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Site overview

Saxon Mill was a brick tower corn mill at Chiseldon. It was built in the early to mid nineteenth century, probably in the 1820s, and ceased work in the late nineteenth century. By the turn of the twentieth century the mill had lost its machinery and sails, and the tower later served as a water store.

In 1983 the tower was dismantled, moved to Windmill Hill in Swindon and rebuilt. A millstone remains near the original site by Butts Road cemetery.

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

Saxon Mill was built at Chiseldon as a red-brick tower windmill, probably in the 1820s. The mill had a belled-out base and vertically arranged openings in the tower. It worked as a corn mill until the late nineteenth century, with milling ceasing by the 1880s or by 1894. After working ended, the sails, cap and machinery were removed, and the tower was later converted to use as a water storage tank.

The base of the former windmill was listed at Grade II on 20 September 1979. In 1983 the tower was dismantled brick by brick and moved to Windmill Hill in West Swindon, where it was rebuilt as a landmark within the business centre. The original Chiseldon site is now marked by a millstone near the footpath between Saxon Mill and Butts Road cemetery.

Timeline

1820–1849

Brick tower mill built

The brick tower windmill was built at Chiseldon in the early to mid nineteenth century.
1880–1894

Corn milling ceased

Corn milling at the Chiseldon tower mill ceased in the late nineteenth century.
1979

Grade II listing

The base of the former windmill was listed at Grade II.
1983

Tower dismantled and moved

The tower was dismantled brick by brick and moved from Chiseldon to Windmill Hill in Swindon.

Sources and records

Historic England National Heritage List entry: Base of Former Windmill, Chiseldon
Windmill World entry: Chiseldon windmill
Chiseldon Parish non-designated heritage asset citation
British History Online: Parishes, Chiseldon
List of windmills in Wiltshire