The decision to explore a moving community gallery in the form of a windmill has prompted me to start an historical journey, uncovering a hidden story of other windmills that used to be around Nuneaton and Bedworth. After searching online and looking at old maps I soon discovered 20 or more potential windmills and watermills.
Most of them originally were wooden post mills, later becoming brick tower mills such as the now disused one at Tuttle Hill near Camphill in North Warwickshire.
At present I am putting together a map of all these locations. Apart from the Windmill at Tuttle Hill, It is not surprising that most of these mills disappeared out of recent memory, mainly due to the changing patterns of industry such as steam and coal. Originally most of the windmills were in the form of post mills, a large wooden structure usually mounted on a trestle base.
The structure would turn with the sails in the wind.
As an example, here is a Pencil sketch I created recently of Baxterley windmill in Warwickshire based off a photo I found taken in the 1930s.
Some of these post mills were left to ruin through neglect or weather or later replaced with tower brick mills such as the one at the Tuttle Hill location.
Sadly, the only part of Baxterley mill that has survived since its demolition in the late 60’s, is the main post which has since been included with the reconstruction of the Daniel Green Mill at Avoncroft Museum of buildings in Tanworth.
The Post mill in has a certain rustic magic to them and despite the wonderful brick structures of the tower mills,
The Post mill is what I have decided to base my sculpture on. In the meantime, If anyone living in and around Nuneaton and Bedworth have any scrap of information or possible photos for the windmills that were in: Attleborough, Whitestone, Hilltop, Chilvers Coton, Collycroft, Bedworth, Weston in Arden, Marston Janet, Bulkington, Exhall I would be very interested.
There could be photos hidden aways or stories from older citizens that could shed light on this wonderful story. I will also be creating a small map of some of the windmills and watermills that were around the area very soon to back up the potential of a sculpture that I will be creating including community participation. Feel free to comment or message me for more info.
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