One of the UK’s oldest working windmill, Bourn Mill is to reopen to the public after the completion of extensive repairs. According to recent Historic England research, the main post of Bourn Mill is from a tree felled in the first half of the 16th century, making this the earliest main post of a mill yet dated. Rot was discovered at the Cambridgeshire mill in 2020, which was taking hold of its timber beams.

A three-year project to save the mill began, supported by £148,456 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £54,000 from Historic England, £500 from SPAB Mills, and £20,000 raised by nearby communities. This funding allowed the mill’s supporting wooden tresses and brick foundations to be replaced. The completion of the work means the structure was able to reopen during National Mills Weekend in May, when more than 300 windmills and watermills are open to the public to celebrate milling heritage.

Only 50 post windmills remain in the UK. Bourn Mill is owned by Cambridge Past, Present and Future, and is cared for and opened to the public largely through the efforts of volunteers from the local community.

Graham Bruce, Joint Chair, Bourn Windmill Volunteers called the restoration a “truly a collaborative effort, involving an architect, structural engineer, millwright, carpenter and more.”

Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “Investing in heritage means investing in the community it belongs to, which is why we are proud to have supported Cambridge Past, Present & Future in repairing and reopening this historically significant site, thanks to National Lottery players.”

Details of the 2022 grant from Historic England can be found here: https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/in-your-area/east-of-england/grant-for-bourn-mill-in-cambridgeshire/