HERTFORDSHIRE WINDMILLS
WINDMILLS ..
Windmill, machine that converts wind into useful energy. This energy is derived from the force of wind acting on oblique blades or sails that radiate from a shaft. The turning shaft may be connected to machinery used to perform such work as milling grain, pumping water, or generating electricity. When the shaft is connected to a load, such as a pump, the device is typically called a windmill. When it is used to generate electricity, it is known as a wind turbine generator.
The First Windmills
Wind-driven mills are of ancient origin. Simple windmills may have been used in Persia (now Iran) as early as the 7th century AD. They were used for irrigation and milling grain. The wheel bearing the wind sails of the earliest windmills was horizontal and supported by a vertical shaft. These machines were relatively inefficient. Nevertheless, this type of windmill spread to China and throughout the Middle East.
The earliest European windmills appeared in France and England in the 12th century and became widely used throughout Europe. These early wood structures, called post mills, were rotated by hand around a central post to bring the sails into the wind.
The tower mill was developed in France during the 14th century. It consisted of a stone tower topped by a rotatable wooden cap that supported the windshaft and the upper portion of the mill gearing.
A GUIDE TO:
THE WINDMILLS OF HERTFORDSHIRE
The following list details the town or village, with the actual location, the first date is when the Windmill was built, with the second date being when the Windmill was last to be used.In the event of the Windmill being rebuilt, or there being visable remains, a comment to this effect is made, the statement (/?) means the date is unknown:
ALBURY Near Clapgate. 1 mile east of Albury 1370 1922
ALBURY Unknown 1585 /?
ANSTEY 1/2 mile S. of Church 1325 1910
ASHWELL Ickneid Way. 1 mile SE 0f Odsey House 1822 1905
ASHWELL 3/8 mile SSW Of Ashwell Church 1335 1841
ASHWELL 1/4 mile S Of Ashwell Church 1822 1841
ASTON 1/4 mile S Of Ashton Church 1676 1841
BALDOCK 1/2 mile SW Of Baldock 1676 1766
BARKWAY 5/8 mile N Of of village 1271 1900
BARKWAY 1/2 mile N Of village 1800 1866
BARNET (Arkley) At Arkley W. Of Chipping Barnet 1823 1918 Remains Rebuild
BENNINGTON 3/4 mile S Of Bennington Church 1676 1728
BERKHAMPSTEAD 1/4 mile E Of town, near River Bulbourne 1720 1749
BERKHAMPSTEAD 1 mile N.E Of town 1720 1749
BISHOPS STORTFORD Dunmow Road. Hockerill 1766 1895
BISHOPS STORTFORD 1 mile N Of Bishops Stortford Church 1822 /?BRAUGHING 1/4 mile W oF village 1800 1850
BUNTINGFORD 1/4 mile ESE Of village 1720 1886
BUNTINGFORD 3/4 mile S Of village 1720 1886
BUSHEY On Bushey Heath - 1.2 miles SE Of Bushey 1676 1910
CHESFIELD Unknown 1328 1372
CHESHUNT Cheshunt Common 1/2 mile NW Goffs Oak P.H 1840 1918
CHESHUNT Turners Hill on road to Harlow 1822 1855
CHIPPERFIELD On Common, 1/4 mile E Of Woodmans Farm 1600 1864
CHIPPING 1/4 mile E Of village 1728 /?
CODICOTE Codicote Heath 1/2 mile E Of village 1841 /?
COLNEY HEATH Map Ref TL205055 - Sheet 160 1854 1910 Remains or Rebuild
CROMER 1/2 mile NE Of village 1222 1923 Remains or Rebuild
CROXLEY GREEN Map Ref TL068953 - Sheet 160 1820 1900 Remains or Rebuild
ESSENDON 1.5 miles W of village 1766 /?
FLAMSTEAD 1 1/4 mile W Of village 1309 1766
FLAMSTEAD 2 3/4 mile N Of village 1822 1838
LITTLE GADDESDEN Unknown /? 1305
GRAVELEY Jacks Hill 1 mile N Of village 1826 1838
LITTLE HADHAM 1/4 mile NW Of village 1822 1929 Remains or Rebuild
LITTLE HADHAM 3/4 mile WNW Of village 1720 1766
MUCH HADHAM 1/8 mile E Of Much Hadham Church 1676 1855
MUCH HADHAM Nr Railway Goods Yard - S Of village 1892 1906
MUCH HADHAM 1/2 mile N Of village 1766 1850
HARPENDEN On Common, 1 mile S Of Station 1654 1715
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD 1.5 miles N Of Church 1720 1760
HERTFORD Where County Hall now stands 1720 /?
HITCHIN On Gaping Hills, 1 mile E Of Hitchin Church 1820 1865
HITCHIN Mill Lane, Gosmore 1 mile S Of Hitchin Church 1720 1865
HITCHIN Nr Railway Station 3/4 mile NE Of Church 1720 1850
HITCHIN On Windmill Hill 1/4 mile Of Hitchin Church 1676 1875
HITCHIN At Charlton village 1 mile SW Of Church 1655 1894 Remains or Rebuild
GREAT HORMEAD 1/4 mile NW Of village 1676 1930 2 Mills on site
KINGS WALDEN 1 mile W Of Kings Walden Church 1329 1900 Remains or Rebuild
MARKYATE 1 S Of Caddington Common 1/4 E Of village 1720 1865
MARKYATE 2 1.25 miles N Of village 1820 /?
MEESDON 1/4 mile W Of Church 1262 1766
GREAT MUNDEN 1 3/4 miles NW Of Great Munden Church 1720 1749
GREAT MUNDEN 2 3/4 miles E Of Little Munden Church 1676 1876
NORTHAW 1.25 miles NW Of Church 1300 1728
GREAT OFFLEY 3/4 mile W Of Church 1658 1895 Remains or Rebuild
FURNEAUX PELHAM 1 3/4 mile NE Of Church 1676 1840
FURNEAUX PELHAM 2 3/4 mile E Of Church 1822 1879
BRENT PELHAM 1/4 mile N Of Church 1854 1886 Remains or Rebuild
REDBOURN W side Of Watling St Nr Beaumont Hall 1700 1738
REED 1/2 mile NW Of village 1663 1850
REED 1.5 miles N Of village 1855 1890 Remains or Rebuild
RIDGE 1.5 miles NW Of South Mimms 1676 1749
ROYSTON SE Of town between Barkway-Reed roads 1363 1766
ROYSTON E Of town, S side of Icknield Way 1728 1749
RUSHDEN 3/8 mile S Of Church 1676 1700
ST ALBANS Bernards Heath. N Of city 1676 1749 3 Mills on site
ST ALBANS Cunningham Hill. SE side of city 1676 /?
ST ALBANS Nr Gorhambury. (1/2 mile W Of House) 1532 1749
ST ALBANS Nr Batchwood Hall. NW Of city 1720 1749
ST ALBANS Nr New Barnes Hill. S Of city 1720 1749
SANDON 1/4 mile E Of village (The Mount) 1222 1675
SANDON W side of Green End 3/4 mile SE Of Sandon 1676 1877
SANDON E side of Roe Green. 1/2 mile S Of Sandon 1720 1766
SAWBRIDGEWORTH At High Wych 1824 1854
STANDON 200 yards S Of Church 1824 1890
STEPHALL 1/4 mile E Of Shephalbury 1518 1536
STEVENAGE 3/4 mile N Of Coreys Mill 1613 1878
STEVENAGE 1/2 mile E Of Old Stevenage 1274 1728
STEVENAGE S end of town, near Railway line 1849 1895
THERFIELD 1/2 mile NE Of Church 1720 1876
THUNDERIDGE 1/2 mile S Of Wadesmill 1790 1867
TRING 1/2 mile W Of Church (GOLDFIELD) 1822 1903 Remains or Rebuild
TRING 3/4 mile N Of Church (GAMNEL) 1822 1911
TRING 1/2 mile NW Of Church 1766 /?
WALKERN 1/4 mile S Of Walkern Water Mill 1360 1766
WALKERN 3/4 mile S Of Church. Nr Bassus Green 1676 1822
WALLINGTON 1 mile NW Of Wallington 1676 1700
WARE Amwell End, 1/2 mile S Of Ware Church 1570 1876
WELWYN 1/4 mile N Of Church 1676 /?
WESTON 1/2 mile SE Of Church 1275 1822
WESTON 7/8 mile W Of Church.Nr Lannock Farm 1720 1924 Remains or Rebuild
WORMLEY Nr Railway station 1391 /?
LITTLE WYMONDLEY 1/2 mile S Of Gt Wymondley Church 1246 1749
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