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Summary

Instow windmill, now in ruins. The remains are 10 feet high, walls 3 feet thick, internal diameter at base 12 feet.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1107604: THE OLD WINDMILL

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/5
• Old Listed Building Ref (II): 98807
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SS43SE18

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WINDMILL (XVII - 1601 AD to 1700 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, SS43SE18 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV337223.

Other details: Plan.

Watkin, H. R., 1920 - 1921, Windmills of Devon and Cornwall, 263 (Article in Serial). SDV337224.

Ordnance Survey, 1938, 12SE. Revision of 1903 with additions in 1938. Provisional Edition (Cartographic). SDV335646.

'Old Windmill' marked on 1903 6 inch Ordnance Survey map.

Department of Environment, 1960, Barnstaple RD, 31 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV337219.

Listed in March 1960. Ruins of old windmill built of stone. Though the remains are not very high, it is quite a landmark.

Minchinton, W., 1968 - 1970, Windmills in Devon and Cornwall, 79-80 (Article in Serial). SDV12995.

There were two windmills at Instow. The other stood south of Instow quay and no remains of it exist.

Douch, H. L., 1968-1970, Windmills in Cornwall and Devon, 58 (Article in Serial). SDV13004.

Minchinton, W. + Parsons, S., 1971 - 1973, Further Windmills in Devon, 106 (Article in Serial). SDV13006.

Minchinton, W. E., 1973, Industrial Archaeology in Devon, 3 (Monograph). SDV7016.

Minchinton, W., 1977, Windmills of Devon, 24-25 (Monograph). SDV12997.

Instow windmill, now in ruins. The remains of the circular tower are circa 10 feet high, with walls 3 feet thick and an internal diameter at the base of 12 feet. Site named as Windmill Hill on the Tithe apportionment.

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, 1982, Mills Index (Un-published). SDV12998.

The stump survives.

Department of Environment, 1986, Instow, 55 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV337221.

The old windmill. Remains possibly 17th century. Finely dressed stone rubble. Roofless. Circular on plan. Walls reduced in height, now approximately 4 metres high. The walls are pierced at spaced intervals by putlog holes, and large openings to commanding position overlooking the estuary suggest it may have served as a navigational aid.

Vanstone, A. C., 1986, Windmill (Worksheet). SDV337220.

Windows and doorway still clearly visible, although remains are crumbling gradually. Vegetation has started to grow on top of the brickwork.

Goodwin, N. D., 1989, The Old Windmill (Worksheet). SDV337222.

Height now 3 metres, walls 1 metre thick, circumference 18 metres. Other details: Slide.

North Devon District Council, 2003, North Devon Buildings at Risk Survey 2000-2003, 18 (Report - Survey). SDV344372.

Masonry is loose in places, especially at the top. Some attempts at pointing and consolidation around doorway and at base. Other details: Photograph.

Ordnance Survey, 2006, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV324628.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4599 - North Devon Buildings at Risk Survey 2000-2003

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