Bursledon Windmill

Despite having lived here for almost 30 years I've never actually been in the local windmill so took the opportunity on a rare open day to take a look.

The mill apparently is one of the oldest of it's type with wooden engineering powering the mill wheels, the mill wright's expertise with wood was quickly replaced by metal from the start of the 18th century and few of older mills survive.

The mill was operational until around 2014 and it was a lovely sight in summer standing above the trees on the top of Providence Hill with the white sails rotating. 

The mill has had a few difficult years, apparently leased to the council who were to run it as a museum and then decided to get rid of all the museums, now back with the trustees the plan is to fit new sails and get the mill operational and making flour.

In addition the plan is to use the site for events which is a lovely and unique location for weddings and other activities.

Local legend has it that while the mill was in use King Charles insisted on Bursledon flour for some of the Duchy  biscuits or cakes.

 Above the governor mechanism to keep the mill wheels turning at the correct speed, apparently the mill has no tail piece so to bring the sails onto the wind the entire top piece is rotated manually, there is a scheme to automate that with electric motors and wind direction detectors.