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The Mill

Wilton Windmill stands high above the small village of Wilton, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, on a site that provides magnificent views of the surrounding hills. The mill is the only working windmill in Wessex and was originally built in 1821 after the new Kennet and Avon canal had been built. This canal was built over and through the site of some local watermills and the pumps providing the water for the canal also lowered the river levels so that the remaining watermills were no long viable.

The windmill was in operation for 100 years, however with the introduction of new steam roller mills and fast production of cheap bread it became unwanted and was abandoned. It then fell into disrepair. However the mill was finally restored to its former glory in 1976, by a team of dedicated volunteers. The windmill is owned by Wiltshire Council, but it is managed and operated by the Wilton Windmill Society which uses the windmill to mill flour and also provides guided tours.

The mill was built as a traditional tower mill with a fantail which turns the Cap, to ensure that the sails always point into the wind. The mill has four sails in total, two Patent sails (which can be quickly activated) and two common canvas sails, which have to be set before the mill starts to turn.

The mill is fully operational, and produces stone-ground wholemeal flour which is on sale at the on-site shop (as well as from other local outlets), together with other souvenirs of your visit.  During opening hours, guided tours are offered, as well as access to the Windmill ground floor information centre.

Wilton Windmill is open on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays between 2pm and 5pm, from Easter until the end of September. There are also other days it is open for special events which are advertised on this website.

We also accommodate parties by special arrangement, providing a volunteer is available to take you round. Please contact us to arrange your visit.

Milling News

 There is a formal display area on the ground floor which provides information of the history of the mill and its renovation.  This includes a wonderful display of how the mill is used to create flour from local grain, along with artefacts and a life-size model of a miller circa 1890.

We are also pleased to present an audio/visual display where visitors can see footage of the mill in its full working glory, starting with hauling sacks up the mill, and following the grain down through the mill, into the stones, being milled and finally emerging as flour.