Outwood Windmill, Post mill in Outwood, Surrey, United Kingdom
Outwood Windmill is a wooden post mill featuring four rotating sails and multiple internal levels where grain was ground into flour. The building preserves its original milling machinery, gears, and mechanisms that powered the grinding process.
Thomas Budgen built this mill in 1665 during the era when windmills were essential to English farming. The structure dates from a period when wind-powered milling represented the most advanced grain processing technology available.
The mill represents traditional English agricultural practices, demonstrating the mechanics of wind-powered grain processing through its preserved internal machinery.
Visit on clear, breezy days when you can explore the interior levels more comfortably and see how the sails would move in the wind. Wear sturdy shoes as the building has narrow staircases and uneven floors throughout.
The mill operates using four spring-controlled sails that could adjust automatically to wind pressure without stopping the machinery. This engineering solution allowed millers to regulate sail tension and power output while the mill continued working.
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