Building record 9007/1/1 - Silverstone Mill

An early 19th-century tower mill. The windmill was used World War II home guard observation post. Brick-buil tower windmill, of which only a shell remains. It was earmarked for Home Guard use. A makeshift shelter on the dust floor, reached by a wooden ladder, had been constructed for the men on watch. The platoon which used the windmill was part of the 13th Battion. (Towcester District) Home Guard which had responsibility for the security of Silverstone airfield. Silverstone Windmill, quarter of a mile east of Silverstone.

{1} Tower mill. Early C19. Pale red brick, partly rendered. 3 storeys. Cap and sails missing. Door either side, one blocked, with segmental brick lintels and windows with similar lintels to first and second floors.

{3} Tower windmill of which only a shell remains according to Stainwright. The mill 'earmarked' for Home Guard use in WW2. 'To fit in with the defenders' plans the windshaft had to be removed; then the headframe, complete with fan cradle, was rigged up to a tractor and dragged from the tower. Inside, a rickety wooden ladder fixed to the eastern wall led to the dust floor where a makeshift shelter had been constructed for the men on watch. The platoon, under command of a lieutenant who lived locally, formed part of the 13th Battalion (Towcester District) Home Guard who took responsibility for the security of Silverstone aerodrome ...'

{4} Undated photo, also photo dated 21.10.1993.

{5} Windmill used as Home Guard observation post.Tower windmill, of which only a shell remains. It was earmarked for Home Guard use in WW2. A makeshift shelter on the dust floor, reached by a wooden ladder, had been constructed for the men on watch. The platoon which used the windmill OP was part of 13 Btn. (Towcester District) Home Guard which had responsibility for the security of Silverstone airfield. Silverstone Windmill, quarter of a mile E of Silverstone.

Historic England, Undated, WINDMILL SILVERSTONE, SILVERSTONE, BF004045 (Archive). SNN115955.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 7/59 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> STAINWRIGHT T.L., 1991, Windmills of Northamptonshire and the Soke of Peterborough: A History of Twentieth Century Sites, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100318.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Silverstone (Photographs). SNN113232.

<5> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<6> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

<7> STAINWRIGHT T.L., 1991, Windmills of Northamptonshire and the Soke of Peterborough: A History of Twentieth Century Sites, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100318.

<8> Bryan, AA, 1998, Windmill Gazetteer for England, p. 21a (Gazetteer). SNN113560.

Record last edited

Feb 1 2024 4:28PM