My Second Windmill

@Ronrybs (17849)

London, England

September 28, 2020 3:41am CST

I have cycled through Wraysbury, a village a little west of Heathrow Airport, many times and it was only the other day I noticed that they have a windmill. Before this, I have only seen one other windmill and that was in the village of Heckington, in Lincolnshire, which is the only eight bladed mill in the UK. The Wraysbury mill is no longer in use, but does not seem to have been converted into a home, like just about all of the surviving mills. The Heckington mill is a working mill, where you can buy flour and enjoy fresh bread and tea, as it is historical trust building with a cafe. At least, in more normal times! Do read the comment by Owl About myLot. Ouch!

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26 responses

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43915)

• Cambridge, England

28 Sep 20

As a matter of fact, Wraysbury windmill was never a mill at all. It is a 'mock mill' and was built in 1996 as a house. It is now, apparently, run as a guest house (though, presumably, is not currently open in these unfortunate times). If you go to the main page of Windmill World, you may be able to discover other mills near you which are within cycling distance and could be worth a visit, if you felt like having a tilt at them!

https://www.windmillworld.com/millid/mock1.htm

www.windmillworld.com

https://www.windmillworld.com/millid/mock1.htm

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Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43915)

• Cambridge, England

28 Sep 20

@Ronrybs Not exactly a folly but certainly the first 'mock mill' I have ever heard of (apart from the ones you see on Crazy Golf courses at the seaside and the miniature ones manned by garden gnomes . If you are ever on a cycling tour of Essex and Suffolk, there are still plenty of fine windmills to be seen. Very few are actually working, sadly.

2 people like this

@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

@owlwings I did not use folly properly, but I thought it pretty well summed it up. Still, demonstrates the folly of taking things at face value!

2 people like this

@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

28 Sep 20

Argh! A folly! So I am back to only seeing one windmill. I feel cheated!

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@LadyDuck (458006)

• Switzerland

28 Sep 20

I have read the comment by Owl, you have been fooled thinking that it has always been a real Mill.

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@LadyDuck (458006)

• Switzerland

29 Sep 20

@Ronrybs You are right, it happened to me in the past to believe that something was ancient and authentic and it was a fake.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

Just goes to show you should not accept things at face value!

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)

• China

28 Sep 20

The Wraysbury mill is a real find ! Before now,I just knew the Netherlandish windmill.

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)

• China

29 Sep 20

@Ronrybs Never mind!You will find a real one.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

30 Sep 20

@changjiangzhibin89 Yes, they are out there!

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

28 Sep 20

Sadly it ain't the real thing, do have a look at the comment by Owl About myLot

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@sol_cee (38223)

• Philippines

28 Sep 20

Beautiful! Do you cycle with your mask on?

2 people like this

@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

28 Sep 20

No mask, I keep well away from other people. Sadly, not a true mill, have a look at the comment by Owl About myLot

2 people like this

@DianneN (246720)

• United States

1 Oct 20

Sorry about Owl's comment. I still think it's very pretty and quaint.

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@DianneN (246720)

• United States

4 Oct 20

@Ronrybs I hope you get to see it. That's an interesting hobby.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

2 Oct 20

It is a nice building, but I think it is safe to say it is not authentic, but I have discovered one in Wimbledon. Have to have look when the world is more normal

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

4 Oct 20

@DianneN Keeps me reading and walking around!

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@piyushbhatia1 (11698)

• India

28 Sep 20

Does not seem to have a fan

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

28 Sep 20

I guess as it is not as active mill, they have removed the sails and the lack of movement keeps the building intact.

@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

28 Sep 20

@piyushbhatia1 Do have a look a the comment by Owl About myLot.

@piyushbhatia1 (11698)

• India

28 Sep 20

@Ronrybs oh fine

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@toniganzon (72285)

• Philippines

28 Sep 20

Wow that really looks beautiful. It's nice that there's still a working mill. We never have that kind of mill here.

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@toniganzon (72285)

• Philippines

28 Sep 20

@Ronrybs It looks beautiful. But the one I was referring to as a working mill was the one you mentioned which is The Heckington.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

28 Sep 20

Oops, this isn't a real mill, do have a look at the comment of Owl About myLot

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

@toniganzon Sorry, got wrong end of stick!

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@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

28 Sep 20

Maybe you can buy this windmill and make a home of it!

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

28 Sep 20

I could be happy in a windmill, but I fear I am well short of the money to buy one of these! do have a look at the comment by Owl About myLot. Don't be taken in by appearances me thinks!

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@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

28 Sep 20

@Ronrybs Oh, what a disappointment for you. :-(

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

@MALUSE Yes, but live and learn. Should have thought to double check!

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306113)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

28 Sep 20

It looks like a nice windmill. It's too bad it wasn't converted into a home if it's no longer used.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306113)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

29 Sep 20

@Ronrybs That's what life is.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

Ah well, a misleading first impression. Live and learn!

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@JudyEv (325720)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Oct 20

We visited a working mill in France which was very interesting. There is also one in our south-west which was built by a Dutchman.

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@JudyEv (325720)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Oct 20

@Ronrybs Lots of things are having to wait, aren't they?

@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

7 Oct 20

I have since found out there is a windmill in Wimbledon, not that far from me, but a train ride, so it will have to wait until more normal times.

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@Dena91 (15860)

• United States

1 Oct 20

Interesting facts on the windmills, even when learned after posting

I have done that before, posted something and someone corrects me.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

2 Oct 20

Found out there is one at Wimbledon, so should we ever get around to freely traveling I shall have to visit.

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@CarolDM (203454)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Sep 20

I am sure you see some beautiful sites while cycling. Love these windmills. I rarely see them here.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

There is something about windmills, pity this isn't a real one having been built so recently.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

30 Sep 20

@CarolDM I shall Have to do a search online and find a couple to write about!

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@CarolDM (203454)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Sep 20

@Ronrybs That is a pity, I like them as well.

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@nawala123 (20852)

• Indonesia

28 Sep 20

it is legacy of past

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

28 Sep 20

Exactly, and I am glad to see these buildings to buildings preserved. Turns out I am wrong on that score, do have a look at the comment by Owl About myLot

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@nawala123 (20852)

• Indonesia

28 Sep 20

@Ronrybs yeah he is mr know everthying

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@ScotMac (1335)

• Edinburgh, Scotland

26 Oct 20

There is one derelict windmill not too far from my home. It lies close to the Fife Coastal Path (one of my favourite walks) which follows the Fife coast from the Firth of Forth in the south to the Firth of Tay in the north - a distance of 117 miles

Fife Coastal Path - Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk

Each path section lists the distance and approximate time to complete, along with information on what to see en route. If you have a specific interest,

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

26 Oct 20

I have found a few more windmills that need looking at, so they are on my list for the return of more normal times

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@GardenGerty (157552)

• United States

28 Sep 20

I read the comment. It is a good looking place, even if it is a folly. There is a windmill at a heritage center about twenty five miles from me. I will have to look up it's history. It is in a Mennonite German area. There is a mill that has a restaurant we have eaten at. It was water powered. Still has a lot of the mechanisms in the upper portion. The school district has a business class that runs the restaurant only on Sundays by reservations. It is quite nice. I hope you do some bike tours and find more mills.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

Sounds interesting, do you have any photos or a link. Worth having a peek!

@snowy22315 (169940)

• United States

28 Sep 20

One can never have too many windmills lol.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

Yes, quite true, but then they would just be part of the background. A bit of rarity makes them worth looking for

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@Tampa_girl7 (48929)

• United States

28 Sep 20

It’s amazing how something can go unnoticed to us. Glad you finally saw it.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

If it had been in the middle of the countryside, I'd have probably noticed it earlier stand out as it does, but in any kind of built up area I am more likely keeping my eyes open for cars!

@RasmaSandra (73408)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

29 Sep 20

I just love the look of windmills. A windmill is one place I would love to live in.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

They do have character, but I do wonder about the upkeep!

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@JESSY3236 (18923)

• United States

29 Sep 20

Nice windmill.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

30 Sep 20

They are nice buildings, even if this is a fairly modern build

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@LotusEyes (2715)

• India

28 Sep 20

Wow! Looks so beautiful

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 20

Yes, there is something fascinating about these buildings - even modern ones!