Aythorpe Roding Windmill

Aythorpe Roding Windmill is a wooden structure that rises above the Essex countryside with four sails mounted on a cast-iron shaft and a single-story roundhouse foundation at its base. The entire installation forms a cohesive system of mill body and ancillary building designed for grain processing powered by wind.

The structure was built around 1779, as shown by inscriptions in the wood, and operated continuously until 1937. It underwent major modernization between 1860 and 1868 that updated its mechanical systems.

The structure embodies traditional English milling crafts and shows how agricultural grain processing evolved from hand methods to mechanized systems. The four-sail design demonstrates the skilled engineering that earlier generations applied to capturing wind power for practical work.

The structure can be reached via the B184 road, about one kilometer north of Leaden Roding, with parking available in a lay-by opposite the access lane. A visit works best on dry days to navigate the unpaved paths around the installation easily.

The building ranks among the largest preserved examples of its type in Essex and shows the care applied to its construction. Its size and craft quality set it apart from smaller mill buildings elsewhere.

Location: Aythorpe Roding

GPS coordinates: 51.81200,0.30700

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:46