Bright Future for Bursledon Windmill
The much-loved Bursledon Windmill is set for an exciting new chapter in its 200-year history after Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) secured a £247,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, paving the way for the historic attraction to reopen to the public.
The funding supports a programme of repairs and improvements to the site including, most importantly, the reinstatement of its iconic sails. It creates a sustainable future for one of Hampshire's most important industrial and social heritage attractions and prepares the windmill for a planned public reopening in 2027.
Without this funding the windmill would have been at risk of being lost forever following the decision of the Hampshire Cultural Trust to close the attraction to the public in 2024 through lack of funding.
The Bursledon, Hamble and Hound Local Area Committee also supported the bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund by allocating £25,000 in match funding.
As part of the project, HBPT will recruit key staff to help manage and promote the attraction, working closely with nearby Bursledon Brickworks Museum and a dedicated team of local volunteers to create a richer and more rewarding experience for local residents and visitors to the area.
The investment will also revitalise the mill so that its unique all-wooden machinery can once again produce flour from wind power, something which has not been possible for over a decade.
One of the county's most distinctive landmarks, Bursledon Windmill was built in 1814 and is among a very small number of windmills in the UK that retain heavy timber machinery and is unique in Hampshire.
Looking beyond its reopening, the Trust also plans to develop the site as a welcoming venue for community activities and special occasions. The restored windmill will be available for small events, educational visits and intimate weddings, helping to ensure it remains at the heart of community life.
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