IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Military Road, ELY, CB7 5AS

Large semis with mansard roofs, ca. 1930s

The future of this historic windmill is in doubt after it was revealed that restoration would cost £100,000. Downfield Windmill in Fordham Road, Soham, has been placed on the English Heritage Buildings At Risk register, the annually published list which aims to identify buildings at risk through neglect and decay, or vulnerable to becoming so. The mill, previously in working order, was opened as a tourist attraction until it suffered massive storm damage in January and February of 2001.

The Downfield Windmill, Soham, which produced flour until the start of the 21st century.

This brick tower mill has a chequered history having started as a smock mill. The oldest part is the bottom 8', c1726. The original smock mill was built on this base and further raised in the mid-19th century. Following gale damage in 1887 the wooden smock was replaced with an octagonal brick tower in 1890. It worked until 1954. It was later restored by Nigel Moon (now at Whissendine) between 1975 and 1980 and then worked until the late 1990s. It is now well through a major restoration and the sails were replaced in 2015. It is currently not opening to the public so this photograph on National Mills Weekend was of the outside only from a public position.

Works are planned for later in 2013 to repair the mill with a grant from English Heritage.

Soham mill www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm661

Downfield windmill is one of many tower mills in this area . The building suffered extensive damage in 2001 and has been closed since. The restoration continues with sails due to be put up soon. Inside only the meal floor is open to visitors at the moment.

A snatched view from Centre Road, who must think it's in their back garden. Originally built 1726, largely rebuilt following a storm in 1889. Restored 1975. Grade II listed.

Grade II* Listed windmill originally built 1726, raised on a brick base in 1860 and much rebuilt after a storm in 1889. The mill was reportedly one of many built by 'Fysons'. During the 1700s it passed through the hands of the Dobadee, Staples and Jugg families. Also known as Pollards Mill The Sheldrick family ran the mill from 1896 and finally the Pollards from 1931. One pair of sails was removed in 1946 and it continued working under wind power until 1958 when the cap jammed and the fantail was blown off. It continued to operate for a few years with tractor power. Described in 1973 as in poor condition it was purchased by Nigel Moon and was restored again to working order between 1975 and 1980, working until the late 1990s. It suffered massive storm damage in January and February of 2001 and was placed on the English Heritage Buildings At Risk list in 2011. The mill was finally awarded £100,000 by English Heritage in May 2012 to help restore it to its former glory. In 2017 it was open by arrangement only, plus National Mills Weekend and TEAMS open weekend in September.

The new sails are being prepared for installation on the Downfield windmill.