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Buckinghamshire

   

Pitstone Windmill

nr Pitstone, Buckinghamshire

Featured Location Guide

An example of the earliest form of Windmill, postmill. Constructed from 1627, possibly before.

It is thought to have been first built about 1627 as this date is carved on part of the framework. This is the earliest date to be found on any windmill in the British Isles. It should be remembered that such a structure would have had to have frequent repairs made to it, so it is quite possible the mill predates 1627.

The design of the mill is what is known as a post-mill. This means the whole superstructure of the mill rests on one main post. This post arises from ground level through brick and a foundation chamber; the post then acts as a pivot for the timber built structure above with the sails. Consequently, the upper section of the mill and sails could be turned towards the direction of the wind (reinforcements added in the 20th century now prevent the upper section from turning). The mill machinery in the upper rotating section was reached by a long flight of external steps.

For many hundreds of years grain grown in the two adjoining villages was ground at the mill into flour. In 1874 the mill was bought by Adelbert Wellington Brownlow Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow who owned the nearby Ashridge Estate. He subsequently let it to a local farmer, who ran a successful milling business from the mill.

Temporary picture, perspective problem, will be replaced when we get a chance to go and photograph this windmill.

In 1902 the mill was seriously damaged during an enormous gale, damaging it beyond the price of economic repair. Around 1922 the derelict ruined mill was bought from the Ashridge Estate by a farmer whose land was close to the mill. In 1937 he donated it to the National Trust. However, it was not until 1963 that a band of volunteers began to carry out renovations at their own expense. In 1970, after an interlude of 68 years, the mill once again ground corn.

Information from Wikipedia


Further information Grid

Location:

Pitstone Windmill nr Pitstone, Buckinghamshire

Ceremonial County: Buckinghamshire

Grid Reference:

SP 945157 Map 181

Map Link:

Multimap
Aerial photo: Google Aerial Photo

Route(s):

 

Best Times to Visit:

Open some Sundays, select one of these days if you want to see inside or avoid if you want windmill with no people.

E-mail:

pitstonemill@nationaltrust.org.uk

Website:

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-pitstonewindmill.htm

Other useful websites:

Many more images - www.windmillworld.com/millid/1713.htm

Nearby Locations:  
Other Relevant pages:  
 

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Planning Grid

Location:

Pitstone Windmill nr Pitstone, Buckinghamshire

Grid Reference:

SP 945157 Map 181

Getting there:

½ml S of Ivinghoe, 3ml NE of Tring, just W of B488

Access:

Nearby paths, and track appears to go by it, no apparent trees around.

Parking:

 

Facilities:

No WC

Things To Do, See and Photograph:

Windmill - clear location, and in field views. No trees around as far as I can see

What to take:

Telephoto lens if looking from paths

Nature highlights:

Country location so wildlife probable.

Address:

 

Postcode:

 

Telephone:

01442 851227

Opening times:

National Trust - volunteers open Sundays 1 Jun-31 Aug 2:30pm-6pm. Call before to check it will actually be open.

Charges:

Free To NT members -  others £1.50 adults, Children 70p

Photo Restrictions:

None from public paths

Other Restrictions: None known
Special Needs Access: Take a look at aerial photographs to get an idea of landscape. Appears not too difficult.
Special Needs Facilities: none
Children Facilities:  
Dogs Allowed: No known restrictions

Please let us know any other information that we can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you quote both the Page Ref and Topic or Section references from the Grid below. To print the planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.

Please submit information on locations you discover so that this system continues to grow.

 


By: Keith Park Section: Windmill Section Key:
Page Ref: pitstone Topic: Windmill Last Updated: 04/2009

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