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Book: Windmills of Essex, by Ian 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 GestingthorpeIn other mill related interest in the village of Gestingthorpe
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 ...
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 GestingthorpeFacebook posts
Other wind pumps:
Saxon watermill replica at GestingthorpeReconstructed 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 GestingthorpeThere'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:
Mills on the Air, 2026Whilst 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
Mills open for National Mills Weekend, May 9th and 10th, 2026The 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.
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 StationVia Google Earth I can establish that the wind engine was
Ladybird Book of The Weather
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.
Amertate VAWT
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
Mock windmills at Tulleys Tulip Fields, St AlbansOver 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.
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.
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 A smock wind-mill for grinding corn and chipping wood, Halifax
Clip art used in the adTo 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 2025In 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 styleA 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.
Roxwell wind and water corn millsROXWELL, ESSEX.
ELIGIBLE WATER & WIND CORN MILLS, With Immediate Possession.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Messrs. Baker and Son,
At the Black Boy Hotel, Chelmsford, on Friday, February 22nd, 1850, at Three o'Clock, by direction of the Executors of the late Mr. Joseph Cooch,
ALL that eligible and highly desirable FREEHOLD PROPERTY, land-tax redeemed, situate at Roxwell, about 5 miles from Chelmsford, Essex, consisting of a WATER CORN MILL, driving two pairs of stones; also a very substantial POST WINDMILL driving three pairs of stones, with all the machinery, flour mills, going gears, &c. recently putin upon the best construction; together with a respectable and commodious Dwelling-house, offices and large garden, exceedingly well situated, with a good trade, having been in the hands of the proprietor for many years.
Part of the purchase-money may remain on mortgage.
For further Particulars apply to Messrs. Chalk and Meggy, Solicitors, Chelmsford; Mr. Robert Swinborne, Great Oakley; or to the Auctioneers, Writtle and Chelmsford.
Brame Oxford and Thomas Rockhill, BankruptsTo be SOLD by AUCTION
By order of the assignees of the estate and effects of BRAME OXFORD and THOMAS ROCKHILL, Bankrupts, on THURSDAY the 2d day of Feb. between the hours of Three and Six of the clock in the afternoon, at the ANGEL INN in HALESWORTH, Suffolk, the following estates late of the said Bankrupts, LOT I. THE now residue and remainder of a term of 41 years, (whereof were 35 years to come on the 10th of October last) of and in a Water-Mill, Dwelling-house, Outhouses, aud about four acres of very rich meadow land in Wenhaston in Suffolk, lately in the occupation of the said bankrupts.
This mill was lately new built, has 7 feet pend of water, a tumbling water wheel, 12 feet by 10, and a breast water wheel, 14 feet by 5 1/2, breasted 5 feet and 1/2 high, three pair of French stones, one pair of peak stones, two flour mills, and a machine to clean corn; is situated upon the river Blyth (which is navigable to the port of Southwold) about three miles from Halesworth, and six from Southwold (both market towns) in a fine corn country, where a considerable trade in the flour branch, as also in corn in general, may be advantageously carried on, there being no other water-mill within ten miles. LOT II. A new built Messuage or Dwelling-house, Stable, Granary and other Outhouses, yards and appurtenances belonging thereto in Holton in Suffolk, (about one mile and a half from Halesworth) lately in the occupation of the said Brame Oxford.
Also, A Post Wind-Mill, with two pair of French stones, a four mill; a machine to dress corn, and a round house, with two floors capable of holding a considerable quantity of corn, in exceeding good repair, and also half an acre of garden ground belonging to the same, and adjoining to the said last mentioned premises late in the use of the said bankrupts. For further particulars enquire of Mr. Richard Dreffer of Blyford, or Mr. John Beales of Cheddiston, in the said county of Suffolk, assignees of the estate and effects of the said bankrupts.
Two valuable windmillsTWO VALUABLE WINDMILLS, IN FULL TRADE.
To be SOLD by PRIVATE CONTRACT, Either together or separately, At the Option of the Purchasers,
Lot 1. ALL that valuable freehold ESTATE, at RISELY, in the County of Bedford (Tithe free); consisting of a capital SMOCK MILL, with fan Tail; an excellent Pair of French Stones, four Feet four Inches in Diameter, with good Regulators; a Pair of peak Ditto, five Feet two inches in Diameter, with good Regulators; a valuable dressing Machine, with two Cylinders, nearly new. Also, A good DWELLING HOUSE, with suitable Rooms; two Barns, newly erected, with Stable and Piggeries, and other out Offices; a good Well of Water and a lead Pump, a Garden with choice fruit Trees, together with a Pi[???]le of rich sward Land, containing about one Acre.
The Mill is in complete Repair; and the Whole adjoining the high Road from Bedford to Kimbolton and St. Neots; from Kimbolton four Miles, and from St. Neots and Bedford 10 Miles each.- Also may be rented adjoining the same. 22 Acres of good ARABLE and SWARD LAND, if agreeable to the Purchaser; forming together a most desirable Situation for a Miller. The above may be entered upon at Lady Day next.
Lot 2, situated at OLD WESTON, in the County af Huntingdon, consists of an excellent POST WINDMILL, with a capital Pair of French Stones and Regulators, four Feet tour Inches in Diameter; one Pair of peak Ditto, four Feet 10 Inches in Diameter, with dressing Machine nearly new, and two Cylinders. Also, A good brick and tiled DWELLING HOUSE, Barn, Stable, and Piggeries, with other Out offices, a Yard and Garden, a good Well of Water; also, FOUR ACRES, more or less, of good ARABLE LAND, in the open Field of WESTON aforesaid, which is contiguous to the House. The Whole is Freehold of Inheritance, is in the most complete Repair, and forms a most desirable Situation for a Miller.
Old Weston is distant from Thrapston and Huntingdon seven Miles, and from Oundle eight.
For a View of the above, please to apply on the Premises of each Lot; and for further Particulars, and to treat for the same, to Mr BRADSHAW, the Proprietor, at Dean Mills, Bed; or to Mr. PETER WARREN, Auctioneer, Risely, Beds.
N. B. All Letters, Post paid, will be regularly answered.
Hastings windmillHASTINGS.- WINDMILL.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Mr. EATON,
AT the SWAN INN, Hastings, on SATURDAY, the 7 h day of February, 1524, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
A FREEHOLD SMOCK WINDMILL, with a Warehouse, and about one acre and a half of exceeding good LAND, situate in the parish of Saint Clement, Hastings, the property of Mr. John French, deceased, and now in the occupation of Mr. Eldridge, under a lease for seven years, from the 17th January, 1820, at the rent of £50. per annum.
For further particulars enquire of Mr. JOHN LONGLEY. or Mr. WM. EDWARDS, Hastings, or at the Office of Messrs. BISHOP and THORPE, Solicitors, Hastings.
A most desirable situation for a millerA MOST DESIRABLE SITUATION For a Miller, COLCHESTER, ESSEX.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By W. JACKSON,
On Wednesday, February 9, 1820, at the Blue Posts Inn, Colchester, at Twelve o'clock at noon, ALL that valuable FREEHOLD ESTATE, advantageously situated in the Parish of Saint Botolph, Colchester, now in the occupation of Mr. JOHN SPRACKLIN, the Proprietor (leaving the same) in One Lot; comprising a very pleasant and comfortable Dwelling-House, with a keeping room, 2 parlours, 4 bed rooms, Bake Office (with 2 ten-bushel ovens) brew house, and kitchen; stable and other outbuildings; a good substantial Cottage for workmen; and a most capital and well-timbered Post Windmill, with 2 pair of French stones, good and convenient round house, well-binned for holding corn, with all her going gear; the whole in complete repair and condition. Also, a good Garden, and about One Acre and a Half of very productive Arable Land.
The Mill is now in full trade, and stands well for business, either retail or shipping for London.
Immediate possession may be had; and part of the purchase money may remain on mortgage of the Premises, if required.
Further particulars and Conditions of Sale may be had of Messrs. Daniell, Sewell, and Daniell, Solicitors, and of the Auctioneer, Colchester.
Post mill for sale, BermondseyWINDMILL-To be SOLD by PRIVATE CONTRACT, by B. DONKIN, Engineer and Millwright, Fort-place, Bermondsey, a capital POST MILL, with two pair of stones, situated within a mile and a half of London Bridge, in excellent repair and full trade; also the Lease of the Dwelling House, and the Ground upon which the Mill stands, 65 years of which were unexpired on Christmas Day last. For further particulars, and to view the premises, apply to Mr. Donkin, as above.- N. B. No person will be treated with but such as shall give satisfactory reference, if required.
Windmill bits, and a dung cartTHREE GOOD CARTS, BREAK WHEEL, BREAK, IRON SHAFT, and NECK of a WINDMILL,
AND 120 LOTS OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE,
FOR SALE, AT WHITCHURCH.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY Messrs. Gibbs and Sons,
Upon the Premises of Mr. John Clark, baker, of Whitchurch, Bucks (who is leaving that place),
On FRIDAY, the 24th of JANUARY, 1840, at Ten,
GOOD dung cart and market cart, both in iron arms, a light baker's cart on springs, three sets of harness, a valuable break and break wheel, iron shafts and neck of a windmill, about 120 lots of useful household furniture, and other effects.
May be seen the morning of sale, and catalogue had on the premises, and of the [auctioneers], Aylesbury.
Derbyshire Burr stonesHis Majesty's Letters Patent, is granted to SAMUEL WATSON, of Baslow, near Chatsworth, Derbyshire; for the sole Making and Vending his New
HAND - MILL,
Made of the Derbyshire Burr Material, for grinding Wheat, which so long has been wished for, as the work is so easy and expeditious, and the Flour equally as good or rather superior to that which is ground on the French Burrs at the common Water or Wind-Mills, and so small produce of Bran, and no loss of weight betwixt the Grain and the Produce, makes the Machine of great use to all Families, Apothecaries, Druggists, &c. Also for his
NEW ROLLERS,
Made of the Peak Mill-Stone Materials, for crushing Malt, Oats, Beans, &c.
The Power of one Man with ease (by the great improvement he has made in them) may crush 20 Bushels of Malt in One Hour, which is found better for Brewing than when ground on the common Mill stones, or by the Steel Hand-Mills. By the same power 8 Bushes of Oats or Beans may be crushed in the same Time, and it need not be here insisted on, that Corn thus crushed affords more nourishment to Horses or Cattle, than when given whole; besides they are not dried upon a Kiln, which is the usual process before common grinding, which greatly endangers the horses wind, being thirsty after eating provender prepared in that manner, and from the simplicity and strength of the Construction of the above Machines, they are not liable to be out of order, or unfit for use. The price at Baslow of each pair of Rollers, 5l. 5s.
Whoever attempts to imitate either of the above Machines, and impose upon the public, will be prosecuted as the Law directs. Of the said Watson may be had Peak Mill-stones of any size. Also Bolting-Mills for dressing flour of the best construction may be had with the Mills.
N. B. The Rollers may be seen at Mr. Thomas Hinton's, Whitchurch; Mr. D. Stodard's, St. Asaph, Flintshire; Mr. Brittain's, near Chester; and number of other Places in this and the adjacent Counties.
| Last generated 13/05/2026 | Text and images © Mark Berry, 1997-2026 - |
