The Upminster Landmark That Nearly Vanished – And the Community That Saved It
Upminster Windmill has stood beside St Mary’s Lane for more than two centuries, surviving industrial change, violent storms, dereliction and the threat of demolition. Its survival owes as much to local residents and volunteers as it does to its original builders.
The familiar white landmark was built for local farmer James Nokes in 1803, when Upminster was still a rural Essex village surrounded by farms and fields. Nokes had moved to the area ten years earlier and taken on the 130-acre Hunts Farm in Corbets Tey Road.
He later bought 23 acres of nearby Bridge House Farm from his brother William. The windmill and its adjoining granary, meal house and other buildings took two years to construct.
Why is it called a smock mill?
Upminster Windmill is an octagonal timber-framed “smock mill”. The name comes from its sloping shape, which resembles the traditional smock once worn by agricultural workers.
Its original sails were wooden frames covered with canvas and had to be adjusted manually as the strength of the wind changed. Wind power initially drove three pairs of millstones, grinding grain into flour for the local community.
In 1811, a steam-powered corn mill was added so production could continue on windless days. The Boulton and Watt engine was a remarkably early use of steam power alongside a working windmill. Archaeological investigations have since uncovered what is believed to be the only known surviving foundation of a steam plant of its kind.
The families behind the mill
After James Nokes died in 1838, the mill passed to his son Thomas. Financial problems followed and the estate was auctioned after Thomas was declared bankrupt in 1849.
A lasting new chapter had already begun. Thomas Abraham joined the mill as foreman in 1844, earning 20 shillings a week. He eventually acquired the windmill, and three generations of the Abraham family were associated with the business for around 90 years.
The mill changed with the times. Its sails were modernised, more millstones were installed and, following the arrival of the railway, the business expanded into supplying coal and coke.
The night the sails came crashing down
One of the most dramatic moments came in 1899. During powerful winds, the huge cast-iron windshaft snapped and the sails crashed to the ground, destroying part of the gallery around the mill.
Repairing it appeared uneconomic, but residents did not want to lose their landmark. Local people raised more than £100, a substantial amount at the time, and the business met the remaining cost. A replacement windshaft was brought from a mill near Maldon.
Saved from demolition
Traditional milling declined as large industrial producers took over. Upminster’s mill switched to making products for dog biscuits before the family business finally closed in 1935.
The site was sold for development, but the purchaser, William Simmons, promised not to pull down the “dear old landmark”. In 1937, following pressure from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Essex County Council acted to prevent its demolition and purchased the mill in 1940.
Wartime disruption left the building and its surroundings derelict. A volunteer committee formed after a public meeting in 1948 and began raising money and carrying out repairs. The windmill was awarded Grade II* listed status in 1955, recognising its exceptional architectural and historic importance.
Ownership transferred to the newly formed London Borough of Havering in 1965. Regular public openings began two years later, but temporary repairs could not halt the gradual deterioration of the timber structure.
A landmark working again
A major restoration began in 2016 through a partnership between Havering Council and the Friends of Upminster Windmill, supported by heritage and environmental funding. Dutch millwright Willem Dijkstra carried out specialist structural work, while volunteers devoted thousands of hours to restoring the internal machinery.
The cap and sails were removed, the timber frame and brick base repaired, new weatherboarding and a gallery installed, and four new sails constructed. A visitor and education centre, community garden and wildlife-friendly landscaping were also created.
The restored windmill officially reopened in September 2023. Its machinery is considered virtually complete and potentially workable, making it one of the finest surviving smock mills in the country.
Today, Upminster Windmill is owned by Havering Council and managed by the Friends. It is more than a picturesque reminder of the past. It tells the story of local farming, early industrial innovation and generations of residents who repeatedly refused to let one of Havering’s most important landmarks disappear.
Opening dates and visitor information are available from the Upminster Windmill website.
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