Wilton Windmill........

Wilton Windmill stands high above the small village of Wilton, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, on a site that provides magnificent views of the surrounding hills. The mill is the only working windmill in Wessex and was originally built in 1821 after the new Kennet and Avon canal had been built. This canal was built over and through the site of some local watermills and the pumps providing the water for the canal also lowered the river levels so that the remaining watermills were no longer viable.

The mill was in operation for 100 years, however with the introduction of new steam roller mills and fast production of cheap bread it became unwanted, was abandoned and then fell into disrepair.  However the mill was finally restored to its former glory in 1976, by a team of dedicated volunteers.

The mill was built as a traditional tower mill with a fantail which turns the cap, to ensure that the sails always point into the wind.

The mill has four sails in total; two patent (which can be quickly activated) and two common canvas sails, which have to be set before the mill starts to turn.

The mill is fully operational, and produces stone-ground, wholemeal flour.

Today it is managed and operated by the Wilton Windmill Society which uses the mill and provides guided tours, whilst the mill is still owned by Wiltshire Council.

We thought before we set off that there'd be quite a few people up at the windmill, but as it happens we had the pretty little paddock all to ourselves.

There was a nice thin covering of cloud, keeping any glare from the windmills cap to a minimum, the cloud also added some interest to the sky.

After about forty minutes, a chap arrived to replenish supplies in the small refreshment counter they have in an olde world caravan that shares the paddock with the windmill, it turns out he was the Landlord of the Swan Inn which was about half a mile away in the village of Wilton. On his recommendation we went there for lunch.

Beautiful lunch, thoroughly recommended if you're in the area.

All in all, six hours well spent, and a half decent blip as well.

j.