1789
Tower mill built
Rowington Green Windmill was built as a tower corn mill in the late eighteenth century.
Site overview
Rowington Green Windmill, known as Bouncing Bess, is a former tower corn mill at Rowington Green. It was built in the late eighteenth century and later worked by steam. The red-brick tower had three storeys, a boat cap, two pairs of stones, an upright shaft and some machinery.
The sails were struck by lightning in June 1888. The mill worked by steam until about 1916 and was later incorporated into a house complex.
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
Rowington Green Windmill, known as Bouncing Bess, was built as a tower corn mill in the late eighteenth century. The mill was a small three-storey red-brick tower with a boat cap, two pairs of stones, an upright shaft and surviving machinery, although the windshaft and brakewheel were absent by the time the tower was derelict. Its sails were struck by lightning in June 1888.
The mill then continued to work by steam until about 1916. During the First World War it was used as a dormitory for German prisoners of war. The former mill was later converted and now forms part of a house complex at Rowington Green.
Timeline
1888
Sails damaged by lightning
The sails were struck by lightning in June 1888.
1914–1918
Prisoner-of-war use
The former mill was used as a dormitory for German prisoners of war during the First World War.
1916
Steam working ceased
The mill ceased working by steam about 1916.
1967
Grade II listing
Rowington Mill House was listed at Grade II.
Sources and records
Warwickshire Historic Environment Record
Our Warwickshire catalogue entry
Windmill World site entry
Historic England National Heritage List entry
Our Warwickshire catalogue entry
Windmill World site entry
Historic England National Heritage List entry