Cobstone Windmill facts for kids
Cobstone Mill is a famous old windmill built around 1816. It stands on Turville Hill in a beautiful area called Ibstone in Buckinghamshire, England. From the mill, you can look down over the charming village of Turville. Because it's so close to Turville, some people even call it Turville Windmill!
This mill is a special type called a smock mill. It was built to replace an even older mill that had been there since the 1500s. Interestingly, some of the machinery inside Cobstone Mill was actually moved from another mill in a nearby village called Lacey Green.
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A Mill's Life: From Grinding to Filming
Cobstone Mill was a busy working mill for many years. It used its big sails to grind cereal grains, turning them into flour. This continued until 1873.
After it stopped working, the mill started to fall apart. At one point, a fire damaged the main center post inside. This made the mill even more run down.
A Star is Born: The Mill's Movie Makeover
In 1967, something exciting happened! The mill was chosen as a filming location for the famous movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. For the movie, the mill got a big makeover. Its top part (called the cap) was rebuilt, and new parts like a fantail (which helps turn the mill into the wind) and light wooden sails were added. This made the mill look beautiful and ready for its close-up!
New Owners and Private Life
A few years later, in 1971, the mill and its nearby cottage were bought by the famous actress Hayley Mills and her first husband, Roy Boulting. They did a lot of work to fix up the inside and outside of the mill and the cottage. The cottage even got a swimming pool! The property was sold again a few years later and has been privately owned ever since.
Cobstone Mill on Screen
Cobstone Mill is very popular with filmmakers and TV producers. Its unique look and beautiful location make it a perfect spot for many stories. Here are some of the films and TV shows where you might have seen it:
- Goodnight Mister Tom
- The New Avengers, in an episode called "House of Cards."
- Midsomer Murders, in several different episodes.
- Bride and Prejudice
- The Large Rope
- Went the Day Well?
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Little Britain, for scenes with the character Daffyd Thomas.
- Dead of Night
- Jonathan Creek, in the episode "The Grinning Man."
- The Day of the Triffids, a TV show from 2009.
