This small windmill is unique as being the only surviving wind-powered sawmill in the UK. It is in the grounds of a grade II listed house named Yewdells, built in 1713 for a carpenter John Udall (hence the house name) - see
TQ2250 : Yewdells for photo.
The windmill is thought to have been built in the 1860s/1870s to power a wood saw. However, its working life is likely to have been short, if used at all, as the Sanders family, to whom the business had passed in 1840, turned to steam power in 1892. The windmill became derelict, but was rediscovered by new owners of Yewdells in 1995. Fortunately many of the parts, including the sails, had been retained inside the windmill structure, and so it was capable of restoration, a task undertaken by the owners between 1995 and 2004. It is usually open for viewing on the annual Heritage Open Days in early September.
The windmill is grade II listed - for listing particulars see
Link. For further information see
Link (
Archive Link ) .