History of the Windmill Tower
Information on the history of both the site and the windmill tower.

Record searches undertaken reveal the following detail. Where appropriate the material source is included, however, much of the material has previously been presented in articles by Mr O G McDonald, a respected local archivist.

1321 – Court - Roll of Wenlock Priory (in possession of Thomas Mytton Esq. of Shipton) records.

“Magna Wenlock – Wednesday 28th Oct 1321, Robert de Bradenhop took a certain place of the Lord’s demesne, described along with reference to other localities eg Mardenole Street, Wyndmulnehull (Windmill Hill). and the Gardens of Vill – to hold for life at 10s. rent, - Tenent to pay tithe and keep the land fenced. – ingress-fee 3s 4d.
(Eyton’s Antiquities of Shropshire)

There was a windmill at Much Wenlock in 1321 - (S.R.O. 1037/19/1). - this being the first known record of a windmill on the site, it was most likely of wood construction.

1685 – An extract from the Will of the miller, Richard Coundley the Elder, who was renting the windmill from owner of the estate, Robert Bertie, was a bequest assigning

- all the right, tithe and interest I have in the windmill I now hold of my landlord Esquire Bertie unto my son, also named Richard, for the remainder of the lease

1714 – Amongst the ‘Demesne Land’ of the Manor is the entry;

‘Richard Counley, 2 water grist mills and windmill, a dwelling house’ etc. this being the windmill (which) stood 1 km. north of the town - this location also corresponds to that noted by Mumford above.
(N.L.W., Wynnstay, MS, Plans 1) - see the associated OS map SJ 629003

1736 – Records of 1736,1785 & 1830 indicate that there was a succession of millers who paid rent for the windmill and water mills to the estate.

1741 – The windmill stood c1km north of the town and appears on a map of the late Sir John Wynn’s estate.
(N L W , Wynnstay, MS Plans 1)

1750 –. W A Seaby and A C Smith, Stevenage Museum (1984) states;
A contemporary survey of windmills in Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester recorded Much Wenlock Tower Mill as “the earliest known date (pre 1750)” of all Shropshire Mills of which the towers remain – last date of operation (c 1890).

John Windsor was assigned Bradley farm including the mill - this was undoubtedly a water mill in ownership of the estate

1774 – Sarah Windsor, John’s widow, assigned Birdbach (Farley) mill to a William Jeffreys – again this would be one of the estates mills.

1815 – (The windmill) was “Still working in 1815”,
(S.R.O. 4791/1/10, p.25)

1840 - No mill worked (there) by the 1840’s,
(S.R.O 1931/1; W.B.R., P8/2/7.).

1850 – (The windmill) “…. was wrecked by lightning c. 1850”. This may have been the malt mill mentioned 1622 – 47
(N.L.W. Wynnstay box 26 deed of 1844)

1858 - The mill may have been the Malt mill mentioned 1622-47, This has yet to be clarified.
(N.L.W., Wynnstay, box 43/5, 147).

1859 – The Annual Wenlock Olympian Society Games programme noted;

J M Gaskell Esq. MP for the Borough gave permission for the fitting-up of the tower ……. to obtain excellent views of the Games and surrounding country.

1867 – A photograph taken at the Olympian Games - (the oldest known photograph of a sporting event) – shows the tower on windmill hill.

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