Alfriston Windmill, Tower mill in Alfriston, England.
Alfriston Windmill is a three-story brick tower mill with four sails positioned on a hill south of the village, overlooking the Cuckmere River valley. The structure displays the typical architecture of tower mills from the 1800s, featuring a cylindrical brick form that once housed the machinery for grinding grain.
Built in 1834, it ground corn using two pairs of millstones until 1907 when a cow damaged one of its sails. This incident marked the end of its milling operations, leading to its conversion into a residence.
The conversion into a home in 1910 marks the moment when rural industrial buildings in England found new purposes. Visitors walking through the village can see how this structure became woven into the everyday landscape rather than remaining frozen in its original role.
The mill is visible from several points around the village and serves as a landmark to help you find your way while exploring the area. Its elevated position on a hill makes it easy to spot from different paths through the village.
After the cow incident in 1907, the mill kept running for two more years before all machinery was removed in 1909. This unusually long transition period shows how gradual the shift from industrial to private use actually was.
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