Mill, Streetly End

History of Windmill

Listed Building

Tower Windmill. 1802.

Extract from West Wickham and Streetly End website: The existing mill at Streetly End was built in 1802.  It is a tower mill of brick construction which meant a greater height could be achieved, allowing the mill to be sited on lower ground and still catch the wind. The mill was originally multi-purpose.  As well as grinding corn, it was used for pumping up water for the adjoining tan yard and to run machinery to grind the oak tree bark that was an essential ingredient of the tanning process.  Nothing is known of the work done there but the hides of cattle and horses were probably being turned into leather to be used for shoes and boots, saddlery and horse harness and in the local gloving industry. The mill, tan yard and an adjoining maltings were owned at this time by Daniel Taylor, a member of a prominent non-conformist family which also owned mills, tan yards and maltings in Linton and Burwell. The tan yard ceased operating sometime after Daniel’s death in 1827 and the mill was then used in the traditional manner for grinding corn.  The mill ceased working around 1895 after the sails were blown off in a storm.