Buckland Windmill, Wind-powered sawmill in Buckland, Surrey, England.
Buckland Windmill is a wind-powered sawmill built on a two-story wooden base that supports a 9-foot tower clad in oak shingles. The design includes patent sweeps and a rotating cap that allowed the machinery to adjust to changing wind conditions.
Built by Cooper of Henfield between 1860 and 1870, the mill operated until 1892 when steam power replaced wind as the primary energy source. This transition marked the end of wind-powered sawing and reflected broader industrial changes across England.
The mill shaped the local wood-working tradition and remained central to the village economy for generations. It represents how wind power supported rural crafts before industrial methods took over.
The mill sits 100 yards down Dungates Lane, which branches off the A25 Reigate to Dorking road near postcode RH3 7BD. Access requires advance booking to arrange a visit.
It stands as England s only surviving wind-powered sawmill and retains its original machinery including a sawbench and lathe. These working machines give visitors insight into how mechanized wood processing operated more than a century ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.