See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

The remains of a windmill tower which was built in the later 17th century.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1207688: WINDMILL TOWER TO NORTH EAST OF THE SHIRE AT SX 9091 6565
• Listed Building (II) 1207688: WINDMILL TOWER TO NORTH EAST OF THE SHIRE AT SX 9091 6565
• Listed Building (II) 1207688: WINDMILL TOWER TO NORTH EAST OF THE SHIRE AT SX 9091 6565

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX96NW/60
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX96NW/7
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX96NW18
• Torbay HER: MTO9541

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WINDMILL (First mentioned, XVII - 1673 AD to 1673 AD)

Full description

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, SX96NW18 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV317784.

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

The deeds of 1673 and 1694 are discussed with reference to Anglo Saxon placename evidence.

Chope, R. P., 1920-1921, Windmills in Devon and Cornwall, 226-227 (Article in Serial). SDV19796.

Watkin, H.R., 1922-26, Tormohun and other Placenames, 57 (Article in Serial). SDV361993.

Ellis, A.C., 1930, Historical Survey of Torquay, 267 (Monograph). SDV362462.

Moysey, C.F., 1940-1941, Windmills in Devonshire, 176-177 (Article in Serial). SDV318147.

1953, Untitled Source (Article in Serial). SDV318151.

The windmill is featured in an article in the Western Morning News of 18th March 1953.

Minchinton, W., 1968 - 1970, Windmills in Devon, 81 (Article in Serial). SDV337545.

Douch, H. L., 1968-1970, Windmills in Cornwall and Devon, 59 (Article in Serial). SDV13004.

In 1808 the lease for the sale of the mill included a 'newly built' dwelling house, whose location is uncertain.

Minchinton, W. + Parsons, S., 1971 - 1973, Further Windmills in Devon, 107, 109 (Article in Serial). SDV13006.

Minchinton, W., 1973, Industrial Archaeology in Devon, 3 (Monograph). SDV362710.

The windmill on Windmill Hill is now in ruins.

Minchinton, W., 1977, Windmills of Devon, 34-35, plan & photo (Monograph). SDV12997.

The windmill at Yaddon Down was mentioned in a deed of 13th March 1673 between Lord Londonderry and James Waters, a merchant tailor of London, for a lease of 21 years. A condition of the lease was that a 'sufficient and commodious windmill' be erected, 'with two mill stones in it, one to grind wheat and the other barley'. In 1694, on expiry of this lease, it was leased to a miller from Chagford.There are further accounts in the earlier 18th century to nails for the windmill, for glazing the windmill and taking a tree to the windmill for making the sails. Revd Swete pained the mill in the 1790s.
The remains of the mill still stand at 44 Audley Avenue where in used as a store and pigeon loft. The surviving tower is built of limestone, about 30ft high with an internal diameter of 14ft 6ins.

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

The stump remains.

Minchinton, W., 1986, Devon's Industrial Past: A Guide, 5 (Monograph). SDV361656.

Swete, J. (ed. Gray T. + Rowe, M.), 1997, Travels in Georgian Devon. The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Swete. Vol. 1, 80 (Monograph). SDV341166.

Revd Swete painted the windmill in 1801 (original DRO, 564M/F2/93). He describes it as 'an object of singular beauty'.

Ordnance Survey, 2025, Mastermap 2025 (Cartographic). SDV366286.

A circular structure in the garden of 44 Audley Avenue, marked as Windmill (disused).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.