The Windmill

click Business for other businesses

click Wars for local details of the Boer War, WW1, WW2, & The Cold War

click Christopher & Barbara Wallis for this man who led the restoration team

see below for -

1983. The Windmill turns again

1988 Report in Hallmark

2012 Report in Hallmark and photo of the windmill 'dressed' for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

and the older history of The Windmill and Windmill Farm

1923 the Windmill ceased to work.

1956

2012

WW2 The Home Guard used it as a looked out post.

LOOK-OUT POINTS. One of the main tasks for our Home Guard platoon was keeping watch at selected look-out points during the hours of darkness.  One such point was the Windmill, another was a corrugated iron shed half sunk in the ground over on The Grubben and a third was a hut on Lodge Hill near Saunderton Lee.

LOOK-OUT DUTIES. The look-outs were manned on a rota system with squads of men doing guard duty, two hours on and four off, seven nights a week.  There were rough sleeping arrangements so that men could get their heads down when off guard duty.   In the windmill we used to ‘kip’ on the 2^nd floor level above the entrance doorway and it was pretty draughty. (click The Home Guard for more information.)

The photo on the left is 1956, but the Home Guard did say it was very cold and draughty when they were on look-out duty during the war!

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1971 – 1986 The windmill is leased by the Chiltern Society.   Volunteers completely restore it to working order.

Research Note. The following extract is from Hallmark 2006. (click 2014 Mike Highfield Obituary for the full article)

Extract - 'With the deaths of Jeff Hawkins in 2001, Christopher Wallis in 2006, and Mike Highfield in 2014, we have lost the original key members of the restoration team, together with their expertise, and detailed knowledge of how the restoration was achieved. However we are very clear that our duty now is to preserve the work that these three visionary men started, as it was them that encouraged all their helpers to achieve the near impossible, which has now been seen by the 49,000 visitors who have visited the inside of the windmill in the last 40 years.'

1983.    LORD BERNARD MILES GIVES SIGNAL. THE WINDMILL TURNS AGAIN

Anyone who was at the Windmill on Saturday, April 23^rd, to hear Lord Bernard Miles give the signal for the sails to turn again after 60 years, couldn’t fail to feel a great surge of excitement.   In 1972 he said it could not be done, but was happy to eat his words now, some 11 years later.   After setting the sails in motion Lord Miles entertained an invited audience of Chiltern Society members and workers to a “thank you” concert with his Buckinghamshire rural life anecdotes.

The Chairman of the Parish Council, on behalf of the village, thanked the small band of workers – mostly from outside the village – who had given up their Sundays for 11 years and in particular Christopher Wallis the engineer in charge, for his expertise and infectious enthusiasm.   Also the Smith family, on whose ground the mill stands, for having their privacy invaded every weekend.   He commented that perhaps the village people had not helped in the restoration as much as they might have done, but now it was completed, there certainly was a great pride in the achievement of this small band of dedicated workers in restoring “our mill”.

1988 Report in Hallmark by Michael Hardy, Hon. Sec., Windmill Restoration Committee

Sunday 1st May 1988 was National Mills Day and this appropriate day was chosen to grind the first flour in Lacey Green Windmill for over 70 years. Many visitors came to see the windmill in operation and a sack of grain was indeed ground. The sails were not turning for very long in all, unfortunately the wind was very gusty that day, resulting in the sails being stationary one moment and then turning too fast the next. This meant frantic adjustments to the height of the runner stone being made to try and regulate the speed.

However, the main problem proved to be that many of the wooden teeth were not as sound as they appeared to be (being very worm-eaten inside) and quite a few of them broke off the great spur wheel and some from the brake wheel.

Nevertheless, it was an experience that I would not have missed and an amazing achievement for the volunteer restorers after 17 years dedicated work to England's oldest smock mill which had been written off by many of the country's windmill experts, Already some of the broken teeth have been replaced with new hornbeam ones.

We will, as usual, be open from 3 pm to 6 pm on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays until 25 September.

2014 Hallmark. Michael Hardy wrote - "With the deaths of Jeff Hawkins in 2001, Christopher Wallis in 2006, and Mike Highfield in 2014, we have lost the original key members of the restoration team, together with their expertise, and detailed knowledge of how the restoration was achieved. However we are very clear that our duty now is to preserve the work that these three visionary men started, as it was them that encouraged all their helpers to achieve the near impossible, which has now been seen by the 49,000 visitors who have visited the inside of the windmill in the last 40 years."

Dressed for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee August 2012

Hallmark August 2012. National Mills Day. report by Michael G Hardy, Hon. Secretary, Lace Green Restoration Committee.

Lacey Green Windmill had a successful National Mills Day on Sunday 13th May. Most importantly, we had a dry day, and we fitted a pair of sail-cloths in the morning. The sails turned rather reluctantly in a light wind, but by lunchtime the wind had picked up and kept the sails turning at a good speed all afternoon.

We had 186 visitors inside the windmill during the day, and as usual on that day, many hundreds of others walked up the drive to see the sails turning, visit The Horticultural Society's Plant Stall, and this year were also able to sample the products of a local producer of apple juice from Drovers Hill Farm.

For the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, we opened on three afternoons, over which we had 98 visitors despite two of the afternoons being very wet.

We had decided to dress the windmill for the occasion with bunting, but | also added a couple of Union Jacks on the top sails. There were plenty of flags flying ‘locally, but as the windmill is on ground 745 feet above sea level, and these flags were 55 feet above the ground, I think that they must have been amongst the highest flags for many miles around, flying at 800 feet above sea level.

Many thanks to John Burnett and Bob Gosling for helping me to put the decorations on the windmill on the Friday, and remove them on the Wednesday.

For the end of our 2012 season, we will be open from 2 to 5 on Sundays (and Bank Holiday Monday 27th August) until Sunday 30th September.

Admission is £2 per adult and £1 per child aged 5 to 15. For further details, please see our website at www.laceygreenwindmill.org.uk or telephone 01844 275871.

There is a new information board in the windmill for 2012 showing the vast difference in scale (and potential power output) between a historic windmill and a modern wind turbine.

There are other display boards showing how millstones operate, how grain and flour would move around the windmill, the dimensions of the windmill, details of the patent sails that the windmill had in its last working years, and a map aimed at showing the number and importance of local mills.

There is also a large display showing the history of the windmill since its earliest machinery was built around 1650, and how it was developed to keep up with new technologies until it fell out of use around 1915. Its decline over many years, despite some repairs being done is also detailed, and the major restoration of the windmill since 1971.

All these are in the basement (or meal floor), the three upper floors are deliberately kept as closely as possible to how the mill would have looked when it was operating.

THE HISTORY OF THE WINDMILL AND WINDMILL FARM

WINDMILL FARM

Windmill Farm and the Windmill had belonged to the Manor of Princes Risborough until 1823. The Enclosures of Princes Risborough took place. It stood on the vast Princes Risborough Common which covered much of Lacey Green, and some land on the hilltop of Loosley Row. The cattle from Princes Risborough were brought up here to graze. Windmill Farm and the Windmill were the only property on the Common. In 1823 the Common was divided into large portions and put up for sale. The part with the farm and windmill was bought by John Grubb, the Lord of the Manor.

LOOSLEY ROW TO LACEY GREEN

1975 The Chiltern Society - restoring the windmill

Windmill Farm had been in Loosley Row until 1823. However in 1823 the roads were altered and the land where it stood then became in Lacey Green.

LEASED TO JOHN STEEL

1838 it was let to John Steel for 14 years, 1838 - 1852. See John & Hannah Steel

1841 CENSUS. William 'John' Steel, born 1811, tenant.

GRUBB ESTATE SOLD

1^st June 1841 John Grubb, being bankrupt, put his vast estate up for sale.   It was purchased the day before the auction by Lord Buckingham and Chandos.  He also went bankrupt in 1848 so the estate was once more put up for auction.

1848 WINDMILL FARM and WINDMILL Sold at auction

Lot 10.  A capital Smock Tower Windmill, millers house, and 8 acres 0 roods 35 poles of adjoining land occupied by Mr John Steel, on a lease for 11 years from Michaelmas 1838. Purchased by John Cheshire. See John & Ann Cheshire

1861 CENSUS. John Cheshire, miller.   The farmland let to John Feasey, aged 34.   68 acres

1871 CENSUS. John Cheshire, miller.

1881 Census. John Cheshire, miller and farmer of 52 acres

18th May 1906 Sarah Floyd Made her Will and 30th July 1907 added a codicil to her Will. See John & Sarah Floyd

14th October 1907 CONVEYANCE. The executors of Sarah Floyd sold to George Cheshire for £120 - Schedule. All that piece of land situate at Lacey Green having a frontage of one hundred and twenty six feet, six inches to Lacey Green Road and a depth of three hundred and sixty one feet or thereabouts and containing by admeasurement one acre and being the hereditaments conveyed to the borrower by indenture dated 14th October 1907 made between Joseph Bliss and George Floyd.

1916 MORTGAGE. Mr George Cheshire, mortgagee to R S Wood Esq, mortgagor. Schedule. All that piece of land conveyed on 14th October 1907.

1916 ADDITION TO ABOVE MORTGAGE of 1916 - Further charge of £25 at 6%

1920. ADDITION to MORTGAGE of 1916. Further Charge of £18 at 6%

1st July 1942 MORTGAGE PAID. The Executors of R S Wood acknowledged that the costs and interest of £78 being the aggregate principal together with interest of the mortgages taken out in 1916 and 1920 were received, having been paid by Annie Elizabeth Cheshire, spinster and Margaret Millward , wife of William Henry Millward both of Windmill Farm, Lacey Green. (The mortgage document referring to 1916, 1920 and 1942 is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

8th October 1923. George Cheshire Made his Will appointing his daughter Margaret Cheshire as his executor and bequeathed unto his two daughters Annie Elizabeth Cheshire and Margaret Cheshire equally a piece of land known as 'Long Acre' on the Lacey Green Road and anything and everything whatsoever he might die possessed of.

12th October 1923 George Cheshire Died

1923 the Windmill ceased working

1923 WINDMILL FARM INHERITED

MEMORANDUM that I the undersigned MARGARET CHESHIRE of the Mill, Loosley Row, Princes Risborough in the County of Buckingham, the Executor appointed by the Will of George Cheshire of the same address, miller, who died on the 12th day of October one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three and Probate bearing date 19th November 1923, have, as such Personal Representative ASSENTED to the devise to Annie Elizabeth Cheshire and me Margaret Cheshire of a piece of land known as "Long Acre" on the Lacey Green Road, Loosley Row, contained in the said Will. Dated thirty first day of December one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three. (this Assent document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

7th June 1926 MARRIAGE. Margaret Cheshire intermarried with William Henry Millward.

WINDMILL SAILS STOP TURNING

When George Cheshire died in 1923, the windmill ceased to be worked.

CENSUS 1939

William H Millward 59 carpenter and joiner, Margaret Millward 59 farm dairymaid, Annie Cheshire 74 incapacitated, John Cheshire 68 retired windmill electrician.

Research Note. On 29th May 1942 an application for an official search under the Land Charges Act for Cheshire Annie Elizabeth of Windmill Farm, Lacey Green, Buck. Spinster and Millward Margaret of Windmill Farm, Lacey Green, Bucks, wife of William Henry Millward, gave the following details for a search of 'Long Acre' fronting the Lacey Green Road near the 'Windmill' Public House, no 199 on Ordinance Map (copy archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

WW2 WINDMILL LOOKOUT POINT

The windmill was used as a look out point at night on a rota 2 hours on and 4 hours off, 7 nights a week by the Home Guard and their cadets. (They “kipped” on the 2^ND floor above the door, it was very draughty

WINDMILL FARM IS LET

1956 The Windmill starting to decay

In 1952, when not able to look after herself any more Margaret moved to Princes Risborough and lived with Dorothy, her niece.    She now let the farm to George and Annie Smith.     George had previously worked at Culverton Farm, living in a cottage there.   They had 2 sons, Mick and Les.   Les worked on the farm, Mick worked elsewhere.

DOROTHY LUCY WITCHER INHERITS WINDMILL FARM. THE LAST OF THE LINE.

Dorothy, the daughter of Sidney “John” Cheshire, was the last Cheshire to own Windmill Farm and the Windmill.   She inherited it 1965 from her aunt Margaret Millward, nee Cheshire.

WINDMILL FARM SOLD

1966 Conveyance Annie and George Smith, the tenants, purchased Windmill Farm from Alfred and Dorothy Witcher. Les Smith, son, worked on, then ran Windmill Farm   In 1964 Les had married Rosemary Phillips.

1975 Chiltern Society Restoration underway

1971 – 1986 The windmill is leased by the Chiltern Society.   Volunteers completely restore it to working order.

1983.    LORD BERNARD MILES GIVES SIGNAL. THE WINDMILL TURNS AGAIN

Anyone who was at the Windmill on Saturday, April 23^rd, to hear Lord Bernard Miles give the signal for the sails to turn again after 60 years, couldn’t fail to feel a great surge of excitement.   In 1972 he said it could not be done, but was happy to eat his words now, some 11 years later.   After setting the sails in motion Lord Miles entertained an invited audience of Chiltern Society members and workers to a “thank you” concert with his Buckinghamshire rural life anecdotes.

The Chairman of the Parish Council, on behalf of the village, thanked the small band of workers – mostly from outside the village – who had given up their Sundays for 11 years and in particular Christopher Wallis the engineer in charge, for his expertise and infectious enthusiasm.   Also the Smith family, on whose ground the mill stands, for having their privacy invaded every weekend.   He commented that perhaps the village people had not helped in the restoration as much as they might have done, but now it was completed, there certainly was a great pride in the achievement of this small band of dedicated workers in restoring “our mill”.

THE MORTGAGES of JOHN CHESHIRE, MILLER, born 1808

SCHEDULE

All that close of arable land situated at Lacey Green, adjoining the close on the east side, known by the name of “ROAD GROUND”, 15 acres- 1 rood-23 poles.   Lately part of a certain farm called “Kiln Farm”, which was then in the occupation of Charles Webster, after William Floyd and which close was in the occupation of John Cheshire

ALSO all that land comprised part of a certain allotment purchased by John Grubb Esq. of the Common for inclosing the parish of Princes Risborough, 1823, no.636 on the inclosures map, apart from that part which was conveyed to the Chapel (Chapel of Ease of Princes Risborough built at Lacey Green)  (Glebe land)

1856 Mortgagee Arabella Goodall, spinster,   £900 + interest @ 4.5% per annum for 5 years.

Mortgagee William Woods of Bedford.  £200 + interest

25^th JANUARY 1861.   CONVEYANCE OF MORTGAGE

New mortgagee Frances Josephine Irving is conveyed the mortgage of £900, by the executors of Arabella Goodall.

SCHEDULE

All that piece of land at Lacey Green called “The Hillock” with the dwelling erected thereon.

ANOTHER £900

July 14^th 1861, Frances Josephine Irving advanced another £900

July 14^th 1861 Mortgage with William Woods paid off.

May 18^th 1875 John Cheshire pays £500 off his £1,800 mortgage.

NEW MORTGAGEE FOR £600, (part of the mortgage owing to F.J.Irving).

Mary Ann Buckmaster took over £600 of worth of mortgage owing to Frances Josephine Irving.   Schedule.  A windmill and premises.    Mary Ann was John Cheshire’s married daughter.

29^th MARCH 1877. ACTION TO RECOVER DEBT

MARY ANN BUCKMASTER brought an action against John Cheshire in the High Court of Justice to recover £600 with interest.   His Lordship, the Master of the Rolls in Chambers ordered that the action should go to trial conditionally upon the defendant securing the said £600 and interest, if any, the plaintiff succeeding in the recovery in the said action.

JULY 13^th1877.   INDENTURE

Reciting £575 was then due and in conclusion £575 was paid to Mary Ann Buckmaster.