WINDMILLS
How many?
Middleton on the Wolds has a rich history, including some fascinating details about its windmills. Historically, the village had three grinding mills—two powered by wind and one by steam, the latter located in the field behind Mrs. Jenkinson’s house. The 1855 Ordnance Survey map identifies two windmills: one near North Dalton Road, described as an “old post mill,” and another near Goodmanham Road along the footpath known as “Mill Trod.”
Post mills, the earliest type, rotated entirely to face the wind and required constant attention. These were eventually replaced by more efficient tower mills, which only rotated their caps. A surviving photograph likely depicts Middleton’s tower mill, dating from the early 20th century. Traditional windmills declined rapidly in the late 1800s due to changes in milling practices.
The last known miller was Arthur Dooks, listed in 1901. Though the mills themselves have vanished, their legacy lives on in the name of a post-WWII housing development: Millfield Garth.
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One notable mention is the work of Karl Wood, who painted numerous windmills across Britain, including those in Middleton on the Wolds. His extensive travels and paintings aimed to document the twilight of these mills.
Source Middleton on the Wolds – Archive Catalogue 1938
Source unknown, date unknown
Written by M. Gillum with details from Geoff Wishers Heritage Sheet 38
June 2025
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