Avoncroft’s much-loved windmill originates from Danzey Green, Warwickshire. It is a typical West Midlands post mill with a simple but effective design that enables it to be operated by a single person and to be turned in any direction to face the wind. Post mills were widespread during the 18th and 19th centuries. They were used to grind grain, such as corn or wheat, to produce flour, often for bread- a staple of people’s diets during this period. Windmills entered steady decline as steam powered milling machinery increasingly began to be harnessed, with many falling into disuse and eventually being lost.
