Bursledon Windmill

Site overview

Bursledon Windmill is a five-storey tower corn mill on Windmill Lane, Bursledon. Built in 1814 by Phoebe Langtry, it replaced an earlier post mill of about 1766 and incorporated machinery from that earlier structure. The mill worked commercially during the nineteenth century, with recorded millers including William Langtry, John Cove, and George Gosling.

After working use ended in the 1880s, the mill declined, but its flat-roofed cap frame helped preserve internal machinery. Restoration by the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust returned the mill to working order, with sails replaced in 1990 and public reopening in 1991. The windmill is Grade II* listed and remains Hampshire's major restored working windmill survival, though public opening has been affected by recent financial difficulties.

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

Bursledon Windmill stands on Windmill Lane at Bursledon and is one of Hampshire's most important surviving windmills. The present tower mill was built in 1814 by Phoebe Langtry, replacing an earlier post mill on the site which had been built about 1766. Machinery from the earlier mill was incorporated into the new five-storey brick tower mill, preserving eighteenth-century elements within the nineteenth-century structure.

The mill was built as a corn mill. Its boat-shaped cap was turned by hand using a chain and wheel, and its four common sails were carried on a wooden windshaft. The wooden windshaft also carried the brake wheel, which drove the wallower and upright shaft. The great spur wheel drove three pairs of underdrift millstones, giving the mill substantial grinding capacity. The early nineteenth-century working life included William Langtry, followed later by the Cove family. John Cove worked the mill between 1847 and 1871, and George Gosling, who bought the mill in 1872, is recorded as its last miller.

Wind-powered commercial use ended in the 1880s. After closure, a flat roof was placed over the cap frame, an alteration which helped protect the internal machinery even as the building declined. Runner stones were removed in 1931. By the late 1970s the mill was derelict, with the top floors in poor condition. Hampshire County Council carried out essential repairs in 1978, and the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust led a major restoration programme between the late 1970s and 1991. The restored sails were fitted in 1990, and the mill reopened to the public in 1991 as a working windmill and heritage attraction.

Bursledon Windmill was listed at Grade II* in 1983. Later maintenance included a major programme beginning in 2012, including work connected with the replacement of the wooden windshaft; this work was completed in 2014. The mill has been managed within Hampshire's cultural heritage network, with Hampshire Cultural Trust taking on operation as part of the wider museums transfer in 2014. In April 2024 the windmill closed to the public because of financial difficulties. The building remains a rare and highly significant survival: a restored Hampshire tower mill with sails, cap, and substantial working machinery.

Timeline

1766

Earlier post mill built

An earlier post mill was built on the Bursledon site before the present tower mill.

1814

Tower mill built

Phoebe Langtry built the present five-storey tower corn mill, incorporating machinery from the earlier post mill.

1847–1871

John Cove worked the mill

John Cove and his family worked Bursledon Windmill during the mid-nineteenth century.

1872

George Gosling bought the mill

George Gosling bought Bursledon Windmill and became its last recorded miller.

1880–1889

Commercial working ended

The mill ceased working commercially during the 1880s.

1931

Runner stones removed

The runner stones were removed from the mill.

1978

Emergency repairs carried out

Hampshire County Council carried out essential repairs after the mill had become derelict.

1983

Grade II* listed

Bursledon Windmill was listed at Grade II*.

1990

Sails replaced

The sails were replaced as part of the restoration of the mill to working order.

1991

Mill reopened

The restored windmill reopened as a working windmill and heritage visitor attraction.

2012–2014

Windshaft restoration completed

A major maintenance programme included replacement of the wooden windshaft and was completed in 2014.

2014

Hampshire Cultural Trust operation began

Hampshire Cultural Trust took on operation of the windmill as part of a wider museums transfer.

2024

Public opening suspended

The windmill closed to the public because of financial difficulties.

Bursledon Windmill Bursledon · Hampshire · England