'Treasured' Bursledon Windmill to grind flour once again after £247k National Lottery grant secures reopening

A much-loved windmill will be grinding flour and be reopened to the public once again.

Bursledon Windmill will be given a revamp after a a £247,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund was secured. Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) will put together a programme of repairs and improvements ahead of the reopening.

Stuart McLeod, director of England - London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Bursledon Windmill has been a treasured part of Hampshire's heritage for more than 200 years and we're delighted to support its next chapter.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project will help safeguard an important piece of the county's heritage, bring visitors back through its doors and enable local communities to enjoy and engage with the windmill for years to come. We look forward to seeing the sails turning once again and this much-loved landmark thrive at the heart of the community.”

The iconic sails will be reinstated at the structure. Its unique all-wooden machinery will be revitalised to produce flour from wind power, something which has not bee possible for over a decade.

It’s planned that Bursledon Windmill will reopen in 2027. Without the funding, the historic landmark would have been lost forever. A decision by the Hampshire Cultural Trust was made in 2024 to close it to the public.

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. HBPT will recruit key staff to manage and promote the attraction.

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Peter Goodship, HBPT chairman, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, this unique piece of Hampshire's industrial heritage can be safeguarded for future generations. We can now look forward to welcoming visitors back, seeing the sails turning once again and restoring the windmill's ability to produce flour using wind power alone.

"This funding gives us the opportunity not only to preserve an important historic landmark, but also to create a thriving community asset that can host events, celebrate local heritage and contribute to the area's visitor economy."

Bursledon Windmill was built in 1814 and is among a very small number of windmills in the UK that retain heavy timber machinery. It’s considered one of Hampshire’s most distinctive landmarks. The windmill is also set to open from 12pm to 4pm on September 16 as part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme.

Ross McClean, local area manager for Eastleigh Borough Council said: “Eastleigh Borough Council is delighted to be working in partnership with Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust to restore Bursledon Windmill and help secure its future as a valued heritage asset for generations to come.”