Shirley.....

..... Windmill.
This is 1/4 windmills open to the public.
A tower built windmill built 1808 by William Alwen worked by , and remained in, this family until 1854 when it was destroyed by fire. Grandson Richard Alwen built the present brick tower mill , but as the steam powered roller mills developed and being independent of weather and producing finer whiter flour the mill became uncompetitive and eventually obsolete. In 1880 it was bought by Alfred Rayson who was only able to produce animal feed and when he died 1892 the mill was abandoned.
In 1899 it was struck by lightening and was badly damaged and again in 1906 when only the prompt action of Croydon Fire Brigade and tho' damaged saved it from destruction .
By 1920 expansion threatened the mill . A wealthy local resident then purchased the mill , by 1927 it was restored only to be damaged again in 1035/6 .
In 1951 the ground was acquired by Croydon corporation when a Grammar school was built threatening the windmill yet again but after consultation the mill was incorporated within the school grounds.
In 1990 Croydon sold the land to a property developer ( the school then joined with anther school in the area) . In 1996 the heritage Lottery fund granted £218,000 for the development of the public tourist site it is today, meaning people can see/ read about Croydon's history.
It has been very wet today and now I think we're getting storm Freida as the wind is howling.

Appreciate .... managing to get this blip even tho' the weather was bad.