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Holywell post mill circa 1929 (Hunts Record Office)

Holywell post mill

History of Holywell post mill

Erastus Watts, Holywell

Erastus Watts was the last Huntingdonshire wind miller.

According to The Holywell Story by Joe Newell thenfirst recorded windmill in the village was in 1279. The mill was last used by Mr Senescall of Needingworth to grind cattle feed.

By the 1930s the mill had fallen into disuse and the owner, Fred Harvey, was going to dismantle it. However, he sold it to Tom Paisley of Holywell who intended to dismantle it as well.

In the 1940s one night the mill collapsed next to the cottage of the Papworth family. The grinding stones landed against the wall of the bedroom where Joan Papworth, teenage daughter of the family, was sleeping. For several minutes after realising what had happened she could neither speak nor move. Eventually the cottage was demolished as well.

The Watts family were millers in Huntingdonshire for generations. Thomas Watts inherited from his father the brick tower mill at Hemingford Grey built in 1820. He then built a mill for each of his four sons.

Erastus Watts (1853-1933) inherited the Hemingford Mill from his father.

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• windmill

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