Bradwell Windmill
Bradwell Windmill
Bradwell Windmill is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Milton Keynes, and so it’s hardly surprising to learn that the attractive structure was chosen to feature on the first set of postcards and advertisements to tempt people to our new town.
Bradwell Windmill is believed to be the second built in the parish, replacing an earlier post mill that once stood on the site of Summerfield School. It is also thought to be the oldest tower mill in the whole of Buckinghamshire.
Visiting information
The Grade II listed landmark opens to the public on selected days throughout the year, when the mill can be seen in action with flour spilling out between the millstones.
It is a rare opportunity to truly witness history come alive and to better understand what life was like as a miller – complete with all the associated smells, noise and dust!
A trip to the mill is a fascinating opportunity to step back in time and get hands-on with the past, and our knowledgeable volunteers are always on hand to share details of its fascinating history.
Open dates to be confirmed soon.
Exciting new restoration project
We’re thrilled to be part of the Windmill Project, an exciting new project to restore the beloved windmill with funding support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Milton Keynes Council.
Supported with a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Grade II listed Windmill will undergo essential repairs to fix infrastructure and preserve its historic features. The project will also improve how the site’s unique history is shared, making it easier for residents and visitors to learn about its past. Follow the project on Instagram to keep up to date with developments.
How to find the Windmill & Parking Information
Postcode: MK13 7UE
Parking is in Nightingale Court, off Wheelers Lane. There is no access to the mill from Mill Lane (off Bradwell Road).
Please be aware:
- The mill is a working machine not just a building. Care should be taken when moving around the premises as some surfaces are greasy and some have a risk of splinters;
- There are low beams and trip hazards along with steep, narrow stairs;
- Only a limited number of people can access the upstairs at a time – so you may have to wait;
- Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult;
- There are no toilet facilities available
- Admission is free but donations towards the upkeep are very much welcome
History
The tower windmill was built around 1805 using locally-quarried limestone at a cost of more than £500 – a considerable sum of money more than 200 years ago.
Samuel Holman worked the mill until his death in 1825, when the business was inherited by his wife and son.
It milled barley and wheat, and provided a living for the families who subsequently owned it in the following decades, but things were changing, and with the increasing use of steam power, the mill closed for business in 1876. The last miller was Robert Saxby.
The Bradwell Windmill was restored in the 1970s – 1990s by Milton Keynes Development Corporation, but not to full working order, and is now owned by Milton Keynes Council. In 2014 new windows and cap cladding were fitted, the sails refurbished and additional restoration work to the machinery has enabled Bradwell to once again be a working mill.
The Railway Company purchased the adjacent land to develop the Wolverton to Newport Pagnell line, and the mill was left derelict and unloved for more than a century.
It was acquired for just £80 and a restoration project launched in the 1970s, with further work carried out in the 1990s.
The £160,000 refurbishment made the building watertight and restored the sails and milling mechanism, and Milton Keynes Museum was appointed custodian.
Our windmill has three floors above ground level. The stone floor is where the huge millstones are found: one pair made from Derbyshire Peak stone and a pair of French stones.
One of its more unusual features is a fireplace on the ground floor. It is surprising as flour can be highly explosive! Only one other example is known in Britain.
When you’ve experienced the role of a miller, you can purchase a souvenir of your visit; flour milled on site for use in your own baking.