guttridge, Steve Case, with an old and new pair of photos of the White Mill on the cover
The River Isbourne by Mike Lovatt, with an iron waterwheel shown on the cover

Matt Parker wears a wind turbine t-shirt

15 May 26 12:00 UT

Matt Parker is a popular UK stand-up mathematician with a YouTube channel that covers all sorts of interesting and nerdy subjects. In a recent video (on dithering 2-tone images) he wears a t-shirt emblazoned with 3 colourful wind turbines.

Image: [still from Matt Parker's video on image dithering, showing him sporting a wind turbine t-shirt, March 2026Matt Parker]

With a bit of searching, I tracked this down as being this t-shirt from Rapanui which they note is "Made in a factory powered by wind energy". (There may be some equivocation involved there - they also state "Our products are made from sustainable materials and printed in a renewable energy powered factory" which is not quite the same thing, having a less direct link to the subject matter!) They also have a number of other attractive t-shirts with other wind turbine based designs. There is a dated (from 2019), but still interesting article about Rapanui. (You can see it's dated - they praise Elon Musk as a sustainability shining light; the same Elon who now showers rocket debris polluting areas around his space launches, is destroying our view of the night sky and setting us up for a space junk catastrophe by the huge number of Starlink satellites, and runs huge banks of CO2 producing gas powered generators to power his unsustainable AI ambition, to say nothing of the untold damage his DOGE stint did on environmental matters). As the article says, Rapanui also run the Teemill platform, whereby their sustainable fashion infrastructure can be used by anyone.

Book: Windmills of Essex, by Ian Yearsley

13 May 26 12:00 UT

Image: [Fryerning post mill, on the cover of Ian Yearsley's book, Windmills of Essex, published April 2026Ian Yearsley]

When you are writing a book about the mills of a particular area, especially when you make your local credentials clear in the preface, then you set an expectation that you have done your due diligence by making a recent visit to those mills. Thus Ian Yearsley's book, Windmills of Essex sets a strong first impression, by making the cover photo a glorious picture of Fryerning post mill, a mill that is rarely photographed, since it's hidden away in a private garden, not easily visible from outside the property. However, there's no mention inside the book of which mill it is that has pride of place on the cover, nor of the 2 mills pictured on the rear cover, that between them cover the three main mill types, post, smock and tower. In some respects it's no loss that the cover mills are not identified, since these images are not unique - they are repeated inside the book on the pages about the mills they illustrate, but I do feel that that is a missed opportunity - rather than repeat the one Fryerning image already shown on the cover, why not include a different image inside, since it's clear the author had close up access to the mill that few of the book's readers are likely to achieve. Whilst the approach adopted for the surviving windmills of including one recent, and one historic photo is a good one, overall, I feel that the photographs chosen to illustrate the mills throughout the book are a little bit of a let down, The recent photo of Baker Street Mills, Orsett is really a photo of a fence post, with a small windmill visible in the background, and several other photos would have benefited from an alternative angle that avoided obscuring the mill with so much foliage.

As well as "surviving windmills" (which roughly equates to extant full height mills, with or without sails, including conversions), there's a shorter section covering "some lost windmills", which actually mostly covers mills that survive in a truncated (and often converted) form, rather than ones that are truly lost to history. It is notable that in neither section are there any interior photos of the windmills - the closest we get to seeing anything relating to the actual machinery of windmills is the appearance of millstones that have been relocated outside the mills as garden ornaments.

The text that describes each mill is a mixture of a potted history of the mill (this is a lightweight popular history book, so none of the facts are backup up with citations), together with some recent information about recent and (at time of publication) current owners and sometimes their plans for the mill. This I feel is a strong feature of the book, showing that the author has been in contact with many of the mill owners in the course of researching the book, and providing information that the heavyweight historical coverage of the county in Farries is of course unable to provide.

Finally, I should point out that the final very short chapter on modern windmills alerted me to an Essex windmill I'd not come across before - the reduced scale windmill being built on Ashley Cooper's farm in Gestingthorpe. Although there are only 3 sentences about the mill, it does get a March 2025 photo, showing the progress that has been made in the build at that point.

Misc mills interest in Gestingthorpe

13 May 26 12:00 UT

In other mill related interest in the village of Gestingthorpe

The Wickham Windmill was just south of the village, demolished in 1914. Suffolk & Essex Free Press, November 25th 1914 THE MILL, WICKHAM ST. PAULS, ESSEX./ Within 5 miles of Halstead and 4 1/2 miles of Sudbury Stations. (Excellent cartage)./ --- Important Sale of Heavy OLD OAK TIMBER,/ of exceptionally fine quality and dating from 1685, Weather-board, Bricks, Iron and Lead, arising from the demolishing of the Post Wind Mill, with its usual gear./ 4 PAIRS OF STONES, 4 ft. and 4 ft. 6in .,/ LARGE OAT CRUSHER, by Turner,/ 20 h.p. CROSSLEY'S SUCTION GAS ENGINE, Producer, Circulating Tanks, and Pipes Complete. The erection of PORTABLE GRANARY, ENGINE HOUSE, and RANGE OF CART SHEDS, which ...
Bordering Gestingthorpe to the North-West was Belchamp Windmill whose base still remains
Henry Cook lived in the village, He worked the Grain Mill at Belchamp Walter, despite having separately lost both of his hands in accidents aged 9 and 16. Halstead Gazette, December 18th 1940 Our obituary column last week recorded the death of Mr Henry Cook which took place at St Michael's Hospital, Braintree, on November 30th, at the age of 77 years. He was a native of Gestingthorpe and resided in that parish for most of his life, being admitted to hospital about three years ago. For three weeks previous to his death he was confined to his bed. Mr Cook was well known in the district to which he belonged. From his early years he was afflicted, having the misfortune to lose both hands and portions of his arms to within two inches of his elbow. The first accident occurred when he nine years of age and was helping to cut corn. Then when he was sixteen he lost his left hand while employed at a steam chaff cutter. Many men would have despaired of not being able to work after this double misfortune, but Mr Cook, horrified at the idea of becoming a pauper, persevered and with the help of friends was fitted with "iron hands" by a London firm. Later, publicity resulted in new equipment, known as "bottle arms", being fitted by the Surgical Aid Society, straps being utilized for fixing the arms by the shoulders. Gradually he found he could adapt his “hook” hands to various jobs, and after a while he took over complete charge of a small flour mill at Belchamp Walter, then he found the hook convenient for opening the furnace door, gripping the sack when the corn had to be hoisted to the hopper. In the case of shovelling, a leather "eye" at the handle of the shovel enabled him to place the right hook in the eye and the other in the centre of the handle, the force being supplied by the right, whilst he lifted by the left. By this means he claimed he could shovel with anyone. In the same way he was able to do gardening and was able to stack. He drove carts to the market and eventually learned to drive a traction engine, his "hands" he said were well suited to the steering wheel. In an interview some years ago he did not question his ability to drive a traction engine from Belchamp to Bermondsey, Mr Cook was able to fill and light his own pipe and at mealtimes he unscrewed a combined knife and fork in place of the hook; for drinking he had to place his lips on the edge of the cup, balance it and drink. When half empty, he to grip the cup with his teeth and drink in that fashion. He was also able to ride a tricycle and for writing he had to unscrew one of his hooks and stick a fairly thick pencil in the cavity. Despite his great handicap, his will power and ingenuity enabled him to enjoy life and to use his own words he "was as happy as any man in the parish".

Wind pumps in Gestingthorpe

13 May 26 12:00 UT

It's an interesting village for mills - you guessed it, Gestingthorpe is also the site of one or more relocated wind engines for pumping water. One wind pump has been restored and now circulates the water in the Hill Farm fish pond.

Facebook posts

Other wind pumps:

There also seems to be a portable wind pump - here it is at the village hall! This may be the one that showed up on Google streetview.
Wind Pump which used to stand outside Crouch House in Moat Street - not sure if this is the same as either of the fish pond or the "portable" wind engines!

Saxon watermill replica at Gestingthorpe

13 May 26 12:00 UT

Whilst looking for more info on the new post mill being built at Hill Farm, Gestingthorpe, I came across info on a replica Saxon watermill that was built by the Gestingthorpe History Group in the period 2015-18.

Reconstructed Saxon watermill, on Belchamp Brook which runs along the north edge of Hill Farm. There are some inaccuracies in the writeup - the type of waterwheel it uses is a horizontal waterwheel, (not a vertical one). Also features in YouTube videos The Saxon Water Mill and Gestingthorpe Saxon Mill test.

The whole build was documented in a long series of Facebook posts

A newly built windmill at Gestingthorpe

13 May 26 12:00 UT

Via the new book, on the Windmills of Essex by Ian Yearsley, buried in the last 2 page chapter on modern windmills, I have learnt of the existence of a new post mill, being built at Gestingthorpe. The book shows a photo of the mill from March 2025, illustrating a small, somewhat primitive post mill, with a unpainted boxy buck with a pitched roof, on an open trestle standing on low brick built piers, turned to wind by a tailpole, and with a short ladder at the back. There appears to be a small roofed window at the top, rear of the buck, but no windshaft is showing at the front. The accompanying text notes that this is being built by millwright Chris Moulton, in collaboration with farm landowner Ashley Cooper, and the project built using local material is expected to take 6 years in all.

There's a video from August 2023 showing the main post being erected.

Via the documents in the planning application - Erection of timber agricultural post mill more details are given:

The post mill is 3/4 scale, based roughly on Bourn mill, and designed to mill small quantities of grain produced on the farm
Hill Farm, on which it is sited, has many existing historical features including traditional buildings, a roman museum, and exhibits about farming
There are 3 Grade II listed buildings; Hill Farm Barn (List UID: 1168123), Hill Farm Outbuilding (List UID:1123077), and Hill Farm Cartlodge (List UID: 1168137)
Other projects on the farm have included archaeological digs, a pot kiln, and more
The Suffolk Mills Group have been consulted about siting of the mill, and other aspects of the design
A reduced scale was chosen to reduce strain on some joints of the structure, and to minimize impact on the surroundings
Much of the construction timber is coming from woodlands already on the farm, and construction is being done inside existing farm buildings
The overall finish is of black stained weatherboarding

Ashley Cooper has written a number of books on local history of the area. https://gestingthorpehg.co.uk/reading He's president of the Gestingthorpe History Group. Born July 1952, sole director and 100% owner of H P Cooper (Farms) Ltd. Son of Harold Percy Cooper (1918-2013) (https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/business/21733983.gestingthorpe-sudbury-tributes-paid-pioneering-farmer-archaeologist/) and Olive Margaret Cooper (born 1917). He lives on Hill Farm, Gestingthorpe, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3BL, the site of the Gestingthorpe roman villa. He's a parish councillor, with roles in Employment, Playing Field, Education Foundation Email: cllracooper@gestingthorpe-pc.gov.uk Possible phone number 01787 460641 (given in a facebook post for tickets to the roman villa visit). ashleyxcooper@yahoo.co.uk email given on facebook in 2016 I don't know of a millwright called Chris Moulton, but there are references on the Gestingthorpe History Group facebook to a Chris Moulton who grew up in the village.

Mills on the Air, 2026

6 May 2025 12:00 UT

The "air" referred to in the name "Mills on the Air" is not so much the moving air that makes up the wind that powers windmills, but rather refers to the airwaves over which radio travels. Thus Mills on the Air (MOTA) is an event where amateur radio operators run radio stations at mills throughout the UK, and indeed across the world. It takes place on National Mills Weekend, and thus this year is on 9th and 10th May, 2026.

Whilst some of the radio stations may be set up inside the mills themselves, the more usual arrangement is for the radio simply to be operated from the vicinity of the mill. The mill itself may not actually be open as part of National Mills Weekend, or if it is, may well have different opening times than the operating time of the radio station.

See the list of stations taking part in the event in 2026. When I last checked, there were 59 UK mills, and 40 spread across the rest of the world.

Collection of 1930's photos

6 May 26 12:00 UT

A few years ago, Jan Smith purchased an album of windmill photos by an unknown photographer. She recently posted them on Windmill Hoppers, and has graciously allowed me to give them a permanent home here.

Image: [Duloe Mill, Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire, Sept 32From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Tower mill, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdonshire, Sept 33From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Post mill, Keysoe, Bedfordshire, July 35From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Dean Mill, Lower Dean, Bedfordshire, April 32From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Post mill, Riseley, Bedfordshire, Aug 35From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Stevington Windmill, Stevington, Bedfordshire, Sept 33From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [West Mill, Tilbrook, Bedfordshire, Oct 35From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [West Mill, Tilbrook, Bedfordshire, Oct 35From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Tower mill, Upper Dean, Bedfordshire, Aug 35From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Post mill, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire, Oct 35From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Tower mill, Morcott, Rutland, Dec 35From a collection owned by Jan Smith] Image: [Tower mill, South Luffenham, Rutland, Dec 35From a collection owned by Jan Smith]

Mills open for National Mills Weekend, May 9th and 10th, 2026

5 May 26 12:00 UT

In years gone by, SPAB, who organize National Mills Weekend, published a comprehensive list of mills that were due to open over the weekend, in fact there was a whole website they dedicated to that information. However that website now appears to be owned by a cyber squatter, and although much of the mills info is still present, it is vastly out of date (last updated in 2018), and the site is set up to link to a casino.

The following is a far from comprehensive list of mills that I'm aware of that will be open for National Mills Weekend 2026. This information may be incorrect - please make your own local enquiries especially if travelling a long distance. Most of this information has come from the Facebook groups Windmill Hoppers and Watermill Hoppers.

High Salvington windmill - open Sunday 10th, 14:30
Finchingfield windmill - open Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th, 14:00 - 17:00
Burwell windmill - open Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th, 10:00 - 16:00
Ashdon windmill - open Sunday 10th, 10:00 - 16:00
Toft Monks Wind Pump - open Saturday 9th, 11:00 - 15:00
Bourn windmill - open Saturday 9th 14:00 - 16:30, Sunday 10th 11:00 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 16:30
Ullesthorpe Windmill - open Sunday 10th, 11:00 - 16:00
Polegate windmill - open Sunday 10th, 11:00 - 15:00
White mill, Sandwich - open Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th, 10:00 - 16:00
Drapers mill, Margate - open Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th, 14:00 - 16:00
Kibworth Harcourt windmill - open Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th, 10:00 - 16:00
Upminster windmill - open Saturday 9th 10:00 - 16:00, Sunday 10th 11:00 - 16:00
Northfield windmill, Soham - open Saturday 9th, 11:00 - 15:00
Thaxted windmill - open Sunday 10th, 10:00 - 15:30
Fosters mill, Swaffham Prior - open Sunday 10th, 14:00 - 17:00
Smock mill, Swaffham Prior - grounds access Sunday 10th, 14:00 - 17:00
Meopham windmill - open Sunday 10th, 13:30 - 16:30
Danzey Green windmill, Avoncroft - open Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th, 10:00 - 16:00
Wicken windmill - open Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th, reasonable hours!
Lowfield Heath windmill - open Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th, 14:00 - 17:00
Billingford windmill - open Saturday 9th, 13:00 - 16:00
Berkswell Windmill - open Saturday 9th, 12:00 - 16:00
Fulwell windmill - open Sunday 10th, 10:00 - 16:00
Old Buckenham windmill - open Sunday 10th, 13:00 - 16:00
Hough windmill, Swannington - open Sunday 10th, 14:00

Ifield watermill - open Sunday 10th, 12:00 - 17:00
Belper North Mill - open Sunday 10th, 11:00 - 15:00
Tocketts mill, Cleveland - open Sunday 10th, 11:00 - 16:00
Fladbury and Cropthorne Mills, Worcestershire - open Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th, 10:00 - 16:00
Ifield watermill - open Sunday 10th, 12:00 - 17:00

See also the list of mills open for Mills Weekend compiled by The Midland Wind and Water Mills Group.

Wind engine at the Wapping Hydraulic Pumping Station

4 May 26 12:00 UT

As an example of pretty lax journalism, Secret London has recently put up a couple of posts about flea markets being held at the Wapping Hydraulic Pumping Station. It illustrated those posts with a old stock photo pulled from flickr, showing a wind engine at the pumping station, but the photo was taken 14 years ago, and on visiting the market this weekend I found there was no such wind engine present.

Via Google Earth I can establish that the wind engine was

not visible in the clear aerial imagery from 2003, and doesn't appear to be in the less clear imagery through to 2008
it looks like the concrete base on which the wind engine was erected first appeared in 2009
the wind engine tower was present in 2010
the only clear aerial image of the wind engine including the mechanism is from 2013
2014 image is unclear, but doesn't seem to show the wind engine
The clear image from 2015 is definitely missing the wind engine

Having inspected the concrete base, which simply shows where the 4 legs were bolted down, there are no signs of any allowance for a pump to be present, so I have conclude that this was simply added as a decorative feature, whilst the pumping station was being operated as an art centre/restaurant called The Wapping Project, and was present on the site approximately 2010-2013. As far as I can tell, there was no historical basis for it being there.

Ladybird Book of The Weather

3 May 26 12:00 UT

The Ladybird Book of The Weather was published in 1962, and the cover dustwrapper shows a picture of a Suffolk style post mill with a steps mounted fantail. The illustration, one of many delightful ones in the book painted by Robert Ayton appears inside on the pages about cumulus clouds, which are shown in the sky above the mill. Under the wrap, the actual boards cover of the early editions of this book shows a different image - that of a weathervane. Later editions got rid of the separate dustwrapper, just having the illustration directly on the board front cover. As such, they lose just a little of the right edge of the painting, which had flowed over the fold of the wrapper.

Image: [Ladybird Book, The Weather, showing a Suffolk post mill, with fantail, below cumulus clouds, published 1962Illustration by Robert Ayton, Ladybird Books]

I've seen 3 different version of the cover - the dustwrapper one, a variant with a ladybird appearing in the top right corner, and then one where the book is subtly restyled as "A Ladybird Book, The Weather".

What makes this news worthy is that I've just spotted that in 2023 "Climate Change, A Ladybird Book" was published, with a cover illustrated with wind turbines. This book has a foreword by the then Prince Charles, now King Charles.

Image: [Climate Chane, A Ladybird Book, showing a wind farm with 6 turbines, published 2023Ladybird Books]

Amertate VAWT

1 NaN 12:00 UT

Whilst wind energy and solar are complementary, it feels like it would be a hard sell to be showcasing a wind turbine at a solar power trade show. However Finnish startup Amertat Energy were at the Solar and Storage show at London Excel this week, with news of their range of Amertate hybrid VAWT models. The hybrid label applies because the turbine makes use of both lift and drag forces, which it claims allows it to have higher torque in a compact design, which gets it generating power at low wind speeds.

Image: [An AMT6000 VAWT 53MWh annual capacity farm installation in Finland, 2026Amertate]

The range includes turbines from 1.5kW up to 10kW, and although early devices used 8 blades, the current design uses 6 blades which has been found to be more efficient. The blades are made from sheet metal, avoiding hard to recycle fibreglass, and benefiting from ease of fabrication, also apparent in the design where the essential turbine hub is the same across all the different capacity turbines.

The name Amertate (variously used with and without a final "e") means eternal life, and the CEO and CTO both originate from the South Khorasan region in Iran, where horizontal windmills operating on similar principals have been in use to grind grain for many centuries. (The term horizontal windmill is used for historical machines that derive their power from blades that rotate in a horizontal plane, but modern terminology flips the wording and confusingly calls them vertical axis wind turbines!)

More technical details of the turbine can be found in the Finnish patents

There are some videos of various examples of the turbine on the Amertate YouTube channel.

Stevington windmill on the Toffees CD cover

15 Apr 26 12:00 UT

It's not recent news - this CD was released in 2013, but it's only now that I've come across it. The debut, and as far as I can tell, only album "Room with a View" from the UK band Toffees features images of and inside the post mill at Stevington, Bedfordshire. As it's a CD, rather than a vinyl album, the graphics actually continue on to the CD itself.
Image: [Front cover of the Toffees CD album "Room with a view" showing the exterior of Stevington windmill, 2013Belinda Neasham] Image: [Rear cover of the Toffees CD album "Room with a view" showing the 3 guitars by the roundhouse of Stevington windmill, 2013Belinda Neasham] Image: [First fold of the Toffees CD album "Room with a view" showing the band by the roundhouse of Stevington windmill, 2013Belinda Neasham] Image: [Second fold of the Toffees CD album "Room with a view" showing the band inside the roundhouse, and on the machinery floor of Stevington windmill, 2013Belinda Neasham]

Mock windmills at Tulleys Tulip Fields, St Albans

14 Apr 26 12:00 UT

Over winter 2024/25 I was driving along the M25 near St Albans, Hertfordshire, when I noticed a set of windmill sails that hadn't been there before. On further investigation, I found that these were on a newly built mock mill, part of the Tulleys Tulip Field attraction at Willows Farm. I didn't get to visit the attraction in 2025, but now that spring is here, and the tulips are in full flower, I've visited this year.

When your whole reason d'etre is to provide photo opportunities for Instagram influencers (and lesser mortals of course), then it seems like you should take a little care in your provision.

Thus, even though the (mock) windmill to be found at Tulley's Tulip Farm in Hertfordshire is clearly a simplified, even cartoon like representation of a supposed Dutch windmill, the fact that the sails are so obviously wrong is galling.

I can forgive the simplification of the sails to not have any weather (aerodynamic twist) to them, but mounting the sail frames behind the sail stocks, rather than in front of them is silly - even a cursory consideration would allow you to see that to resist the very wind that powers them, you want them on the front, not the back of the stocks.

Image: [Windmill at Tulleys Tulip Fields, note the poor sails erroneously fixed on the downwind side of the stocks, 10/4/26© Mark Berry]

Of course, to provide an eye-catching sight, you want the sails to be turning, and avoiding the need to provide aerodynamic sails, point them in the right direction, and allowing for windless periods, you probably instead arrange to drive them round with a motor. Sails with asymmetric sail frames turn with the smaller area preceding the larger area - the ones here are thus are being driven backwards by the motor!

The poor thought process involved also extends to the siting of the mill. The ideal front on view of the sails means that the background to the photo consists of the food truck encampment, rather than the farm's far more photogenic tulip fields.

Image: [Windmill and tulip barrow, at Tulleys Tulip Fields, showing the poor placement of the mill with respect to the unattractive food court in the background, 10/4/26© Mark Berry]

It has to be said that the tulip fields themselves were impressive, with lots of different varieties. (The press pack claims 750,000 tulips have been planted, across 100 varieties). The Hertfordshire venue is pretty new, having opened just last year, so mostly the rows are a single variety, with just the occasional miscoloured bloom, where the planting from last year has presumably re-established itself. It's also claimed that there are a mixture of early, mid, and late varieties planted, so the expectation is that the floral display will continue through to May at least.

As well as the bulbs themselves, there are many other photo opportunities scattered throughout the site, including a Land Rover, tractors, a motor bike, mirrors, a number of frames ready for posed shots, and indeed another smaller mock windmill. Once again a little extra thought could have been worthwhile here - for example avoiding angling the photo frames so that the background points directly at the ugly electrical pylons that cross the site, and placing the second windmill where it is surrounded by tulips, rather than at the far edge of the farm. (The second windmill is new this year, and looking on Google Earth, it appears that the area of tulip planting has roughly doubled this year, so it's been placed at the very edge of the extended area).

These comments all arise from visiting Tulleys' Hertfordshire site - from online photos the other sites at Crawley and Warwick follow a similar pattern, but perhaps being longer established, they may have worked out the problems in those sites by now. (A video of the equivalent big windmill at the Crawley site for example shows the sails on it rotating in the correct direction).

As full disclosure, I was provided with a free "influencer" media ticket, to visit the farm this year.

Progress in the restoration of Thaxted windmill

3 Feb 2026 12:00 UT

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 smock wind-mill for grinding corn and chipping wood, Halifax

3 Feb 2026 12:00 UT

Clip art used in the ad

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 Navigation.
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: places listed in 2025

2 Feb 2026 12:00 UT

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.

Sawston windmill, recently erected in an artistic style

2 Feb 2026 12:00 UT

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.