The History of the Windmill

​The mill was originally built in 1830 by Edward Ingledew of Gainsborough for Michael Hare as a five-sailed mill.  Following a severe thunderstorm which blew off the cap and sails, it was repaired in 1892. The repairs were carried out by John Pocklington using a cap and eight sails from a windmill in Boston.  The bricks from the Boston mill were recycled and used to build the mill house that stands at the front of the site.

Heckington mill ceased work in 1946 and deteriorated until it was purchased by Kesteven County Council in 1953 and made safe. The mill underwent restoration in 1986 and further major repairs were carried out in 2004 and is now in full working order.

The mill is now owned by Lincolnshire County Council, but is operated and run on a voluntary basis by Heckington Windmill Trust

A full history of the mill is available from the mill shop or BUY ONLINE HERE

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A Tale of Two Windmills

The original 8 sails that you see at Heckington today were not built for the tower that now stands on the site.  The cap overhangs the tower bricks, confirming that it came from a different mill.   William Wedd Tuxford built the original Skirbeck 8 sailed mill in Boston in 1813 and successfully operated it for most of the 19th century.  In 1891 it was put up for auction and was sold to John Pocklington of Wyberton for £72.10.0d, on the condition that  it was completely cleared from the site.   This he did, taking the sails and machinery to fit on the redundant tower at Heckington and used the bricks from the Skirbeck tower to build the Victorian mill house at Heckington.

Pocklington family circa 1900

Windmill Timeline:
1830 - New mill tower built at Heckington for Michael Hare 
1833 - Five sailed machinery completed
1836 - Mill ownership passed to Mr Nash, baker in the village
1837 & 1847 - Mill put up for sale with no success
1890 - Mill severely damaged in thunderstorm
1891 - Site purchased by John Pocklington
1892 - Repairs carried out and 8 sails fitted
1907 - Wheat grinding ceased at Heckington
1933 - Repairs and 4 new sails fitted by John Pocklington
1941 - John Pocklington died leaving the mill to his family
1953 - Kesteven County Council buy the mill for £400
1953 - Basic renovation works to make the mill safe
1969 - 1972 - Mill struck by lightning
1974 - Ownership passed to Lincolnshire County Council
1981 - The Friends of Heckington Mill established
1986 - Mill re-opened & turned again - the first time in 40 years
1999 - Mill ceased working due to structural defects
2004 - Major repairs to the cap & brickwork. Mill re-opened
2009 - Mill house opened as tea room & visitor centre
2010 - Mill stopped working due to requiring urgent sail repairs
2013 - Heritage Lottery Fund announce grant to purchase and renovate the site
2014 - All 8 sails are replaced and windmill working again
2015 - Heritage Lottery work starts on site 
2017 - Site regeneration complete - new visitor centre, tea room, bakehouse and facilities for all
2018 - Windmill damaged by storm - awaiting repairs

Heckington's Unique Windmills

Heckington is believed to be the only location in the UK (and probably the world!) where there have been windmills with 4, 5, 6, and 8 sails.

Our own Pocklington's mill was built with 5 sails and changed to 8 sails in 1892. 

Mowbray's (or Mowberry's) Mill on Sleaford Road, Heckington had both 4 and 6 sails in its past. Today all that remains is the derelict tower.

4 Sails
​Mowbray's Mill 

5 Sails
​Heckington Windmill

6 Sails
Mowbray's Mill

8 Sails
​Heckington Windmill

Did you know?

When the new sails were fitted in 2014, it was the first time that all 8 sails have been replaced since it was installed in 1892.

Tuxford's 8 Sail mill at Skirbeck, Boston

The mill and mill house circa 1900

8 Sail Facts

John Pocklington purchased the mill tower and bakehouse for £250 in 1891.  The Pocklington family lived at the mill for over 100 years.