1665
Outwood Windmill built
Outwood Windmill was built for Thomas Budgen in 1665.
Site overview
Outwood Windmill is a Grade I listed post mill at Outwood. It was built in 1665 for Thomas Budgen of Nutfield and is Britain's oldest working windmill. The mill has a single-storey roundhouse, four spring sails, a wooden windshaft with cast-iron poll end, tailpole winding, and two pairs of millstones.
It remained a working mill into the twentieth century and was repaired and conserved after significant structural problems in the 1930s and 1950s.
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
Outwood Windmill was built in 1665 for Thomas Budgen, a miller from Nutfield. The original deed for its construction survives, and the mill remained associated with the Budgen family into the eighteenth century. John Budgen succeeded Thomas, and Ezekiel Budgen later took the mill after 1768.
By 1806 the mill was in the possession of John Jupp. William Jupp ran it before 1880 and continued until his death in 1934. The mill attracted conservation attention in 1929, and in 1931 a new pair of spring sails was fitted.
Further second-hand sails were bought in 1933. Milling ceased in 1949 after the breast beam cracked and the windshaft dropped, causing the sails to touch the roundhouse roof. Temporary repairs were followed by extensive repairs in 1952, including a new breast beam and prick post.
New sails and a replacement stock followed in the 1950s. The mill changed ownership in 1962 and survived a severe thunderstorm in 1964. It remains a Grade I listed post mill with a single-storey roundhouse, tailpole winding, two pairs of millstones, and a wooden windshaft with a cast-iron poll end.
Timeline
1806
Jupp family period began
By 1806 the post mill was in the possession of John Jupp.
1931
New spring sails fitted
A new pair of spring sails was fitted in 1931.
1949
Milling ceased
Milling ceased in 1949 after the breast beam cracked and the windshaft dropped.
1952
Major repairs carried out
Extensive repairs in 1952 included a new breast beam and prick post.
1962
Thomas brothers bought mill
The mill was bought by the Thomas brothers in 1962.
1964
Mill survived thunderstorm
The mill survived a severe thunderstorm on 12 June 1964 after being turned side-on to the wind.
Sources and records
Outwood Windmill website
Wikipedia article: Outwood Windmill
Visit Surrey entry: Outwood Post Mill
Windmill World entry: Outwood
Historic England National Heritage List entry: Outwood Windmill
Wikipedia article: Outwood Windmill
Visit Surrey entry: Outwood Post Mill
Windmill World entry: Outwood
Historic England National Heritage List entry: Outwood Windmill