2 of 3

Write now Article Tools

While horizontal windmills (horizontal sails rotating about a vertical axis, and driving a stone directly) were known in Persia and Afghanistan in the eighth century, any link with European windmills is tenuous and speculative at best. It is easy to see how these mills could have developed from the small, direct-drive horizontal watermills common in small isolated communities since Classical times. While a Crusader-related link with European windmills is appealing, the only obvious similarity between European and Central Asian windmills is application of wind power to the watermill machinery already known, on a common shaft in the East and through right-angled gears in the West. All that we really know is that no link has been proven, and that duels have been fought over less contentious issues.

As far as is known, vertical windmills originated independently in Greece and France towards the end of the eleventh century. The Greek mills were (and are - they have changed little, apart from their sails) small stone tower mills, on which only the cap is turned to aim the sails into the wind. Where the wind usually blew in the same direction, non-steering mills were built, for example on the Ambelos Pass on Crete. In contrast, the French mills were wooden post mills; that is to say, the whole building was balanced on a post, on which it pivoted for steering into the wind. The choice of design reflected the abundance of good timber in Northern Europe, and the scarcity of it in the south.

The early windmills were used for grinding grain. Other uses were found for them as the need arose.

Although the widespread use of windmills for removing unwanted water is usually associated with Holland, the wind was first employed for this work in Belgium, in 1316. The first reliably recorded use of a drainage windmill in Holland was in 1408. While the Mediterranean/Aegean tower mill had the ideal layout for pumping, with an unobstructed interior and with the windshaft supported on a ring rather than a point, its stone or brick construction was too heavy for safe use on recently reclaimed land, so the hollow post mill was developed. Around 1540, as more power was required, the characteristic Noord-Holland polder mill appeared, combining the light wooden structure of the post mill with the unobstructed interior of the tower mill. The miller usually lived in the mill, with his family. Drainage mills were the only windmills normally lived in.

Windmills are normally associated with

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about History of windmills?
We want to hear your view. Write now!