© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)
Bourn Windmill is a post mill, the earliest known surviving example of its type, believed to date from the 14th century. The mill stands on its original site in the village of Bourn, Cambridgeshire, and represents a significant development in medieval milling technology, with the entire wooden superstructure capable of being rotated to face the wind. The structure has been substantially restored and preserved, retaining essential features of post mill construction including the main post and supporting timberwork that characterise this form of vertical axis rotation. As a rare surviving example of early post mill engineering, it remains an important monument for understanding the development of wind power technology in medieval and early modern England.
Bourn Windmill is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1002935. View the official record →
Bourn Windmill is a post mill, the earliest known surviving example of its type, believed to date from the 14th century. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1002935.
Bourn Windmill is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1002935.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Moulton Hills Roman barrows (1.7 km), Caxton Moats: a medieval moated site and associated fishponds and warren, 750m north west of Caxton Hall (1.8 km), A ringwork and bailey castle, and 17th century formal garden remains, at Bourn Hall (2.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Bourn Windmill's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Bourn Windmill stands on Lower Greensand Group, bedrock that formed in the Albian. The rock here is sandstone and mudstone.