IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Waterside, ASHFORD, TN24 0AX

Willesborough windmill near Ashford is a white smock mill built in 1869 onto a two storey red brick base with attached miller's cottage. It is now a Grade II* listed building. It incorporates "patent" type shutters in the Sweeps instead of canvas and Sails, and produced enough power to turn four sets of mill stones as well as the maize and oats crushing/cutting machines. Operations at the mill continued through the War years until the 1950's when further Industrial mechanization in commercial milling caused its closure, the mill building then being used for storage only and later as a home until 1989. It was bought, in a very dilapidated state, and fully restored in 1991 to its former glory by Ashford Borough Council for the benefit of the citizens of Ashford and the public at large.

Willesborough windmill in 1982. Digital photograph of projected 35mm slide.

In 1872 the mill gained a steam engine and boiler house, possibly with a beam engine and Cornish boiler. In 1909 the boiler sprang a leak and in 1911 a Campbell gas/oil engine was installed and in 1935 this was replaced by an electric motor. The current engine is a more recent preservation era 14 horsepower 1906 Hornsby Akroyd engine.