Windmills of the UK - mock mills

A windmill is a popular and striking landscape or townscape feature. For this reason, a number of so called "mock mills" have been constructed in the UK. My definition of a mock mill is a building constructed to look like a windmill, but which was never capable of using wind as a power source.

A number of these have been built as pubs or restaurants, sometimes employing millwrights who also work on true mills. Their appearance ranges from the authentic, through to the crude.

I have explicitly excluded a number of large model windmills, which are much smaller than building size.

Surviving windmills

# photo id name location geo type condition photos
1 no image #mock19 The Flint Tower Alfriston, Sussex NGR: TQ520033
(50.80930,0.15664) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 8
2 no image #mock30 Old MacDonalds Farmyard Alton Towers
(52.99016,-1.8939) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
square smock . 7
3 #mock31 Extraordinary Golf Alton Towers
(52.98508,-1.8778) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
square smock . 13
4 #mock5 . Ashill, Somerset NGR: ST315168
(50.94608,-2.9769) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 1
5 no image #mock44 Flaxbourne Garden Aspley Guise
(52.02315,-0.6373) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
smock . 1
6 #mock13 Polhill Garden Centre Badgers Mount, Sevenoaks, Kent NGR: TQ500612
(51.33017,0.15149) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
crude smock . 0
7 no image #mock38 Sparkmill Allotments Beverley
(53.83759,-0.4165) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
smock derelict 2
8 no image #mock34 Windmill Primary School Brookside, Telford
(52.65052,-2.4436) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
playground feature . 0
9 #mock11 . Brownbread Street NGR: TQ676149
(50.90849,0.38245) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
smock . 2
10 #1704 Caldecotte Arms Mill Caldecotte, Milton Keynes NGR: SP887355
(52.01098,-0.7078) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 258
11 #mock14 Enfield Garden Centre Cattlegate Road, Crews Hill, Enfield NGR: TL312001
(51.68434,-0.1031) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
crude smock . 1
12 no image #mock42 Dean Farm Chipping Norton
(51.92414,-1.5156) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
smock . 0
13 no image #mock49 . Chislet smock . 0
14 no image #1046 Ladbrook's Mill Elmsett NGR: TM047465
(52.07926,0.98679) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
post mill . 1
15 #mock7 . Gatwick Manor, Sussex
(51.13888,-0.1839) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
smock . 11
16 #mock15 Wood Green Animal Shelter Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire NGR: TL261683
(52.29886,-0.1502) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
sails . 1
17 no image #mock2 The Harvest Mouse Heswall, Wirral, Merseyside NGR: SJ270825
(53.33436,-3.0969) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 1
18 #mock4 The Milestone Hinckley NGR: SP417954
(52.55458,-1.3852) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
smock . 1
19 no image #mock48 Paulaner Windmill Bar Hyde Park, London . 12
20 #mock10 . Kenn, Somerset NGR: ST411696
(51.42221,-2.8489) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 1
21 #mock37 Green Acres Lapworth
(52.33456,-1.7646) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 0
22 no image #mock6 . Leinthall Starkes, Herefordshire NGR: SO444698
(52.32364,-2.8178) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
residential smock . 2
23 no image #1539 Pride of Lincoln Lincoln NGR: SK925680
(53.20060,-0.6152) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 1
24 no image #mock12 Windmill Entertainment Centre Littlehampton NGR: TQ029014
(50.80324,-0.5408) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
attached sails . 8
25 #mock16 Windmill Cinema Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NGR: TG531070
(52.60166,1.73592) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
windmill sails . 34
26 no image #mock41 . Mill Hill
(51.62488,-0.2477) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
smock . 0
27 no image #mock32 Bumble Hole Mill Netherton
(52.49213,-2.0752) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 3
28 #mock20 Chase Tower Newhall, Harlow
(51.77256,0.13812) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
post mill body shaped apartment block . 5
29 #mock40 Krazy Windmill no fixed location travelling fairground fun house . 6
30 #mock23 . Pecks Hill, Nazeing, Essex NGR: TL393069
(51.74373,0.01571) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
attached sails . 0
31 no image #mock9 . South Dissington NGR: NZ129695
(55.02046,-1.7996) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 0
32 no image #mock29 Pleasureland Southport
(53.64929,-3.0189) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 15
33 no image #mock46 . Swilland
(52.14010,1.19867) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
garden playhouse . 0
34 #mock28 Moulin Rouge Tate Modern
(51.50766,-0.0997) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
3.8m tall 'sculpture' . 0
35 no image #mock39 Leeway House Thorney tower . 0
36 #mock27 . Warwick Road, Coventry
(52.39937,-1.5161) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
square tower . 1
37 no image #mock17 . Wednesbury, Staffordshire NGR: SO988952
(52.55505,-2.0182) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
tower . 5
38 #mock8 Whitewebbs Farm Whitewebbs Road, Enfield NGR: TL330000
(51.68286,-0.0774) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
crude tower . 0
39 #mock1 Splash windmill Wraysbury, Berkshire NGR: TQ005741
(51.45744,-0.5546) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps
residential smock . 25

Historical locations

Birmingham (#mock22)

Cannon Hill Park: Dutch style post mill

A large scale model, set up at the time of the Tulip Festival in 1970, and mentioned as still existing in Arthur C. Smith's survey of Warwickshire windmills in 1977. A time capsule was buried at the former site on the 16th June 1997.

Entries in photo archives:
Flickr
Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Blackpool (#mock18)

NGR: SD305341
(53.79849,-3.0563) OS map + aerial, Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps

smock

Part of the illuminations, once described as "20ft plywood windmill, little more than a cunning disguise for a ventilation shaft". Originally built in Manchester Square in 1931, then moved to the promenade opposite Waterloo Road in 1963. Placed in storage in 2005.

[info] [info]

Entries in photo archives:
Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr
Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Chinnor (#mock35)

(51.70314,-0.9174) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps

The Windmill Nursery: playground feature

existed in March 2004, not present in 2011


Playground of Windmill Nursery, Chinnor, 27/3/04

Entries in photo archives:

Flixton, Lowestoft (#mock25)

Postcode: NR32 5PD
(52.50098,1.70399) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps

Meadow View:

A custom built playhouse, square plan, like a post mill. According to the Nov 08 sales particulars of the house whose garden this is in, this is listed on the house deeds - however it did appear to have been removed by Spring 2009.

Entries in photo archives:

Hurleston, Cheshire (#mock21)

(53.08520,-2.5623) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps

Snugburys: approx full size tower mill made of straw around a metal framework

A temporary structure, constructed summer 2008

[homepage]

Entries in photo archives:
Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr
Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.
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Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners.
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Picasa Web Album images are copyright their individual photographers.
News item: A windmill made from straw bales (6/7/08)

Paignton (#mock43)

rectangular smock on the promenade

[photo]

Entries in photo archives:

Southend on Sea (#mock24)

Boating Lake:

A pair of mock mills by the boating lake in the 1950's or 60's

Entries in photo archives:
Flickr
Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Southend On Sea (#mock26)

(51.53400,0.71084) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps

Fairy Windmill:

Stood alongside the Cliff Lift funicular railway. Comment on the Flickr postcard notes that this was built in 1909 by WJ Cooper (as part of the celebrations for the arrival of the Atlantic and Home Fleet) and was really an ornamental 'cover' for a water pumping station supplying 5 cottages on the seafront below. Was illuminated at some time.


The pier & windmill, Southend on Sea illuminations; Valentine postcard G5735., circa 1943

Entries in photo archives:
Flickr
Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

St Helens (#mock47)

(53.44260,-2.7644) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps

Parkside:

Built in the 1920s or 30s. Unclear if this still exists.

[homepage] [info]

Entries in photo archives:

Trafalgar Square (#mock36)

(51.50801,-0.1279) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps

post

Erected for a war bonds promotion during World War 1

Entries in photo archives:
Flickr Flickr Flickr Flickr
Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Wandsworth (#mock50)

smock

Used in 2005 as a sales aid for appartments.

Entries in photo archives:

West Common, Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire (#mock45)

(51.58721,-0.5601) Google Maps Aerial - Dual Google & Bing Maps

Created as a facsimile of Wimbledon Common windmill, for the 1977 live-action Wombles film, "Wombling Free".


Partial screen grab from the film "Wombling Free", c1977

Entries in photo archives:

Rebuilt dummy mills

Playhouses

Map of all the UK - mock mills mills - Download to Google Earth

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Last updated 22/01/2012 Text and images © Mark Berry, 1997-2012 -