Brixton Windmill

The Brixton windmill was built in 1862 for the milling of flour and wheat meal. It relied totally on wind power until 1862, as technology changed so did the operating of the mill. Water to steam engine to gas engine. After WWII as it lay abandoned plans to demolish it and build a block of flats were proposed and finally rejected. It has since undergone several restorations, the last one in 2011. Check their website to see what days it is open to visitors.


To help visitors to find the Olympic Venues see my new Olympic Venue map in the sidebar (just below the weather widget).

Upminster Mill

I clambered around this gem during the weekend. Upminster smock Mill was built in 1803.
A smock mill has six to eight weatherboard sides and a cap on top that rotates the sails.

During the 18th century farmers wore a smock and funny cap and looked like a windmill. This wee treasure is the last of its kind in the UK saved by a group of volunteers who devote their time to its upkeep and on certain days of the year will spend hours showing you around and telling you anything you ever wanted to know about its history.

One of the tales is that of the son who had a successful bakery on the nearby corner but committed suicide when the council forced him to sell for road works. The amount he would have received was not enough for him to start any new venture.
Sound familiar?