List of windmills in London explained

A list of existing and former windmills whose sites fall within Greater London, England. When built, these mills were within the counties of Kent, Surrey, Middlesex, Hertfordshire or Essex. Of those windmills known to have existed, nine remain and are preserved; as are the tide mills at Three Mills, West Ham.

Locations

A - B

LocationName of mill and
grid reference
TypeMapsFirst mention
or built
Last mention
or demise
Photograph
Acton174216221742
ActonSmock18011859, gone by 1865painting by John Varley, 1835
Acton18th century18th century
AddingtonPost1610*
1626
1659
1700*
1733
12921773
ArkleyBarnet Gate Mill
Towerc. 1830Windmill World
Ashford12771309
BarkingPost[1] 12431243
Barking177717381793
BarkingWellington Mill
Smock1815Demolished 1926
BarnesMill Hill MillPost1673
1729
1733
1753
1443Blown down 15 October 1780
BarnesMill Lodge MillSmock1783Demolished c. 1836
BatterseaColour Mill16451645
BatterseaCorn mill16451645
BatterseaLead Mill16451645
BatterseaNine Elms MillPost1753
1777*
1753Standing in 1814, not on 1823 map, gone by 1828
BatterseaRed House MillSmock1753
1777*
17531851
BatterseaRandall's MillTower176217621836
BatterseaFowler's Mill
Horizontal1790
1823
1788Dismantled c. 1825
BermondseyCherry Garden Pier Mill
BermondseyAbbey Mill #1Post18051812
BermondseyAbbey Mill #2
BermondseyPoupart's Mill,
Blue Anchor Mill[2]
Post1753
1820
1823
1753Burnt down, 12 January 1866
BermondseyTower18341844, probably demolished in the 1850s
BexleyHorizontal1842Advertised for sale in 1842, no other details known.[3]
BlackfriarsApproximately
1696[4] 1748
BlackheathLewisham Hill Mill1695*
1745
16951745
BlackheathMorden Hill Mill174517451750
BlackheathBlack HeathPost176917691819
BlackheathBlack HeathPost176917691769
BowOld Ford
Post[5] 184418231852
BowSmock184418231852
Brentfordapproximately
16701703
BrentfordSmock17771828
BrixtonAshby's Mill
Tower1816
1823
1816
BrixtonBrixton Hill MillSmock1816
1823
18031845
BromleyPost1763
1769
1843
1665[6] Demolished January 1835.[7]
Bromley by BowMetcalfe's Mill
Approximately
175417541754

C - D

LocationName of mill and
grid reference
TypeMapsFirst mention
or built
Last mention
or demise
Photograph
CamberwellCamberwell Mill
Freeman's Mill
Post 175317091831
CamberwellDovedale Manor millSmock or Tower1823
1850
18231850
Camberwell Frensham Street Mill1820
1850
18201850
CamberwellBree Kill MillPost1746*
1789
1746Demolition ordered 1815
CamerwellPost13071307
Charlton1660Burnt down, 1660
ChelseaTothill FieldsSmock17991815
ChelseaTothill FieldsPost18061806
ChelseaThames Bank Mill
Smock1832c. 1870[8]
ChelseaDon Salter's WalkSmockc. 1870c. 1870
ChelseaWaterworksSmock17521762
ChelsfieldWell Hill Mill176917691769
ChislehurstChislehurst Common MillSmock1796Demolished c.1877
ChiswickPost167516751765
ChiswickApproximately
Post167516751675
City of LondonMountmill, Cripplegate1598Blown down 1601
City of LondonQueenhithe, Broken Wharf WaterworksHollow post1696
1724
16961748
City of LondonPeerless Pool, MoorfieldsTower18th century18th century
ClaphamClapham Common Mill16161652Possibly moved to Nightingale Lane, 1652
ClaphamNightingale Lane MillPost16801680
ClerkenwellClerkenwell PriorySunk postc. 1100[9] c. 1100
ClerkenwellCommandery Martels
14th century1430
ClerkenwellFarncroft
Stowell Mill
c. 13581399
Clerkenwell16th century16th century
ClerkenwellNew River Head
Tower[10] 17091720[11]
ClerkenwellMountmill
Early 16th centuryBlown down 16th century
ClerkenwellMountmill
Post1563
1658
15471647, gone by c. 1680
ClerkenwellFinsbury Fields, East Mill
Approximately
Post1563
1658
1660
1666
1669
15561669
ClerkenwellFinsbury Fields, West MillPost1563
1658
1660
1666
1669
15571669
ClerkenwellFinsbury Fields, Thomas Wells MillPost1563
1658
1660
1666
1669
15581669
ClerkenwellFinsbury Fields, 4th millPost1561Blown down c. 1600
ClerkenwellFinsbury Fields, 5th millPost1658
1660
1666
1669
16171669
ClerkenwellFinsbury Fields, 6th millPost1658
1660
1666
1669
16171669
ClerkenwellFinsbury Fields, 7th millPost1658
1660
1666
16171669
Coulsdon CommonNorth side of Stites Hill RoadPost1762
1777*
1789
1816
1823
1762Demolished c. 1880
Coulsdon CommonSouth side of Stites Hill RoadPost1789
1816
1823
1777Demolished 1924
CranfordApproximately
1604Demolished 1625
CranhamPost14631463
CroydonCrown Hill Mill
CroydonGardiner's Mill
Croydon Mill
Post1762
1777*
1789
1816
1744Demolished c. 1814
CroydonBlack MillPost18231814Demolished c. 1855
CroydonWhite MillSmock1828Demolished c. 1862
CroydonNoakes's MillTower186318521863
DagenhamBecontree Heath Mill
Smock1816Burnt down January 1869
DagenhamChadwell Heath Mill (north)
Little Jenny
Post177717651898
DagenhamChadwell Heath Mill (west)
Miss Bentley
Post19031820Demolished c. 1906
DagenhamChadwell Heath Mill (south)
Long Sally
Post1785Demolished c. 1893
DagenhamBeam Mill
Smock18251825<1884
DeptfordBlack Horse Fields MillSmock1843Burnt down 1854
DeptfordWindmill Lane Mill183218321832
DeptfordTanners Hill MillPost1840[12] Demolished 1849
DowneGorringes Farm MillTower1843Burnt down 1902
DulwichDolwich Common MillPost18141814

E - F

LocationName of mill and
grid reference
TypeMapsFirst mention
or built
Last mention
or demise
Photograph
Ealing1318Blown down c. 1409
Ealing14311431
East HamPost12671309
East Ham1724*17241728
East HamPost17411741
East HamClock House Farm Mill
1872Burnt down c. 1891
Edmonton12721359
EdmontonWeir Hall Mill
approximately
Post16271801
EdmontonSilver Street Mill
Post18191920
ElthamMottingham Mill
Enfield12841284
EnfieldWindmill Hill
Post1635Blown down 18th century
EnfieldWindmill Hill
Smock17901790Demolished September 1904
EnfieldMill Corner
16351740, gone by 1777
ErithNorthumberland Heath Mill
Post1843Blown down 1 January c.1892
Windmill World
FelthamLower Feltham
176217621762
Finchley12521398
FinchleyBasings Pond16271734, gone by 1754
FinchleyLodge Hill164816481648
Fulham14041404
Fulham17901632Demolished 1794

G -H

LocationName of mill and
grid reference
TypeMapsFirst mention
or built
Last mention
or demise
Photograph
GreenwichGreenwich Reach MillPost
GreenwichGreenwich Reach MillSmockthumb|150px
HackneyUnion Mill
18331851, gone by 1856
HackneyRegent's CanalVertical axle mill18281828
Hadley12881288
HadleyBeacon Hill16291629, gone by 1636
HadleyBeacon Hill16491649, gone by 1698
HadleyHadley Green
18211821, gone by 1827
HadleyHadley Green
18271867, gone by 1870
Hampstead1270Blown down 1294
Hampstead12951399
HampsteadConeyfieldPost15971661, gone by 1680
HampsteadCloth Hill
Post16141728, gone by 1759
HampsteadHighgate16011601, gone by 1641
HamptonSmock1791Demolished 1874
Hanwell12581343
Harrow12361353
HarrowSudbury Hill169516221695
HarrowSudbury Hill169516951695
HarrowWembley Hill167316721693
HaveringPost12621262
HayesApproximately
167516751675
Hendon13211321
HendonGoldeherd's Mill15th century15th century
HendonMill Hill
167916791685
Hillingdon13281328
HolbornGray's Inn
Approximately
15051505, gone by 1507
HolbornOld St Paul'sPost161616161616
HolbornOld St Paul's, York Buildings WaterwirjsHollow Post1684Burnt down 1690
HornchurchPost12221256
HornchurchNew Mill
Marks Mill
Post13551396
HornchurchMarks Hall Mill
Post17241365Demolished c. 1760
HornchurchMarks Mill
Marks Gate Mill
Smock1818Demolished May 1919
HornchurchPost16781678Burnt down June 1921
HornchurchPost12401240
HornchurchMarditch Mill
Mardyke Mill
Post172415641724
HornchurchBush Elms Mill
Post18331855, gone by 1864
Hounslow1621362
HounslowBrazil Mill
Approximately
Smock17571757
HounslowSyon ParkVertical axle mill
HounslowHounslow Heath
Post181617651816, gone by 1818
HounslowHeston Mill
Post1818Burnt down 24 August 1895

I - L

LocationName of mill and
grid reference
TypeMapsFirst mention
or built
Last mention
or demise
Photograph
Isleworth13701370
IslingtonCanonbury13061306
IslingtonWhite Lead Mill[13]
Tower17861868
IslingtonWhite Lead MillTower17921868
IslingtonCattle Market (two mills)Hollow post18201837
IslingtonWater WorksTower17301767
KensingtonHyde ParkPost15431660
KestonKeston Mill
Post1736
1769
1716
KestonOlive's Mill1878Burnt down 1885[14]
KestonHolwood Park Mill
KewKew MillSmock MillLate 18th centuryLate 18th century
KingsburyRedhill16751738, gone by 1754
Laleham14th century1698
Laleham181618161834
LambethSouth end of Waterloo BridgePaltrok1658
1720
16581760
LambethSouth end of Hungerford BridgePost1762
1763
1777*
1762Demolished 1848
LambethJunction of Ethelred Street and Hutton Road1762
1763
17621763
LambethJunction of Newport Street and Whitgift StreetSmock17531830
LambethDrug MillTower1737Demolished 1867[15]
LambethCons Street MillSmock1800
1816
1800Demolished c. 1840
Lee1843Demolished c.1850
LeytonPost1724*17241739
LeytonTemple Mills
181817701818, gone by 1838
LimehousePaltrok mill1663Destroyed in a riot, 1663
LimehouseSmock1768Destroyed in a riot, 1768
LimehouseSmock17911791

M - P

LocationName of mill and
grid reference
TypeMapsFirst mention
or built
Last mention
or demise
Photograph
Marylebone17081708
MayfairBond Street1647
1666
1675
16471675
Mitcham CommonMitcham Common Mill
Post1806Dismantled 1905
Windmill World
MonthillEarly 17th centuryEarly 17th century
Newington1658
1675
1746*
1763
1658Demolished 1799
North OckendonPost16101840
NortholtDabb's Hill Lane
NortholtMill Post Field
Post mill
Norton FolgateSmock
NorwoodWestow Hill Mill1812Demolished c. 1854
Perivale13421342
Perivale17th century17th century
Pinnerc. 1285c. 1285
Pinner1619Blown down 1721
PinnerSmock1720sBurnt down 1872
Plumstead CommonPlumstead Common Mill
Tower1820
PoplarMillwall, Browns MillPost1723
1731
17231781
PoplarMillwall, Smith's MillPost1723
1731
17231772
PoplarMillwall, Smith's Mill
Middle Mill
Post1723
1731
17231765
PoplarMillwall, Smith's MillPost1723
1731
17231731
PoplarMillwall, Baker's MillPost1723
1731
17031804
PoplarMillwall, Churn's Mill
Chinn's Mill
Post1723
1731
17231805
PoplarMillwall, Ward's Mill
Theobalds Mill
Post1723
1731
17231731
PoplarMillwall, Ward's MillPost1723
1731
17231731
PoplarMillwall (ninth mill)Post1723
1731
PoplarMillwall (tenth mill)Smock1703
1731
1824
17031853, gone by 1859
PoplarBlackwallSmock18401840

R - S

LocationName of mill and
grid reference
TypeMapsFirst mention
or built
Last mention
or demise
Photograph
RichmondPost1635
1673
1733
16351730, gone by 1764
RomfordPratt Collier's Mill
Post17281863, gone by 1868
RomfordPost167816181696
RomfordEdward Collier's Mill
Post17281861
RomfordRising Sun Mill
Post16181871, gone by 1876
RomfordCollier Row Mill
Post1815Demolished c. 1862
RomfordPettits Mill
177717751777
RotherhitheCuckold's Point Mills1662 (three)1810 (one)
Ruislip12941294
Shadwell182418241824
ShirleyShirley Mill
Post1809Burnt down October 1854
ShirleyShirley Mill
Tower1855
ShoreditchTower182417821829
SohoRathbone Place
Tower17211787
SohoWindmill Field (believed near latter day Great Windmill Street, London W1)Post mill (may have been rebuilt as a smock mill after about 1650)Circa 1585Late 18c
SouthallGrand Junction Canal
1721Demolished 1855
SouthallSmock1820s1886
SouthwarkSt George's FieldsPost16161662
SouthwarkSt Georges FieldsPost16161677
SouthwarkWidflete MillTower17101724
SouthwarkPost1746*1746Demolished 1820
StanmoreMid-13th centuryMid-13th century
Stanmore13521352
Stanmore15471547
StanmoreGrimsditch
13061680
St Clement DanesPost15581615
Stepney13251342
StepneyRatcliffe17131713
St George Hanover Square167516751675, later moved to Mill Hill Place
St George Hanover SquareMill Hill Place
St George Hanover SquareSt George's Hospital
Hollow postMid-18th centuryMid-18th century
St James'sTower1658Early 17th century1647
Stoke Newington18131852
StreathamStreatham Mill1816
1823
18161823
St SepulchreNewgate PrisonHollow post1752Demolished 1778
SurbitonSurbiton Hill Mill1816
1823
1805Demolished 1850
SydenhamSydenham Mill19th century19th century

T - W

LocationName of mill and
grid reference
TypeMapsFirst mention
or built
Last mention
or demise
Photograph
Totteridge1277[16] 1277
Twickenham14th century14th century
Twickenham163516351635
TwickenhamApproximately
163516351675, gone by 1743
TwickenhamWhitton17221722
TwickenhamFulwell Watermill
17991799
UpminsterUpminster Common Mill
Post1724*1652Demolished 1882
UpminsterAbraham's Mill
Smock1803
WalthamstowWalthamstow Mill
Post1700
1805
1676Blown down c. 1800
WandsworthPost1535Moved to Wimbledon Common c. 1613
WandsworthMiddle Mill1762
1777
17621835
WandsworthBrazil MillSmock1811Sail-less in 1825, demolished later150px
WandsworthWandsworth Common Mill
Smock mill1837
WandsworthBlackmore's Mill
West HamCity Mill River Mill (north)
Post1774Moved to Shirley, Surrey c. 1809
West HamCity Mill River Mill (south)
Post17461746Moved to Nobshill c. 1807
West HamSt Thomas’ Mill
Post17021724, gone by 1730
West HamSt Thomas’ Mill
Post174617301746
West HamPudding Mill
Post1777*17241844, gone by 1854
West HamNobshill Mill
Post18071870
West HamStent's Mill
Redcross Mill
Post1724
1746
1777*
17201849
West HamThree Mills
Post1724
1746
16991837, gone by 1840
West HamAbbey Mill
Post1682Blown down 1701
West HamAbbey Mill
Smock1703Demolished c. 1767
West HamAbbey MillSmock1768Burnt down 30 April 1862
West HamPigeon's Mill (north)
Smock174617461746
West HamPigeon's Mill (south)
Smock1724
1746
1777*
1724Demolished October 1860
West Ham16681752
West Ham182518251825
West Ham17391739
West HamIndustrial School18931854Demolished c. 1893
Westminster12791306
WestminsterWhite Lead Mill, MillbankSmockc. 1800c. 1800
WestminsterThe StrandPost161616151696
West Norwood14331496
West NorwoodPost163516111676
WhitechapelFieldgate Street
Post16431658
WhitechapelFieldgate Street
Smock172417241807
WhitechapelCommercial Road18061806
Willesden1295Demolished 1365
WillesdenDudden Hill
Approximately
Post16161817
WillesdenKilburn Mill
Smock1803Burnt down 1863
Wimbledon CommonTibbett's Corner MillPostc. 16131636
Wimbledon CommonWimbledon Common Mill
Hollow post, rebuilt as Smock in 18931816
Woodford167816281710
WoolwichCo-operative Mill1760Burnt down 16 March 1760
WoolwichCo-operative MillSmock176917601845

Maps

Notes

Mills in bold are still standing, known building dates are indicated in bold. Text in italics denotes indicates that the information is not confirmed, but is likely to be the case stated.

BexleyheathMay Place Mill, listed in Watermills and Windmills under Bexleyheath, actually stood just within Crayford, and has an entry at the List of windmills in Kent.
Finsbury FieldsThe last of the Finsbury Fields windmills was demolished c. 1750 to make way for St Luke's Hospital for the Clergy.[9]
MillwallThree mills were standing in 1835, two in 1845. The last mill standing was the smock mill, as detailed above.

Sources

Unless indicated otherwise, the source for all entries is Book: Blythman, Guy. 1996. Watermills & Windmills of Middlesex. Baron Birch. 0-86023-538-6. .

Notes and References

  1. Book: Farries, Kenneth. 1981. Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume One – An Historical Review. Charles Skilton. London & Edinburgh. 0-284-98641-0., Book: Farries, Kenneth. 1982. Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Two – A Technical Review . Charles Skilton. London & Edinburgh. 0-284-98637-2., Book: Farries, Kenneth. 1984. Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Three - A Review by Parishes, A-E. Charles Skilton. Edinburgh. 0-284-98642-9., Book: Farries, Kenneth. 1985. Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Four - A Review by Parishes, F-R. Charles Skilton. Edinburgh. 0-284-98647-X. and Book: Farries, Kenneth. 1988. Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Five - A Review by Parishes, S-Z. Charles Skilton. Edinburgh. 0-284-98821-9.
  2. News: Fires and Loss of Life . The Standard . London . 13 February 1866 . 12954 . 7 .
  3. Book: Cumming, Rob . The Windmills of North West Kent and Kentish London (and the men who built them) . Stenlake Publishing . Catrine . 2014 . 9781840336634 . 6.
  4. Book: Coles Finch, William. William Coles Finch. 1933. Watermills and Windmills. C W Daniel Company. London.
  5. One was a post mill, one was a smock mill. One of the mills was standing in 1823 and one in 1852, both appeared on the 1844 OS map.
  6. February 1984. Bygone Kent . 6. 2. 87–91. Meresborough Books . Rainham .
  7. Cumming . Rob . 2010. Bromley's Windmill:Debunking a few myths. . Cant Post. Kent Mills Society . 2 . Kent . 24–28 .
  8. Appears on painting Don Salter's Walk by Cecil Gordon Lawson
  9. Book: Farries, K G, and Mason, M T . 1966. The Windmills of Surrey and Inner London. Charles Skilton Ltd. London.
  10. Six sails
  11. Cap and sails blown off 20 November 1720, converted to horse power, Tower standing to full height in 1730 but had been reduced in height by 1799. Base remains standing.
  12. Drawing dated 1840 exists
  13. Five sails
  14. Web site: Directory of Kent Mill People . The Mills Archive Trust . May 5, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080704070506/http://www.millsarchive.com/kent/millpeople/Kent%20Mill%20People.htm . July 4, 2008 .
  15. Web site: A Short(ish) History of Lambeth 1720-1899 . Partleton . 26 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141226230007/http://partleton.co.uk/EarlyLambeth.htm . 26 December 2014 .
  16. Book: Moore, Cyril. 1999. Hertfordshire Windmills and Windmillers. Windsup Publishing. Sawbridgeworth. 0-9533861-0-4.
  17. Map of Middlesex
  18. Map of Surrey
  19. Surveyed 1643-47.
  20. Map of Kent
  21. Map of Essex