—
Converted to private house
The tower mill was severely truncated and converted into a private house.
Site overview
Buckden Windmill is a former tower mill standing west of the Great North Road and south of Perry Road at Buckden. Local history sources record it as Buckden windmill and describe it as a tower mill, now severely truncated and converted into a private house. Windmill World also identifies the site as Buckden tower mill.
The known working history is limited, but Richard Barton is recorded as one of the longest-serving millers, appearing in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census returns. Another local account records that the mill worked by wind until about 1888, after which auxiliary steam power was used for a few years. The mill later lost its working form and was reduced in height before conversion to domestic use.
The surviving structure is therefore a remnant of the former mill rather than a complete working windmill.
Map
Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.
No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.
History
Buckden Windmill stood on a slight eminence west of the Great North Road and south of Perry Road at Buckden. The site is identified by Windmill World as Buckden tower mill and by local Buckden history as Buckden windmill. The surviving evidence describes it as a tower mill, but the exact construction date and builder have not been identified in the consulted sources.
Its working life is partly recoverable through local history. Richard Barton is recorded as one of the longest-serving millers and appears in the census returns for 1841, 1851 and 1861. A further local account states that the mill worked by wind until about 1888, after which an auxiliary steam engine was used for a few years.
The same account records an accident in the 1850s when a man was killed after trying to pass through a door across which the sails were working. At some point after its working life ended, the tower was severely truncated and converted into a private house. The surviving building is therefore a reduced former tower mill rather than a complete windmill, with the cap, sails and working machinery no longer forming part of the present visible mill structure in the consulted descriptions.
Timeline
1841–1861
Richard Barton recorded as miller
Richard Barton is recorded in local history as one of the longest-serving millers, appearing in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census returns.
1850–1859
Fatal accident recorded
A local account records that a man was killed in the 1850s after trying to pass through a door across which the sails were working.
1888
Wind working ceased
The mill is recorded as having worked by wind until about 1888.
1888–1899
Auxiliary steam power used
After wind working ended, an auxiliary steam engine was used for a few years.
Sources and records
Windmill World entry for Buckden windmill
Capturing Cambridge article on Buckden windmill
Buckden local history publication
Capturing Cambridge article on Buckden windmill
Buckden local history publication