Wilton Windmill
Nr Grafton, Wiltshire
Click on either image to see
a larger version
When the Kennet and Avon canal had been
built nearby it destroyed some of the local watermills and the pumps
providing the water for the canal also lowered the river levels so that the
remaining watermills were no long viable. This windmill was built in 1821 to
replace these.
This tower mill has four sails in total, two Patent, which can be quickly activated and two common canvas sails, which
have to be set before the mill starts to turn. The fantail which turns the Cap,
to point into the wind.
The mill was in operation for 100 years, but
with the introduction of new steam roller mills and fast production of cheap
bread it became uneconomic and was abandoned. It then fell into disrepair.
The mill is now owned by Wiltshire County
Council and was restored in 1976, by a team of volunteers. It is
managed and operated by the Wilton Windmill Society who use the mill and provide
guided tours. It is fully operational, and produces small quantities of stone
ground whole meal flour for sale as a souvenir of your visit. During opening
hours, guided tours are offered, as well as access to the Windmill Ground Floor
Information Centre.
When we visited
This is a pleasant country location, no problem
witch access or getting good views, this is a nice location with good views in all
directions, the windmill can be seen from some way off from a number of
directions. We went when it was not open, or running and would like to also take
this with its sails fully running. Of course there may be more people about
then. I haven't come across other windmills having mixed sails like this.
Further information Grid
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Location: |
Wilton Windmill, Nr Grafton, Wiltshire |
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Ceremonial County: |
Wiltshire |
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Grid Reference: |
SU 275616
OS
Sheet 174 |
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Map Link: |
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Aerial photo: |
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Route(s):
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Best Times to Visit: |
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E-mail: |
suechallen@btopenworld.com |
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Website: |
www.wiltonwindmill.co.uk
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Other useful
websites: |
mills
open
WW
LB
Wiki
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Nearby Locations: |
Kennett and Avon cannel plus tunnel
Crofton beam engine
Savernake Forest |
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Other Relevant pages: |
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Classification: |
Windmill |
Date Updated: 05/2008 |
Planning Grid
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Location: |
Wilton Windmill, Nr Grafton, Wiltshire |
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Grid Reference: |
SU 275616
OS
Sheet 174 |
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Getting there: |
About 5
miles SW of Hungerford, off A338, just east of Wilton village. Follow brown
signs. |
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Access: |
Access to the outside of the windmill is
available all the time. |
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Parking: |
No problem |
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Facilities: |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
Country location with quite a lot of wildlife
about. |
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Address: |
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Postcode: |
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Telephone: |
Sue Challen
- 01672
870202 |
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Opening times: |
Easter to
September, Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays, 14.00 - 17.00. Parties at other
times by arrangement.
There are also other days it is open for
special events. |
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Charges: |
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Photo Restrictions: |
None when we visited |
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Other Restrictions: |
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Special Needs Access: |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
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Children Facilities: |
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Dogs Allowed: |
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CIN Page Ref: |
wilton |
Date Updated: 05/2008 |
Please let us know any other information that we
can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
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