Bursledon Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bursledon Windmill |
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Hampshire's only working windmill
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Bursledon Mill |
| Mill location | Bursledon, Eastleigh, Hampshire |
| Grid reference | SU 482 108 |
| Coordinates | 50°53′42″N 1°18′54″W / 50.894916°N 1.315001°W |
| Operator(s) | Hampshire Cultural Trust |
| Year built | 1814 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | tower mill |
| Storeys | Five storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Common sails |
| Windshaft | Wood |
| Winding | Hand winded via chain and wheel |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Three |
| Other information | |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 14 February 1983 |
| Reference no. | 1281479 |
Bursledon Windmill is a really old and important building in Bursledon, Hampshire, England. It's a special type of windmill that has been fixed up so it can work again! It's called a Grade II* listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and special design.
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What is Bursledon Windmill Like?
Bursledon Windmill is a tall, five-story tower. It has a special cap on top that looks a bit like a boat. This cap can be turned by hand using a chain and wheel to face the wind.
The windmill has four big sails, called Common sails. These sails are attached to a strong wooden pole called a windshaft. Inside the mill, this windshaft turns a large wooden brake wheel. This wheel then spins other wooden gears and shafts, like the wallower and the upright shaft. At the bottom, a big gear called the great spur wheel turns three pairs of heavy grinding stones. These stones were used to grind corn into flour!
A Look at the Mill's History
Bursledon Windmill was built in 1814 by a woman named Mrs. Phoebe Langtry. It replaced an even older windmill from around 1768. Some parts from the older mill were actually used in the new one!
In 1814, Mrs. Langtry borrowed £800 to build the mill. The mill was sold in 1820. It kept working until the 1880s. Mrs. Langtry's son, William Langtry, was one of the first millers.
Later, a family named Cove worked at the mill from 1847 to 1871. John Cove, the main miller, came from Wiltshire. His family became well-known in Southampton. His daughter Mary even ran a local pub! The last miller was George Gosling, who bought the mill in 1872.
Why the Windmill Stopped Working
After the mill stopped grinding corn, a flat roof was put on top of the cap. This helped to protect the machinery inside.
However, by 1931, some of the important grinding stones were taken out. By 1978, the mill was in very bad shape, especially the top two floors. Luckily, the local council did some urgent repairs that year.
Bringing the Windmill Back to Life
From 1978 to 1991, a group called the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust worked hard to fix up the windmill. They replaced the big sails in 1990. Finally, the mill was ready and opened to visitors in May 1991!
Keeping the Windmill Working Today
In February 2012, a big project started to restore the windmill even more. First, the wooden parts of the sails were removed. This was to prepare for replacing the windshaft, which was very old. This important work was finished in November 2014.
The Bursledon Windmill is owned by the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust. It was leased to Hampshire County Council for many years. In 2014, the Hampshire Cultural Trust took over running the mill as part of a larger plan to manage museums in the area.
Recently, in 2023/2024, the Hampshire Cultural Trust decided to return the lease. The mill will go back to being managed by the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust from October 31, 2024.
Who Were the Millers?
Here are some of the people who worked as millers at Bursledon Windmill:
- William Langtry (1787–1813) – He worked at the older post mill.
- William Langtry (1814–1820) – This was the son of the first William.
- John Cove (1847–1871)
- George Gosling (1872–1907)
Visiting Bursledon Windmill
Bursledon Windmill is open to the public! You can visit on Sundays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can also arrange a visit on Tuesdays and Wednesdays by appointment. It's a great place to learn about how windmills used to work!
