Area: Windmills

“Windmills are an important feature in the landscape, something understood by the County Council, which maintains post mills at Aythorpe Roding, Finchingfield, and Mountnessing, and the tower mill at Stock. Other prominent windmills regularly open to the public are to be found at Bocking, Rayleigh, Stansted Mountfitchet and Thaxted. At their zenith, in the second quarter of the C19, there were at least 285 windmills in Essex, of which 188 are known to have been post mills, 63 smock mills, and 20 tower mills. A dozen or so of these were tide mills, but only three survive: particularly at Battlesbridge and Fingringhoe, but with a good example, restored by the County Council, at Thorrington.” [Bettley / Pevsner. The Buildings of England. Essex. 2007 (author, David Andrews) p51]

Aythorpe Roding Windmill (photographed) is owned by Essex County Council and opened regularly to the public during the summer months. (In 2008 on the 4th Sunday in the month) Teas are sold in aid of local church funds at the nearby Village Hall. For a history of the post mill, follow this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aythorpe_Roding_Windmill

For an overview, the following sites are recommended

Windmills in Essex: a link to ‘Windmill World’
http://www.windmillworld.com/uk/essex.htm

About Vincent Pargeter, Essex millwright: a link to ‘BBC Essex’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2009/01/27/vincent_pargeter_millwright_feature.shtml