SHORT SUMMARY:

Around 1850 William French bought the recently built windmill which then stood in open fields. By the mill there was also a granary to store the grain, stables for the horses that pulled the delivery wagon and a cottage to live in.

Wheat from local farms was ground between millstones, turned by the sails. The flour produced was sold to bakeries to be made into bread. Wind power was unreliable, so in 1868 a steam engine was installed in a new building with a tall chimney. The Windmill sails were removed in 1911. Milling continued on the site through both World Wars and finally stopped in 1955.

Do please download the pdf or full powerpoint presentation illustrating this subject which you may find useful to use for a class:

Chesterton Mills (ppt)

Chesteton Mills (pdf)