Wimbledon's windmill and its past
Where would you find windmills?
Windmills were not built from choice but from the necessity to produce flour in areas where there were no suitable streams. This is why there are more windmills in the East and South of England where the land is
flatter and there are fewer fast flowing streams.
A windmill needed to be built on an exposed site. The sails would only work if they faced into the wind so the building on which they
were mounted had to be turned to face the wind every time it changed direction. The covering of the sails also had to be changed
when the strength of the wind changed. A windmill was therefore much more difficult to build and manage than a watermill.
flatter and there are fewer fast flowing streams.
A windmill needed to be built on an exposed site. The sails would only work if they faced into the wind so the building on which they
were mounted had to be turned to face the wind every time it changed direction. The covering of the sails also had to be changed
when the strength of the wind changed. A windmill was therefore much more difficult to build and manage than a watermill.
Learning article provided by:
Wimbledon Windmill Museum |
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