Project Overview
The early history of the monastery, pre- dissolution, has been thoroughly addressed elsewhere, however, the following extract reflects its historical importance,

The early history of the monastery, pre- dissolution, has been thoroughly addressed elsewhere, however, the following extract reflects its historical importance,

“… the famous monastery, which we have just attempted to describe, has attached to it one of the most important instances of genealogical and biographical enquiries that has perhaps ever engaged the attention of readers curious in such matters.

The real origin of the royal family of Stuarts has long perplexed the most ingenious and indefatigable genealogists; it is therefore, with some satisfaction, that we are able to trace this renowned family to the county of Salop; a circumstance that cannot fail to yield some degree of pleasure to the natives of this district, whose high and noble spirit will prompt them to venerate the name, however their more enlightened views may induce them to reject the principles, of that illustrious house”.

Shropshire Gazetteer – a survey of the County 1824, pp 342-345

Previous attempts at resolving the age of the windmill stone tower are wide ranging, known recorded literature includes the following dates and comments.

- Pre 1645 built as a guard tower

- c 1622 – 1647 may have been a malt mill

- 1685 Richard. Coundley (Counley) paid windmill rent to Esquire Bertie.

- pre 1713 located on map as a windmill

- pre 1750 earliest known date of remaining (windmill) tower in Shropshire.

- records show that a succession of millers paid rent up to 1830

Authentic preservation of the Grade II listed building can take place once it has been established when the tower was built. We shall also attempt to identify who built it and why.

Recent research indicates that the existing stone tower could have been built during the late ‘Lawley or early ‘Bertie era of estate ownership c 1620 – 1640.

The Lawley family became prominent locally from the mid- 15th century.

Thomas Lawley, as Bailiff in the town in 1546 and again in 1551, appears to have formed an association with, amongst others, William Jeffreys who himself was Bailiff in 1557.

It will be noted in the section ’History of the Windmill Tower’ that William Jeffreys was recorded as a miller on Windmill hill in 1850 – presumably a descendent of the earlier William Jeffreys!

Research reveals that in 1639 the ‘Lawley family had ownership of the ‘windmillhill field’ it then passed to successive landowners.

No definitive reference to the construction of a windmill tower has yet been identified.

The 1847 Wenlock Township ‘Tithe Apportionment and Map’ prepared by H.D.G Foxall, identifies the windmill at location (260) situated in Windmill field location (259).

The landowner is stated as Sir Watkin Williams Wynne Bart; the occupier of the field being Benjamin Ainsworth and the windmill occupied by William Jefferys.

For further, comprehensive, detail of tithes apportionment reference should be made to the document ‘The Board of Agriculture Act 1889’- available at Shropshire Archives.

The Bertie family had a history of stone-masonry, often using material from dismantled abbeys, viz the windmill at Grimsthorpe in the 1580’s.

Having previously spent a considerable amount of time in Denmark, the Low Countries and France they would have been familiar with early European mill structures.

The section, ‘History of the Site’, contains much referenced material, presented in chronological order, it is intended to be both historically informative and provide a brief insight into local social and economic development over the period subsequent to the dissolution of the monastery.

Changes in estate ownership and the inter-relationship of successive owners over the period are identified. Research of the relevant Estate Accounts papers will, hopefully, reveal a more precise date of when the tower was built, who financed it, who was responsible for the design and construction and why the windmill was built.

Between the 1730’s and late1800’s, the social and economic climate of rural England changed as a result of legislation, namely, the Inclosure Act and The Board of Agriculture Act – Tithe Apportionment.

Both Acts ultimately had an effect on mill developments and utilization.

The Section, ‘History of the Windmill Tower’, contains sparse references to the mill during the period of its operation.

As further information becomes available this section will be up-dated.

As it was necessary to scaffold the tower from top to bottom both internally and externally, a thorough technical survey of the interior has been undertaken.

The results of the survey are presented below in both text and diagrammatic form.

The recent dendrochronology tests on the remaining timbers proved inconclusive – the timber appears to have been felled when approximately 12 years of age.

The type and style of the original cap is, again, a matter of debate.

Whilst the observable features may indicate that the cap was of a ‘fixed design a further viewpoint is that the cap could be rotated into the wind – fixed designs were, apparently a feature of early continental windmills eg the Netherlands, from 1450 onwards – the Berties would have been familiar with such a design!

A further topic of debate is the location and use of the two ‘chimneys or ventilation’ shafts.

It would appear that fireplaces in mills were generally situated at ground floor level and there was only one per mill.

Here, we have two apertures diametrically opposite each other located at the first (stone) floor level. Each aperture is constructed using wooden lintels!

Towards the top of the tower, internally, there are a series of, as yet, unexplained beam pockets and apertures built into the stonework – above the suggested original height of the tower.

Efforts are being made to ascertain their purpose.

The lack of noticeable signs of either the ground floor doorways or at the window apertures throughout the tower, having been fitted with wooden framing is also an area for further consideration.

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