post mill
function:Corn mill
- conserved, owned by the National Trust
Signboard
says:
The National Trust
Pitstone Windmill
This is believed to be the oldest windmill in the British Isles and bears the date 1627.
It was badly damaged by the great storm of 1902, which ended its working life.
After emergency repairs, a public subscription was opened in 1963 for the purchase of materials
to enable restoration work to be undertaken by local volunteers.
Given to the National Trust in 1937 by Mr L J Hawkins of Pitstone Green Farm.
Pitstone, 1990's
Pitstone, 1990's
Pitstone,
, 20/3/89
© Peter Hedges collection
Pitstone,
, 20/3/89
© Peter Hedges collection
Pitstone,
, 1958
© T C Vickers collection
Pitstone,
, c1930s
© Alan Caston collection
This Grade II* Listed post mill was in existence by the 17th century. Several dates are inscribed in the building, the earliest of which would seem to be 1627 (although it the inscription has been read as 1687 or 1697). It ceased working after the tail and sails were destroyed by a storm in 1902 and fell into disrepair. In 1937 it was given to the National Trust. It was restored to working condition by the Pitstone Windmill Restoration Trust Committee between 1963-70. With a black weather-boarded buck above a roundhouse, it has 4 common sails, adjusted from ground level. The mill remains in workable condition, although fixed in direction.
Pitstone Green,
post millPhotos: (1) D W Smith (a) derelict with one stock and fragments of one sail (2) NMR (a) as derelict, 1936 (b) as derelict, Sept 1937 (c) derelict as above, n.d. (d-h) as preserved, with mock sails (i) after repairs, but with remains of original sails still on (j-n) as preserved (f) as preserved, with men working on sails (g) view of spout floor (h) brakewheel, windshaft and sack hoist (i) brakewheel, windshaft, wallower and stones (j) stone nut, great spur wheel and tentering gear (k) windshaft, wallower and stones (l) wire machine (m) governors, upper part of main post and tentering gear (n) wallower, brakewheel and exposed bedstone (3) Freese (a) 1627 date (4) Vince (WIBATC) (a-b) as preserved (5) NMR (WC) (a) view of post and spout floor, July 1971 (b-c) substructure, July 1971 (d) derelict, 1930s (e-f) as preserved, July 1971 (g) brakewheel, sackhoist and drive to stones, July 1971 (6) David Wray, Pitstone Windmill guide book c1970 (a) derelict with stock and fragments of one sail, 1935 (b) under restoration, Easter 1966: new sails being fitted (c) wind-shaft, brakewheel, wallower, upright shaft and two pairs of stones (d) spout floor with main post, great spur wheel and tentering gear (e) after restoration, with sails covered with canvas and being turned (7) Tring and District In Old Picture Postcards, David and Joan Hay, European Library 1983 (a) derelict with stocks and sail fragments, early to mid-C20 (8) HWL (a-b) derelict, 1930s (9) Reynolds (a) 1627 date (b) mill as preserved (c) moulded base of main post (d) as preserved, middle distance (e) brakewheel and windshaft (10) Vince 1981 (a) as preserved (11) Vince 1993 (a) as preserved (12) A C Smith (WIBAO) (a) as preserved, May 1970 (13) Vince 1977 (a) as preserved (14) Vince 1984 (a) as preserved (15) Vince 1968 (a) nearing completion of repairs, 1960s, with small mock sails still on and some scaffolding still up (16) UOK (MC) (a) with boarding tidied up and one stock with fragments of sails, April 1931 (17) photo of mill in w/o early C20 exists somewhere according to J Venn - needs investigation
Images from Historic England - hover over image to see copyright info, and to enable zoom
Pitstone Mill, Pitstone, Pitstone Green, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire
1939 - Photograph (Negative)
Pitstone, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire
28 Aug 1999 - Photograph (Digital)
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