Although long shorn of its Sails & Fantail, this Tower Mill retains sufficient Majesty to convey the clear impression that, in its Heyday, it must have been an Emperor among Windmills. With its massive Walls & Broad outline, and its Colossal Cap — possibly the Heaviest in England. Wendover Windmill was Built by John Phillips (1776-1843), but it is possible that his father, Zachariah (1745-97), a prominent Local Landowner, commenced the Work. It is not known exactly when the Mill was Erected for although the date “AD 1796” appears on a Stone Plaque above the Front Entrance, Milling did not commence until 1804. It is recorded that the Initials “JS & JT 1804” are carved into one of the massive internal Beams on the 2nd-Floor, probably by its Millwrights, but these are no longer visible. The Mill’s situation was possibly chosen for close proximity to the Wharf of the then recently opened Wendover Arm of the Grand Junction Canal.
It is thought to be one of the Largest in England, (Summerall et al 1989). The Windmill ran conventionally until 1843 then converted to Steam Power. Under its new Owner Frank Purssell it ran as a viable concern until the turn of the 20thC. By this time Wendover had begun to expand and new Housing soon enveloped the Windmill. This new Building was believed to have reduced the Mill’s exposure to the Wind and lessened its effectiveness. The Mill ceased working in 1926 coinciding with the General Strike. It was converted to a Residence in the same year as the Wendover Paradise Mill (1931).
Tall tapering Octagonal Tower of Brick, partly Cement Rendered. Ogee shaped Dome covered with Aluminium with similar shaped Dormer, projecting and Balustraded Platform. Irregular 2-light Casements and Door with Segmental Arches. Sails removed in 1904 when an Engine was Installed. Ceased Working 1926. Converted to House 1931, Roof altered 1947. The Structure, an Octagonal 5-Storey Tower Windmill, is among the largest in Britain – it is said to have been built from 500-tons of Bricks carried down in Panniers by Donkeys from a Brickworks Kiln in the Shire Lane locality of Cholesbury/St Leonards, possibly along the Ancient Packway now called Hogtrough Lane. The Mill stands approximately 66-ft high. The Base is 26-ft in dia & 3-ft Thick, the latter dimension being plainly apparent when looking through the lower windows from within the Mill. The Walls Taper to about 2ft in thickness & 20ft in dia at the Top, their Corners being nicely chamfered just below the Cap to Lead up to the Curb. The Mill Tower is Massive, reputedly built from 500-Tonnes of Bricks, and internally does not Taper (though the external Taper is accounted for by the Walls narrowing as they Rise up through the 5-Floors).
Driving 3-Pairs of Stones with the whole of the Gearing complete: 12-HP Steam Engine & Boiler with high-Shaft, driving 2-separate Pairs of Stones; and the necessary Dressing Machines & Gear together with the Granary Storehouses, Cart Sheds & Stables.
The Steam Mill Description – a small Steam Engine was installed beside the Windmill and coupled to its Spur Wheel (which drove the Millstones, etc) via an Iron Shaft & Cog.
Ground Floor – Crank Shaft from Steam Engine, 5½-ins dia & 14-ft long, driving 2-Pairs of Wheat Stones on 1st-Floor, on Cast-iron upright Frames, with Plummer Blocks & Brasses, carrying 2-Bevel Wheels, Driving Pinions, on Stone Spindle, with Iron Bridge-trees & Brass Steps, Iron Rising Screws, one Drum on end of Shaft, for driving Dressing Tackle on 1st-Floor, 2-Meal Bins & Chutes, Jogging Screen for Offals (waste of Bran, Middlings & germ), Sack Jumper, & Step-ladder.
1st-Floor – 2-Pairs of 4-ft Wheat Stones (driven by Steam Power), with Damsels, Wood Hoppers & Casing, Stone Spindles, Bevel Wheels & Pinions, Iron Shaft, Driving Pulley, Cast-iron Housings, Housings & Wood Chute. One 21-inch Layshaft, 9ft-6ins long, with Plummer Blocks & 3-Pulleys, driving the 3ft-6ins Dressing Machine, with 16-ins Cylinder, Pulleys, Plummer Blocks & Shaft, complete in Deal Case Flour Bin, Offal Bin.
2nd-Floor – Spur Wheel & 3-Stone Nuts & Spindles, Bridge Trees, Rising Screws & Governors, 3-Jogging Screens to part the Offals, 3-Meal Bins, 3-Spouts, Apparatus & Chain for Hoisting by Steam Power.
3rd or Stone Floor – 2-Pairs of Wheat & 1-Pair of Barley Stones, 4ft & 4ft-6ins dia, with Damsels, Wood Hoppers, & Casings, Stone Spindles, Spur Wheels & Pinions, Iron Shaft, Driving Pulley, Cast-iron Housings & Wood Chutes, 1-Layshaft, about 10-ft long, with Hanger & Plummer Blocks, Bevel Pinions for driving Smutter, Dressing Machine, & Bolting Mill, 1-Crown Wheel, on Wallow Shaft & Iron Pinion, 1-Dressing Machine, 4ft-6ins long, with 16-inch Cylinder, & Apparatus Feed, etc, 1-Horizontal Smutting Machine, 2ft-2ins long, 16-ins dia, with Shaft, Pulleys, etc, Bolting Machine, 6-ft long, with Spindle, Pulley, Plummer Blocks, etc.
4th Floor – Hoppers to Smut Machine, 2-Others, 6-Large Bins.
5th Floor – Iron Wind Shaft, with large Iron Boss & Brake Wheel, Cast-Iron Wallow Wheel, working into Break Wheel, with Oak Upright Shaft, Circular Rack & Hand-gear to Fan-tail self-acting Hoisting Tackle, with Wood Barrel Brake & Lever, and about 84-ft of ¼-inch Chain.
Yard – 53-ft of Smoke Flue, Brick Smoke Shaft, Base 6-ft square, Height about 55ft.
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 