We took a run out into the English countryside recently to visit the beautiful Pitstone Windmill, which dates from the 17th Century (visitors can see the date 1627 carved into a wooden beam).
Now belonging to the National Trust, the design of the mill is what is known as a post mill, which means the whole superstructure of the mill rests on one main post. This post rises from ground level through brick and a foundation chamber; the post then acts as a pivot for the timber built structure above with the sails.
Given when it was built, the windmill is an engineering marvel. In a time where the majority of Britons couldn’t read or write, that there was someone who could imagine, design and built such a structure is mind blowing.
That is truly an amazing feat of engineering. It’s like some of the Roman roads or bridges, they are still standing but what about the creations of the 21st century, those roads & bridges take repairing yearly, not that Canada has any Roman roads … Pretty countryside.
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It’s a lovely place to visit.
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Wow! Both the engineering feat and your photos. I love that last one with the huge expanse of sky …
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Thank you!
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So true, how on earth did they design and build such long-lasting structures all those years ago? I especially love that last photo.
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Thanks very much, I was please with how my photos turned out.
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I just discovered today that the windmill blades were also called “sails” when I saw Alexa’s SPSH post.
This is a marvelous windmill. I can’t believe how big those sails are!
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It’s even better IRL … and I might have used the sails for the scavenger hunt …
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